Method and apparatus for laser-controlled proton beam radiology

A proton beam radiology system provides cancer treatment and proton radiography. The system includes an accelerator for producing an H- beam and a laser source for generating a laser beam. A photodetachment module is located proximate the periphery of the accelerator. The photodetachment module combines the H- beam and laser beam to produce a neutral beam therefrom within a subsection of the H- beam. The photodetachment module emits the neutral beam along a trajectory defined by the laser beam. The photodetachment module includes a stripping foil which forms a proton beam from the neutral beam. The proton beam is delivered to a conveyance segment which transports the proton beam to a patient treatment station. The photodetachment module further includes a laser scanner which moves the laser beam along a path transverse to the cross-section of the H- beam in order to form the neutral beam in subsections of the H- beam. As the scanning laser moves across the H- beam, it similarly varies the trajectory of the proton beam emitted from the photodetachment module and in turn varies the target location of the proton beam upon the patient. Intensity modulation of the proton beam can also be achieved by controlling the output of the laser. 9 figs