Multiple target, multiple energy radioisotope production

Abstract

A multiple target array for receiving particles from a particle beam generator includes a particle beam transport path having a transport inlet and a transport outlet, the inlet receiving a particle beam from the particle beam generator. A kicker magnet is positioned along the particle beam transport path. The kicker magnet has an ON state and an OFF state and a kicker magnet inlet and a kicker magnet outlet. The array further includes a plurality of target paths, each of said target paths having a target inlet and terminating in a target. One of the target inlets is connected to the transport path adjacent to the kicker magnet outlet, and the particle beam in the transport path entering the kicker magnet inlet passes along the transport path through the kicker magnet outlet when the kicker magnet is in the OFF state, and the beam is directed to the target inlet when the kicker magnet is in the ON state.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multiple target array for receiving particles from a particle beam generator comprising: 
 a particle beam transport path having a transport inlet and a transport outlet, said inlet receiving a particle beam from the particle beam generator;    a kicker magnet positioned along said particle beam transport path, said kicker magnet having an ON state and an OFF state and a kicker magnet inlet and a kicker magnet outlet;    a plurality of target paths, each of said target paths having a target inlet and terminating in a target;    wherein one of said target inlets is connected to said transport path adjacent to said kicker magnet outlet, and wherein the particle beam in said transport path entering said kicker magnet inlet passes along said transport path through said kicker magnet outlet when said kicker magnet is in the OFF state, and said beam is directed to said target inlet when said kicker magnet is in said ON state.    
     
     
         2 . The multiple target array of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of kicker magnets disposed along said particle beam transport path and wherein one of said plurality of target inlets are connected to said transport path adjacent to one of said plurality of kicker magnets outlets.  
     
     
         3 . The multiple target array of  claim 2  further comprising a deflecting magnet disposed in each of said plurality of target paths for deflecting the beam in said target path, thereby allowing a bend in said target path.  
     
     
         4 . The multiple target array of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of particle beam accelerators.  
     
     
         5 . The multiple target array of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of particle beam accelerators comprise linear accelerators positioned in a sequential array.  
     
     
         6 . The multiple target array of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of focusing magnets in said transport path positioned between the particle beam generator and said kicker magnet.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for producing particle beams at multiple energy levels comprising a plurality of linear accelerators, each of said plurality of linear accelerators having an accelerator inlet and an accelerator outlet wherein said plurality of linear accelerators are positioned with an accelerator outlet of one linear accelerator connected to an accelerator outlet of a next linear accelerator to create a sequential array.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a particle beam transport path having a transport inlet and a transport outlet, said inlet connected to one of said accelerator outlets at a termination of said sequential array;  
 a plurality of target paths, each of said target paths having a target inlet and termination in a target;  
 a plurality of kicker magnets positioned adjacent to said particle beam transport path, each of said plurality of kicker magnets having an ON state and an OFF state and a kicker magnet inlet and a kicker magnet outlet;  
 wherein each of said plurality of target inlets is connected to said transport path adjacent to a corresponding kicker magnet outlet and said transport outlet is connected to one of said target inlets, and wherein each of said kicker magnet inlets receives said beams, passes said beams through said kicker magnet outlet along said transport path when said kicker magnet is in the OFF state, and redirects said beam to said target inlet when said kicker magnet is in said ON state.  
 
     
     
         9 . The multiple target array of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of focusing magnets in said transport path positioned between said sequential array of said particle beam accelerators and plurality of kicker magnets.  
     
     
         10 . The multiple target array of  claim 9  further comprising a deflecting magnet disposed in each of said plurality of target paths for deflecting the beam in said target path, thereby allowing a bend in said target path.  
     
     
         11 . A particle beam transport system comprising: 
 a sequential array of particle beam accelerators having an array beam outlet;    a particle beam transport path having a transport inlet and a transport outlet, said inlet connected to said array beam outlet for receiving a particle beam;    a plurality of focusing magnets on said particle beam transport path;    a plurality of target paths, each having a target inlet and terminating in a target;    a plurality of kicker magnets disposed along said particle beam transport path, each of said plurality of kicker magnets having an ON state and an OFF state and a kicker magnet inlet and a kicker magnet outlet;    wherein one of said target inlets is connected to said transport path adjacent to a one of said kicker magnet outlets, said transport outlet is connected to one of said target inlets, said focusing magnets focus said beam for said plurality of kicker magnet inlets, and each of said plurality of kicker magnet inlets receives said beam, passes said beam through said kicker magnet outlet along said transport path when said kicker magnet is in the OFF state, and directs said beam to said tartet inlet when said kicker magnet is in said ON state.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of pulsed power supplies, wherein one of said kicker magnets and one of said focusing magnets is powered by one of said pulsed power supplies.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a controller for controlling said plurality of pulsed power supplies.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further wherein said each of said plurality of kicker magnets comprises pulsed dipole magnets.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said each of said plurality of focusing magnets comprises quadropole magnets.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a deflecting magnet disposed in each of said plurality of target paths to deflect said beam in said target path, thereby allowing a bend in said target path.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein each of said plurality of deflecting magnets comprises dipole magnets.  
     
     
         18 . A method of producing multiple radioisotopes from alternative pulses of a particle beam comprising: 
 producing a pulsed particle beam of discrete pulses at a preselected energy level for each pulse;    directing each of the pulses along a defined transport path having alternative target branches, wherein each of the alternative target branches terminates in a target where radioisotopes are produced; and    directing a selection of the pulses on the transport path into an alternative target branch using pulsed kicker magnets disposed on the transport path.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising deflecting the pulses traversing the target branches to follow bends in the target branches.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising focusing each pulse as it traverses the transport path.