A proposed proton therapy facility at the SSC

A conceptual design study of a proton therapy facility at the SSC has been performed. Participants included Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, the Particle Accelerator Corporation, Aguirre Associates Inc., and the SSCL. The effort was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved a series of trade studies where three alternative approaches to beam formation were examined. They were: 1) using the SSC linac beam directly with intensity reduction techniques; 2) using a pulse stretcher ring attached to the linac; and 3) using a small synchrotron attached to the linac. The relative costs of the three approaches were evaluated and the program flexibility of each was examined. Such factors as implications on nozzle design, dose rate adjustability, perturbation on the linac operation, potential radioisotope production, possibilities for B-N capture therapy, and proton radiography were weighed. Additionally, such features as gantries, vertical and horizontal beams, and variable collimators were reviewed. The second phase of the study focused in detail on using the linac beam directly, one fixed beam room with intersecting vertical and horizontal beams, one gantry room, and a radioisotope production facility. The results of these studies are presented. (orig.)