Induction acceleration of heavy ions in the KEK digital accelerator: Demonstration of a fast-cycling induction synchrotron

Abstract

A fast-cycling induction synchrotron was demonstrated. Ions with extremely low energies and mass-to-charge ratios (A/Q) in the range from 2 to 10 were injected, captured by barrier voltages, and accelerated to the end of the acceleration cycle of 50 ms by flat pulse voltages generated by pulse transformers referred to as induction cells. Induction acceleration in a wide dynamic frequency range of 56 kHz to 1 MHz was also demonstrated. This accelerator is expected as the next generation of a heavy ion driver for cancer therapy, where a large scale injector is not required. A wide variety of ions for ion energy implantation experiments needing novel materials will be delivered from this compact circular accelerator. © Published by the American Physical Society.