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Accelerator Physics

Argonne maintains a wide-ranging science and technology portfolio that seeks to address complex challenges in interdisciplinary and innovative ways. Below is a list of all articles, highlights, profiles, projects, and organizations related specifically to accelerator physics.

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  • Improved treatment of X-ray resistant and inoperable cancers and tumors
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 7,312,461
    • Endoscopic Electron Beam Cancer Therapy (ANL-IN-04-067)
    This figure shows a comparison of X-ray radiation treatment and electron beam treatment. At left, a false color map displays ene

    Manipulating electron beam cancer therapy so it can be used treat internal cancers and tumors has the potential to revolutionize oncology. This ground-breaking innovation can provide a successful and cost-effective means of treating cancer in previously inoperable or radiation-sensitive areas of the body. 

    Technology Description 

    By delivering large irradiation doses in a short time, electron beams have proven to be very effective in cancer treatment. But the electron is also strongly absorbed by tissue, limiting this treatment to surface cancers and procedures that require large surgical incisions to expose the body core. 

    Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, led by John Noonan, have discovered a way to turn the negative attributes of electron beam cancer therapy into advantages. If the electron beam can be transported to the internal cancer without exposure to tissue, the beam can be absorbed by the tumor only. With this approach, healthy tissue is not exposed to radiation. 

    An electron source has been designed to have very low beam emittance. The beam is sub-millimeter in diameter and stays small over meters of transport in free space. It will allow for an articulated, hard-walled laparoscopic tube to be inserted through a small incision and positioned directly at the tumor. The beam can vary energy from 1 million electron volts (MeV) to 10 MeV, permitting it to cover a tumor size of about 0.5 cm to 5 cm, respectively. 

    Initially, electron beam treatment can be used on X-ray radiation resistant tumors. The electrons destroy cancerous cells by direct damage to the DNA, and not by electron displacement in molecules as with X-rays. Ultimately, the electron beam therapy would be a competitor to all X-ray treatments. 

    Potential Benefits 

    The damage volume of the electron irradiation can be controlled very closely by changing the electron beam energy. This precise exposure provides several new cancer therapies or treatments in previously inoperable or radiation-sensitive locations, such as the spine, nerves, optic nerve, and organs. Electron beam treatment of brain tumors is another new opportunity. In this case, the laparoscopic tube provides an advantage. After the irradiation, the tube can be used to evacuate the mass of dead tissue, which can become destructive to healthy brain cells. 

    Enormous doses can be delivered to the tumor without worrying about total body dose exposures, as is required for X-rays. The electron beam can be tailored to irradiate a very precise volume, so an oncologist can direct the irradiation at the tumor and whatever adjacent tissue they feel necessary. Another major advantage over X-rays is the amount of treatment time required. X-ray treatments can go on for months, while electron beams may potentially only require one session, providing a significant improvement in patient care. 

    The electron beam system is compact so it could fit in an operating room—probably even under the operating table. Except for the electron source, the system uses conventional accelerator technology. The production cost of the unit should be much less than that of existing radiation therapy systems. 

    Development Stage

    Prototype

    Scientific Publication

    Noonan J., and Lewellen J.W., 2005, Field-emission cathode gating for RF electron guns,” Physical Review, Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams 8: 033502. 

  • High Energy Physics

    Research in the High Energy Physics division is driven by the goal of understanding the fundamental constituents of matter and energy, and illuminating the ultimate nature of space and time.
    Starfield
  • Advanced Photon Source

    The Advanced Photon Source (APS) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory provides ultra-bright, high-energy storage ring-generated X-ray beams for research in almost all scientific disciplines.
  • Clayton Dickerson

    Clayton Dickerson leads a team responsible for upgrading ATLAS to enable new capabilities and improve operational efficiency.
  • Kawtar Hafidi

    Kawtar Hafidi is Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences and Engineering. She oversees the laboratory’s research programs in nuclear and high energy physics, materials science, chemical science and engineering, and nanoscience and technology.
  • Michael David Borland

    Design, commissioning, operation, and simulation of electron guns, linear accelerators, and storage rings.
  • Scott Doran

    Scott Doran is responsible for Mechanical Design for the Argonne Wakefield Accelerator