Accelerator Technology for Medical Applications

Accelerators for medical applications range from electron linacs in the meter scale to 70 meter circumference synchrotrons, from compact fixed field ion rings to laser-driven electron acceleration systems, from energies in a few MeVs to several 100s of MeV capability. Technologies are linked to the nature of the particle required which includes photons, electrons, protons, light ions, and some additional more exotic particles. Technologies used are linked as well to the irradiation method: passive, bunch-to-pixel, 3-D conformal, based on Bragg peak or not, on variable energy or not, ultra-short irradiation or slow-scan, high or low beam delivery repetition rate, radiography capabilities, etc.  Appropriate technologies also depend on required irradiation dose, with some categories of accelerators for instance mostly barred from high dose rates and/or ultra-short irradiation. 

This presentation will review the types of particle accelerators found in the field of medical application, it will also be an opportunity for a brief review of evolution in the field in the recent past, a present status, and prospects.