New accelerator designs: NIMMS

This article summarises the presentation given at the “Hadrontherapy: status and perspectives” event.

Structure, methodology, and objectives of the Next Ion Medical Machine Study collaboration are introduced. Its four Work Packages are: small synchrotrons for particle therapy, curved superconducting magnets for synchrotrons and gantries, superconducting gantry design, and high-frequency ion linacs. Synchrotrons under study include a superconducting design for carbon ion therapy, and a normal-conducting design for ions up to helium. Superconducting magnet R&D is carried out in two European projects. Within the scope of these projects, five magnet demonstrators with different technologies are in different phases of design and production. Beam optics and mechanical design of a superconducting gantry for carbon ions is being developed. A high-frequency linac design has been completed, and tests are starting on a prototype high-frequency injector.

The designs of two facilities based on NIMMS technological developments are presented. A carbon ion research and therapy facility was designed for the SEEIIST project, based on a conventional synchrotron with high beam intensity. A smaller facility aimed at cancer therapy and research with light ions, in particular helium beams has also been designed. Both facilities can produce FLASH-type beams.

The traditional design of carbon ion therapy facilities can be improved by adding new features as higher beam intensity and new beam extraction schemes. A cost-effective alternative to the traditional design is a compact facility for light ions, exploiting the potential for treatment with helium ions and allowing an experimental programme with different ion species.