Linear Particle Accelerators for X-ray Cargo Screening and Radiotherapy

由于需要控制边界，在港口、机场和铁路站使用X光货物成像的情况迅速增加。许多受高能物理（HEP）启发的项目导致了探测器技术的快速发展。然而，这并没有伴随着加速器的发展，这导致许多这些探测器的发展没有被利用。此外，安全应用需要具有更高重复率、更短聚束和更长宏脉冲的直线加速器，这在商业上目前还不存在。用于安全的直线加速器也用于放射治疗。目前，世界上50%的人口没有足够的机会接受放射治疗来治疗癌症，主要是在低收入或中等收入国家。兰开斯特目前正在开发新的放射治疗机，将更便宜或更容易维修比现有的机器，以帮助改善access.With新的RF设计方法和技术，采用高梯度加速器和现有的RF源，这样的直线加速器可以实现与电子枪的发展并行。我们计划设计适合Rapiscan的下一代直线加速器，以满足他们当前成像需求的要求，以及低收入国家的放射治疗。Cockcroft现有的直线加速器测试设施适合新型直线加速器和探测器的开发。我还计划帮助调试和操作这个设施，并对光束进行表征，以帮助未来的实验。

The need to control borders has led to a rapid growth in the use of X-ray cargo imaging at ports, airports and rail depots. Many projects inspired by high energy physics (HEP) have led to rapid developments in detector technology. This, however, has not been accompanied by accelerator development, which has resulted in many of these detectors developments not being utilised. Furthermore, security applications require linacs with higher repetition rates, shorter bunches and longer macropulses, which currently don't exist commercially. The linacs used in security are also used for radiotherapy. Currently 50% of the worlds population do not have sufficient access tio radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer, mostly in low or middle income countries. Lancaster are currently developing new radiotherapy machines that will either be cheaper or easier to repair than existing machines to help improve access.With new RF design methodologies and techniques employed in high gradient accelerators and existing RF sources, such a linac could be realised in parallel with electron gun development. We plan to design a next-generation linac suitable for the needs of Rapiscan to meet the requirements of their current imaging needs, as well as for radiotherapy in low income countries.The Cockcroft has an existing linac test facility suitable for novel linac and detector development. I plan to also help commission and operate this facility, as well as performing characterization of the beam to aid future experiments.