First acceleration of a proton beam in a side coupled drift tube linac. (29th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ronsivalle, C.; Picardi, L.; Ampollini, A.; Bazzano, G.; Marracino, F.; Nenzi, P.; Snels, C.; Surrenti, V.; Vadrucci, M.; Ambrosini, F.
• Is Part Of: Europhysics letters. Volume 111:Number 1(2015:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2015-07-29
• Subjects: 41.75.Lx -- 41.75.Ak -- 87.56.-v; Physics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/111/14002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0295-5075

Abstract

Abstract: We report the first experiment aimed at the demonstration of low-energy protons acceleration by a high-efficiency S-band RF linear accelerator. The proton beam has been accelerated from 7 to 11.6 MeV by a 1 meter long SCDTL (Side Coupled Drift Tube Linac) module powered with 1.3 MW. The experiment has been done in the framework of the Italian TOP-IMPLART (Oncological Therapy with Protons-Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy Linear Accelerator for Radio-Therapy) project devoted to the realization of a proton therapy centre based on a proton linear accelerator for intensity modulated cancer treatments to be installed at IRE-IFO, the largest oncological hospital in Rome. It is the first proton therapy facility employing a full linear accelerator scheme based on high-frequency technology.