This study presents the design and development of a new power supply intended to provide a highly stabilized current, serving as a replace-ment for an existing linear converter used in the main magnet of the NHS cyclotron. The power supply is capable of operating in DC mode with currents reaching up to 900 A. It employs a proven modular design approach, previously implemented in other...
- Introduction
44Sc is a novel radionuclide with a high branching ratio (Eβ+av=632 KeV, I = 94.3%), which is highly suitable for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, endowing it with broad application prospects in the field of nuclear medicine.
The preparation of 44Sc by 44Ca (p, n) 44Sc nuclear reaction in a cyclotron is the most widely used preparation method. In this study,...
This paper summarizes recent progress in cyclotron research and development at Lanzhou University. In computational physics, a comprehensive time-domain beam dynamics code, RAYS, has been developed that solves the Newton-Lorentz equation using 4th or 5th order Runge-Kutta integrators to simulate particles from injection to extraction. RAYS supports synchrocyclotron modeling with a time-varying...
Low-level radio frequency (LLRF) systems play an essential role in cyclotron control, and the beam quality is closely tied to the overall performance of the RF system. Efforts have been carried out by the individuals of the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), focusing on the design of a self-excited digital LLRF system for ultra-lightweight high-temperature superconducting cyclotrons in...
In the operation system of a synchronous cyclotron, a broadband high-power RF power source plays an extremely important role. The RF power source is responsible for generating and providing high-frequency alternating electric fields, continuously injecting energy for particle acceleration. Its performance directly determines the acceleration efficiency, beam quality, and operational stability...
Cyclotron design involves extensive computations for both individual accelerator systems and particle dynamics, requiring careful optimization of numerous interdependent parameters. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into cyclotron design and operation is already demonstrating significant benefits, accelerating development, enhancing control, and...
A software tool has been designed which allows us to make isochronous cyclotron field maps. The rotational symmetry number, the center field, the particle properties, the maximum radius and the sector spiraling angle as function of radius can be freely chosen. Out of four radius-dependent parameters (flutter, hill-field, valley-field and sector azimuthal extent), the user can define two of...
The dynamics of a proton beam in the MSC230 cyclotron were simulated. Since the maximum beam current is limited by extraction efficiency, an approach was employed, in which the beam trajectory started at the deflector with an emittance equal to its acceptance and ended at the entrance of the ion source. This method allows for a detailed characterization of the phase space boundaries for the...
A low energy collimator is being designed for the injection line of the C70XP cyclotron at Arronax. The context of its conception follows the studies that were performed with an Allison emittance-meter and several simple collimators*. The studies show the presence of offset beams, beamlets and hollow beams inside the injection line. The new dedicated collimator, based on four independent and...
Determining the energy of cyclotron beams is challenging. Calculating it from the machine settings typically results in an error of several percent. Higher accuracy requires measurement, but each developed measurement system has disadvantages: either the space requirement is large, the unit is destructive, or the signal evaluation is complicated. The Beam Energy Monitor (BEM) was designed to...
PSC250 is a superconducting synchrocyclotron used for producting 250MeV protons for cancer therapy. It's the first superconducting synchrocyclotron developped by CIM (Hefei CAS Ion Medical and Technical Devices Co., Ltd.) for its advantages in small size and low cost. A new program named CIMSC has been developped especially for beam dynamics calculation in synchrocyclotrons from ion source to...
For the treatment of major diseases such as cancer, Positron Emission Tomography(PET) nuclear medicine imaging technology has irreplaceable advantages over traditional imaging technology.At present, 18F-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is a widely used positron electron drug in clinical practice in China. Therefore, the Chinese Academy of Atomic Energy has carried out the research and development of...
The proposed cooling system is designed with a high reliability factor and considering the economic issues and costs based on the use of a 40 ton chiller for temperature changes of 4.5 to 10 degrees Celsius, which is able to continuously control the water temperature in this range.
In this system, the parts of magnet coil, cavity, power transmission line, ion spring and radiofrequency current...
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a cell-level precision targeted treatment modality. This paper designs a scanning magnet system for an 18 MeV/1 mA proton cyclotron-based BNCT facility. By continuously scanning in both horizontal and vertical directions using two scanning magnets, the system delivers a flat-topped square beam density distribution of 100 mm × 100 mm with uniformity...
The intensity and quality of the extracted beam are critically influenced by the central region structure. Variations in the central region design can lead to difference in beam transmission efficiency, largely attributable to divergent acceleration dynamics during the initial few turns. In cyclotrons employing internal ion sources, the very low beam energy at the source outlet makes the beam...
The 50 MeV medium-energy proton cyclotron device developed by China Institute of Atomic Energy provides important test conditions for space radiation environment simulation, space radiation protection design and application research. This accelerator fills the gap of proton and neutron irradiation test conditions in the energy range of 30 MeV to 50 MeV in China.
To provide a large-area and...
In order to achieve the magnetic field measurement work for the 50MeV proton cyclotron irradiation device, a fully automatic magnetic field measurement device based on the Hall effect method is designed, using non-magnetic materials G10 and PEEK with high strength and wear resistance, optimizing the gear ratio, reducing the weight of the device, and adjusting the magnetic field measurement...
Recently, the Special Environmental Science and Application Infrastructure for Materials and Devices (SEMD), proposed by Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), has commenced construction. It is dedicated to investigating the mechanisms governing the influence of special service environments on materials/devices. Within the SEMD facility, a medium-to-high-energy Proton Irradiation Research...
This research focuses on making compact cyclotrons genuinely reconfigurable without hardware changes (matchbox) with digitally timed, wide-range RF/voltage source.
We propose a concept that introduces a digitally agile acceleration-voltage source that replaces an analogue sinusoidal RF drive with a programmable, soft-edged square-pulse waveform. The Digital Soft Square Wave Generator (DISWAG)...
Proton radiation dominates space radiation (∼90%) and threatens deep space missions, yet its effects on gut microbiota at mission-relevant doses (0.1-1 Gy) are unclear. This study assessed impacts in BALB/c mice exposed to whole-body proton irradiation (0, 0.1, or 1 Gy; 100 MeV cyclotron). Fecal samples (day 3 post-irradiation) underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. Results revealed a dose threshold:...
Medical radioactive isotopes play an increasingly critical role in nuclear medicine. Accelerator-based production of medical isotopes offers advantages including simplified regulatory approvals, operational flexibility, system safety, and lower costs, making it an important production method. This study proposes a multi-isotope co-production system utilizing electron accelerators. The...
The use of AVF cyclotrons for proton therapy in hospitals has been on the rise in recent years. However, further miniaturization is essential for wider adoption. Our company has previously succeeded in reducing the size of conventional AVF cyclotrons for proton therapy to approximately 60% of their original dimensions by implementing superconducting technology.
While synchrocyclotrons are...
The imaging accuracy of proton radiography critically depends on the beam transfer matrix defined by magnetic lenses. However, fringe field effects introduce nonlinear magnetic components, causing deviations from the ideal hard-edge model and limiting the performance of con-ventional optics designs. In this study, we systematically investigate methods for precise characterization and...
The Interest Public Group ARRONAX's C70XP cyclotron, used for radioisotope production for medical and research applications, relies on complex and costly systems that are prone to failures, leading to operational disruptions. In this context, research is being conducted to develop an active machine learning method for early anomaly detection to enhance system performance. One of the most...
Compact high-intensity cyclotrons are increasingly important for isotope production worldwide. The SK1000 is a proposed superconducting cyclotron designed to accelerate H₃⁺ ions to 120 MeV/u. It features a large main magnet with a height of 2.99 m, a diameter of 7.58 m, and an outer sector radius of 2.25 m. The manufacturing and installation of a magnet of this scale inevitably introduce field...
The upgrade of the Superconducting Cyclotron at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania is aimed at improving its performance in terms of intensity of light ions, as well as in terms of reliability. In the framework of the upgrade, a key milestone has been the magnetic field measurements of the new superconducting magnet, with the following goals: a) to implement a measurement procedure...
Sichuan Longevous Beamtech is currently developing a new tri-particle cyclotron LB-30TP. The LB-30TP cyclotron is designed to be able to accelerate protons(H-) between 13 and 35MeV, deuterons(D-) between 6.5 and 17.5MeV, and alpha particles(He2+) up to 30MeV.
The proton and deuteron beams are generated by a multi-cusp ion source, while the alpha particle beams are generated by an ECR ion...
When exploring the design of constant-tune (isochronous) cyclotron magnets, we found it useful to employ dipole magnets with a variable gap height, allowing fine control of the radial field profile. To determine the optimal gap-shape profile that produces a prescribed magnetic field distribution, we employ an iterative search using 3D finite-element simulations (e.g., OPERA). To minimize the...
In pursuit of enhanced beam current and spatial efficiency in high-intensity cyclotrons, this study investigates a novel accelerator concept: the use of multiple axially separated orbits (multi-plane) operating under a common magnet system. A key challenge in such a configuration is maintaining isochronism across distinct axial planes, which critically depends on the uniformity of the magnetic...
Cyclotron-based proton therapy systems have become the mainstream equipment in modern radiation oncology. Their therapeutic efficacy critically depends on the precise control of key beam parameters such as intensity and energy. In clinical applications, energy modulation is typically achieved by a degrader. However, it inevitably induces large dynamic fluctuations in beam intensity. In...
High-intensity proton cyclotrons have widespread applications in scientific research, medical treatments, and industrial processes. As cyclotron technology continues to evolve, the trend leans toward more compact designs with increased beam intensity. Our proposed design involves a 120 MeV/u superconducting H3+ cyclotron named SK1000, capable of achieving 3 times the operational beam intensity...
Ion source is an important subsystem in accelerators, which employ electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged particles to generate ion beams. Accelerators are essential facilities for advancing multidisciplinary research and developing technological applications, such as production of medically relevant radioisotopes and ion beam irradiation of cyclotrons. Among the various ion source...
High-current compact cyclotrons face strong space-charge limitations during axial injection, where the low-energy proton beam expands before reaching the inflector. We present a novel plasma-assisted neutralization module designed as a drop-in element between the final solenoid and the inflector entrance. The device consists of a short solenoid surrounding a beamline cell operated at...
To address the requirements of modern cyclotrons for high-precision, high-reliability, and high-scalability operation and experimentation, as well as to overcome the limitations of traditional centralized measurement and control systems—such as high single-point failure risks, poor scalability, and bottlenecks in mass data processing and storage—this paper proposes and preliminarily designs a...
Muon beams are powerful research tools with applications in both particle physics and condensed matter physics. However, surface muon beams suffer from high emittance. Several facilities (PSI, RAL, J-PARC) are developing cooling devices to mitigate this issue, but these devices inevitably reduce the beam’s kinetic energy. To address this challenge, the project explores a compact muon cyclotron...
With the growing demand for neutrons in applications such as detector calibration, device irradiation, and cross-section measurements, neutron sources are advancing toward higher energy and higher flux. In Beijing, China, two neutron beamlines, a quasi-monoenergetic one and a white light one, based on a proton cyclotron with a maximum energy of 50 MeV is under construction and preparation. We...
Beam transport line of uniformization is an essential step before beam shooting and plays a critical role in applications such as neutron imaging and isotope production. In practical experiments, particle beams generated by cyclotrons typically exhibit an approximately Gaussian intensity distribution. Local bright spots on the targets for high-power Gaussian beams create difficult cooling...
This study describes the production of $^{68}\text{Ga}$ by irradiating an enriched $^{68}\text{ZnCl}_2$ liquid target with a 12 MeV, 50 μA proton beam in a cyclotron. The post-irradiation products were first simulated, and a simulated solution was prepared based on the computational results.
This solution was adjusted to approximately pH 5.0 and subsequently loaded onto a pre-conditioned...
This study compares the production of $^{68}\text{Ge}$ using proton irradiation on two types of targets: an electroplated gallium-nickel alloy solid target and a niobium-encapsulated capsule with natural gallium. The alloy target was prepared on copper via electroplating, while the capsule was designed and fabricated to be irradiated in a cyclotron. The generated $^{68}\text{Ge}$ was then...
The PEPITES* profiler was originally designed for continuous operation on medium-energy (O(100 MeV)) charged particle accelerators. Its ultra-thin structure relies on secondary electron emission (SEE) to generate signals. It has successfully measured the positions and profiles of various hadron beams across a wide dynamic range.
This innovative device consists of 50 nm gold strips deposited...
A new technology research of a high-current H2+ small cyclotron is in progress at China Institute of Atomic Energy. The cyclotron is designed based on a RFQ injection line, which is expected to break through the current limit of the small cyclotron and bring the current of the small cyclotron to above 3mA. This project is designed to achieve a particle energy of 10MeV, and the theoretical...
Accelerator based neutron sources generate a large number of secondary electrons during operation. For example, secondary electrons generated by cyclotrons will change the spatial distribution of the beam and reduce the stability of the beam. Secondary electrons generated by neutron generators will flow back to the ion source, increase the load of the high-voltage power supply, and affect the...
Actinium-225 is a radionuclide of significant interest in the field of Targeted Alpha Particle Radiotherapy (TAT), with its targeted drugs showing promising applications for prostate cancer, brain tumours, neuroendocrine tumours, and more. One of the primary approaches being explored by major international laboratories for the commercial production of $^{225}\text{Ac}$ involves the spallation...
The HIRFL-SSC employs a resonance free extraction method. In the h=4 mode, the larger turn separation allows for single-turn extraction and the extraction efficiency is high, whereas in the h=2 mode, the smaller turn separation results in lower extraction efficiency. To improve the SSC transmission efficiency, simulations were conducted to analyze the extraction efficiency and acceptance under...
In accelerator physics, lattice optimization is a foundational step for subsequent work. Traditional optimization methods face problems that balancing several input parameters with conflicting optimization objectives and the prohibitive computational cost of key physics simulations, particularly for Dynamic Aperture (DA). As a part of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) FFAG project,...
With the development of the aerospace industry, the duration of astronauts' stay in space has significantly increased, and space radiation has become one of the major threats to their health. Vascular endothelial cells are relatively sensitive to ionizing radiation, and their dysfunction is closely associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. Currently, the damage mechanism of...
For modern medical cyclotrons the acceleration of beams of negatively or positively charged protons is most widespread. As a rule, negatively charged ions are extracted from cyclotron by recharging on a thin carbon foil. It is a easy realization method. However, to produce negatively charged protons, a complex system of external injection is usually used. Besides, the effect of electromagnetic...
Cancer has become one of the important factors threatening human life and health, and methods for treating cancer are constantly being studied and explored. It is an urgent demand in the healthcare to treat cancer by rays. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is given increasing amount of attention due to its ability of selective cancer cell killing. The BNCT neutron source based on the 18...
Abstract: As a fourth-generation nuclear reactor concept, molten salt reactors (MSRs) have unique advantages in safety, economy, and nonproliferation, but online fuel salt treatment remains immature. To avoid complex online fuel treatment, the Thorium-Based Molten Salt Fast Energy Amplifier (TMSFEA) concept was proposed. Compared with traditional Accelerator-Driven Subcritical (ADS) systems,...
INFN-LNS is proceeding with the upgrade of the Superconducting Cyclotron. The final goal is to increase the extraction efficiency in order to achieve a beam power up to 10 kW. The RF systems are also undergoing significant improvements through several upgrades. The new control system architecture will be able to manage the LLRF system, HLRF devices, and beam pulsing systems. The new software...
The 70 MeV cyclotron in use at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro at INFN was designed to deliver proton current up to 0.75 mA. Being designed as a relatively high current cyclotron, little attention was dedicated to the possibility to operate at low currents in the order of few tens of nA. On the other side, it is very interesting to try to increase the deliverable current near or above the 1 mA...
We present ZycloSim 2000, a software package developed to simulate the motion of ions in a classical, non-relativistic cyclotron. The program is primarily designed for educational purposes and is employed in workshops and laboratory courses to illustrate cyclotron dynamics and to investigate the resonance condition in detail.
The code allows the user to adjust a wide range of parameters,...
