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Review
. 2011 Dec;84 Spec No 1(Spec Iss 1):S4-10.
doi: 10.1259/bjr/16022594.

Accelerator science in medical physics

K Peach  1 , P Wilson, B Jones
Affiliations
Review

Accelerator science in medical physics

K Peach et al. Br J Radiol. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

The use of cyclotrons and synchrotrons to accelerate charged particles in hospital settings for the purpose of cancer therapy is increasing. Consequently, there is a growing demand from medical physicists, radiographers, physicians and oncologists for articles that explain the basic physical concepts of these technologies. There are unique advantages and disadvantages to all methods of acceleration. Several promising alternative methods of accelerating particles also have to be considered since they will become increasingly available with time; however, there are still many technical problems with these that require solving. This article serves as an introduction to this complex area of physics, and will be of benefit to those engaged in cancer therapy, or who intend to acquire such technologies in the future.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The motion of a positive charged particle in magnetic field. The particle is deflected perpendicular to both the direction of instantaneous velocity (v) and magnetic field (B). FL, Lorenz force; r, radius of curvature.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A schematic diagram that shows the particle motion in a simple cyclotron. B, magnetic field; N, polarity of the field.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) The orbit or a particle in an isochronous cyclotron; alternating strong and weak azimuthal regions are created (“sectors” or “hills and valleys”) to provide axial focusing to offset the defocusing effect owing to radially increasing magnetic field. (b) Cross-section of an IBA C400 isochronous cyclotron, which can accelerate protons (approximately 265 MeV) and light ions up to carbon (400 MeV u−1).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic diagram of HITACHI 250 MeV proton synchrotron. It consists of one RF cavity for acceleration and six bending dipole magnets to drive the particle in circular orbit. Quadruple magnets are used for focusing. RF, radiofrequency.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Magnetic force lines owing to a focusing dipole magnet which focuses the particle in horizontal plane while defocuses in other plane. (b) Alternative focusing and defocusing quadruple represented using a lens analogy. The net effect is focusing in both directions. QD, horizontally defocusing quadrupole; QF, horizontally focusing quadrupole.
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