A new proton irradiation facility at the Northeast Proton Therapy Center

Abstract

The radiation environment resulting from cosmic rays both in space and on Earth must be well understood to protect both people and equipment. There is a need for irradiation facilities with well characterized proton beams where equipment design can be tested and the underlying physics studied. The Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory (HCL) has delivered proton beams up to 160 MeV to 'outside users' for over 30 years. The Northeast Proton Therapy Center (NPTC) will continue the work of HCL providing facilities for outside users. NPTC will provide continuous proton beams up to 230 MeV with currents as high as 300 nA (3). The advantages of NPTC include, higher proton beam energy, continuous beam capability and fast energy adjustment.