A New Generation of High-Performance Ion Sources for the Medical Particle Therapy

摘要

Hadron therapy as a technique of tumor radiotherapy which actually employs beams of protons and C{sub}(6+) ions is developing rapidly. Worldwide in operation are turn key proton therapy centres and dual centres featuring both proton and carbon beams. Further on, in near future it might be very possible that also beams of other fully stripped light elements will be needed for therapy purposes. In comparison to classical medical irradiation treatment with γ-rays or electrons the use of hadron beams is gentler for the patient. This situation is shown in Fig. 1 where the energy deposition into tissue is compared for X-ray and ions beams. An ion beam deposits lower energy along his trajectory in the patient body and therefore reduces side-effects in the healthy tissue under maximum energy deposition in the tumor.