Cyclotrons for Particle Therapy

Abstract

In particle therapy with protons a cyclotron is one of the most used particle accelerators. Here it will be explained how a cyclotron works, some beam dynamics aspects, its major subsystems, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a cyclotron for this application are discussed. The difference between the standard isochronous cyclotron and the synchrocyclotron is explained. New developments are presented and especially those which aim to reduce the size of the accelerator.