Novel FFAG gantry and transport line designs for charged particle therapy

Abstract

This thesis describes the design of novel magnetic lattices for the transport line and gantry of a charged particle therapy complex. The designs use non-scaling Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (ns-FFAG) magnets and were made as part of the PAMELA project. The main contributions in this thesis are the near-perfect FFAG dispersion suppression design process and the designs of the transport line and the gantry lattices. The primary challenge when designing an FFAG gantry is that particles with different momenta take up different lateral positions within the magnets. This is called dispersion and causes problems at three points: the entrance to the gantry, which must be rotated without distortion of the beam; at the end of the gantry where reduced dispersion is required for entry to the scanning system; and a third of the way through the gantry, where a switch in curvature of the magnets is required. Due to their non-linear fields, dispersion suppression in conventional FFAGs is never perfect. However, as this thesis shows, a solution can be found through manipulation of the field components, meaning near-perfect dispersion suppression can be achieved using ns-FFAG magnets (although at a cost of irregular optics). The design process for an FFAG dispersion suppressor shown in this thesis is a novel solution to a previously unsolved problem. Other challenges in the gantry lattice design, such as height and the control of the optics, are tackled and a final gantry design presented and discussed. The starting point for the transport line is a straight FFAG lattice design. This is optimised and matched to a 45o bend. Fixed field solutions to the problem of extracting to the treatment room are discussed, but a time variable field solution is decided on for practical and patient safety reasons. A matching scheme into the gantry room is then designed and presented.