Magnetic scanning system for heavy ion therapy

Abstract Beams of heavy ions have favourable physical and biological properties for the use in radiotherapy. These advantages are most pronoucced if the beam is delivered in a tumor-conform way by active beam scanning. A magnetic scanning technique is used to spread the beam laterally. The range of the particles in tissue is controlled by the variation of the beam energy in the accelerator. Computer simulations were used to compare a discrete scan mode (pixel scan) with a continous scan mode (raster scan). It was found that both methods lead to nearly identical results. The design and technical realization of the magnetic scanning system at GSI combines features of both scan techniques. First results using the lateral beam scanning method as well as the combination of the active energy variation with the magnetic beam scanning are presented.