Traveling wave linear accelerator comprising a frequency controller for interleaved multi-energy operation
First Claim
1. A traveling wave linear accelerator for accelerating electrons generated by an electron gun, the traveling wave linear accelerator comprising:
- an accelerator structure configured to receive the electrons generated by the electron gun and having an input, a buncher configured to pack the received electrons into bunches and produce an initial acceleration, and an output;
an electromagnetic wave source coupled to the accelerator structure to provide an electromagnetic wave for further accelerating the electron bunches through the accelerator structure, the electromagnetic wave having crests relative to which the electron bunches are positioned;
an oscillator coupled to the electromagnetic wave source and configured to control the frequency of the electromagnetic wave provided by the electromagnetic wave source; and
a frequency controller interfaced with the input of the accelerator structure and with the output of the accelerator structure and configured to compare the phase of the electromagnetic wave at the input of the accelerator structure to the phase of the electromagnetic wave at the output of the accelerator structure so as to detect a phase shift of the electromagnetic wave in the accelerator structure,wherein the frequency controller is configured to transmit a signal to the oscillator based on the magnitude of the detected phase shift, and wherein responsive to the signal the oscillator causes the electromagnetic wave source to generate a subsequent electromagnetic wave at a modified frequency, wherein the position of the electron bunches relative to the crests of the electromagnetic wave changes responsive to the modified frequency.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetic wave having a phase velocity and an amplitude is provided by an electromagnetic wave source to a traveling wave linear accelerator. The traveling wave linear accelerator generates a first output of electrons having a first energy by accelerating an electron beam using the electromagnetic wave. The first output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a first beam of x-rays. The electromagnetic wave can be modified by adjusting its amplitude and the phase velocity. The traveling wave linear accelerator then generates a second output of electrons having a second energy by accelerating an electron beam using the modified electromagnetic wave. The second output of electrons can be contacted with a target to provide a second beam of x-rays. A frequency controller can monitor the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave from the input to the output ends of the accelerator and can correct the phase shift of the electromagnetic wave based on the measured phase shift.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A traveling wave linear accelerator for accelerating electrons generated by an electron gun, the traveling wave linear accelerator comprising:
-
an accelerator structure configured to receive the electrons generated by the electron gun and having an input, a buncher configured to pack the received electrons into bunches and produce an initial acceleration, and an output; an electromagnetic wave source coupled to the accelerator structure to provide an electromagnetic wave for further accelerating the electron bunches through the accelerator structure, the electromagnetic wave having crests relative to which the electron bunches are positioned; an oscillator coupled to the electromagnetic wave source and configured to control the frequency of the electromagnetic wave provided by the electromagnetic wave source; and a frequency controller interfaced with the input of the accelerator structure and with the output of the accelerator structure and configured to compare the phase of the electromagnetic wave at the input of the accelerator structure to the phase of the electromagnetic wave at the output of the accelerator structure so as to detect a phase shift of the electromagnetic wave in the accelerator structure, wherein the frequency controller is configured to transmit a signal to the oscillator based on the magnitude of the detected phase shift, and wherein responsive to the signal the oscillator causes the electromagnetic wave source to generate a subsequent electromagnetic wave at a modified frequency, wherein the position of the electron bunches relative to the crests of the electromagnetic wave changes responsive to the modified frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of operating a traveling wave linear accelerator for accelerating electrons generated by an electron gun, comprising:
-
receiving at an input of an accelerator structure of the traveling wave linear accelerator a first electromagnetic wave having a first amplitude and a first frequency from an electromagnetic wave source; controlling the frequency of the electromagnetic wave with an oscillator; receiving at the accelerator structure a first electron beam generated by the electron gun; packing the electrons of the first electron beam into bunches and producing an initial acceleration; generating a first output of electrons having a first energy from an output of the accelerator structure by accelerating the electron bunches of the first electron beam using the first electromagnetic wave, the first electromagnetic wave having crests relative to which the electron bunches have a first position; and monitoring a first phase shift of the first electromagnetic wave using a frequency controller interfaced with the input of the accelerator structure and with the output of the accelerator by comparing a phase of the first electromagnetic wave at the input of the accelerator structure to a phase of the first electromagnetic wave near the output of the accelerator structure, wherein the frequency controller transmits a first signal to the oscillator based on the first phase shift, and wherein the oscillator causes the electromagnetic wave source to generate a second electromagnetic wave having a second frequency in the accelerator structure based on the first signal, wherein the electron bunches of the first electron beam have a second position relative to the crests of the second electromagnetic wave. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification