Technology of Cancer Particle Radiation Therapy Based on Ultrafast Intense Laser Generated Proton- and Ion Beams

摘要

Based on a compact laser accelerator of ions, we can now envision a compact beam therapeutic machine of cancer treatment (and some other difficult diseases). Taking advantage of laser accelerator, we look for a cure of small and localized tumors combined with an early detection at the stage of small tumors. We design our accelerator system to fit with the existing electron/ photon therapy infrastructure. The gantry is designed to bend small angle ion beams combined with the flexible control of laser angle. The system is suitable for the tunably controlled laser irradiation on the target and the shoot-and-ascertain-the-dose approach. In order to increase the ion energy gain while dispensing the large dose per shot, we adopt the mass-limited target so that laser irradiation is more effectively coupled with the efficient energy transfer of small number of highly energetic ions. We suggest a couple of technology strategies for accomplishing this goal, the one pursued at Munich Center for Advanced Photonics and the other at Photo Medical Research Center. These are complementary and yet based on the same vision.