A method and a device for changing direction of movement of a beam of accelerated charged particles are based on the use of a curved channel which is made from a material that is able to be electrically charged, and formation of the same kind of charge on an inside surface of the channel wall as that of the particles. Maintenance of a condition that relates an energy and a charge of the particles to geometrical parameters of the channel is required, in particular, a radius R of curvature of a longitudinal axis thereof, and to electrical strength of the wall material. The beam can possibly be rotated through large angles without loss of intensity, significantly simplifying a design, and also reducing the mass and dimensions of all devices, particularly by obviating a need for magnets and supply voltage and control voltage sources for such devices.

An apparatus for guiding, in particular directing or accelerating, charged particles (50), comprising: a substrate (110) having a surface (115); an optically thinner layer (120) formed on the surface (115); an inhomogeneous channel (130) which is formed by two mutually opposite delimiting structures on a side of the layer (120) that is opposite the substrate (110); and a radiation device which is designed to generate at least one pulsed laser beam (140) and inject the at least one pulsed laser beam (140) into the channel (130) from a side that is opposite the optically thinner layer (120). The layer (120) for the laser beam (140) is optically thin, and the delimiting structures have a high optical density in comparison with the layer (120). The delimiting structures are designed to guide the particles (50) by means of the laser beam (140) in the channel (130) and alternatingly focus them along the channel (130) and in at least one direction perpendicular to the channel (130).

An apparatus for guiding, in particular directing or accelerating, charged particles (50), comprising: a substrate (110) having a surface (115); an optically thinner layer (120) formed on the surface (115); an inhomogeneous channel (130) which is formed by two mutually opposite delimiting structures on a side of the layer (120) that is opposite the substrate (110); and a radiation device which is designed to generate at least one pulsed laser beam (140) and inject the at least one pulsed laser beam (140) into the channel (130) from a side that is opposite the optically thinner layer (120). The layer (120) for the laser beam (140) is optically thin, and the delimiting structures have a high optical density in comparison with the layer (120). The delimiting structures are designed to guide the particles (50) by means of the laser beam (140) in the channel (130) and alternatingly focus them along the channel (130) and in at least one direction perpendicular to the channel (130).

Disclosed embodiments include an electron accelerator, having a resonant cavity having an outer conductor and an inner conductor; an electron source configured to generate and to inject a beam of electrons transversally into the resonant cavity; a radio frequency (RF) source coupled to the resonant cavity and configured to: energize the resonant cavity with an RF power at a nominal RF frequency, and generate an electric field into said resonant cavity that accelerates the electrons of the electron beam a plurality of times into the cavity and according to successive and different transversal trajectories; and at least one deflecting magnet configured to bend back the electron beam that emerges out of the cavity and to redirect the electron beam towards the cavity.

Disclosed embodiments include an electron accelerator, having a resonant cavity having an outer conductor and an inner conductor; an electron source configured to generate and to inject a beam of electrons transversally into the resonant cavity; a radio frequency (RF) source coupled to the resonant cavity and configured to: energize the resonant cavity with an RF power at a nominal RF frequency, and generate an electric field into said resonant cavity that accelerates the electrons of the electron beam a plurality of times into the cavity and according to successive and different transversal trajectories; and at least one deflecting magnet configured to bend back the electron beam that emerges out of the cavity and to redirect the electron beam towards the cavity.

A radio-frequency (RF) cavity apparatus for accelerating charged particles includes first and second cavity arms. The first and second cavity arms have respective first and second axes of rotational symmetry and each cavity arm includes at least one cell. The first and second cavity arms are connected by a resonance coupler. The cell(s) of the first cavity aim have an axial dimensional parameter that is equal to a corresponding axial dimensional parameter of the cell(s) of the second cavity arm, and the cell(s) of the first cavity arm have at least one non-axial dimensional parameter that differs from corresponding non-axial dimensional parameter(s) of the cell(s) of the second cavity arm.

A particle accelerator comprises a waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along an acceleration path. A diversion channel is configured to convey a beam of electrons along a diversion path. A first magnet arrangement is configured to, at a first location, direct electrons from the acceleration path to the diversion path. A second magnet arrangement is configured to, at a second location, direct electrons from the diversion path to the acceleration path.

A particle accelerator comprises a waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along an acceleration path. A diversion channel is configured to convey a beam of electrons along a diversion path. A first magnet arrangement is configured to, at a first location, direct electrons from the acceleration path to the diversion path. A second magnet arrangement is configured to, at a second location, direct electrons from the diversion path to the acceleration path.

Methods, devices and systems for ultra-high dose radiotherapy are disclosed. The described techniques rely in-part on active switching control of a photoconductive switch during the time the accelerator is accelerating charged particles to produce the output radiation at the desired dose rates. One radiotherapy system includes a particle accelerator configured to receive charged particles from a pulsed source. The particle accelerator includes a pipe configured to allow the charged particles to pass through as a beam, a magnetic core positioned proximate to the pipe and coupled to the pulsed source, and at least one multilayer insulator positioned adjacent to the pipe and the magnetic core. The system also includes a photoconductive switch coupled to the particle accelerator and configured to supply the particle accelerator with a plurality of voltage pulses.

Methods, devices and systems for ultra-high dose radiotherapy are disclosed. The described techniques rely in-part on active switching control of a photoconductive switch during the time the accelerator is accelerating charged particles to produce the output radiation at the desired dose rates. One radiotherapy system includes a particle accelerator configured to receive charged particles from a pulsed source. The particle accelerator includes a pipe configured to allow the charged particles to pass through as a beam, a magnetic core positioned proximate to the pipe and coupled to the pulsed source, and at least one multilayer insulator positioned adjacent to the pipe and the magnetic core. The system also includes a photoconductive switch coupled to the particle accelerator and configured to supply the particle accelerator with a plurality of voltage pulses.