Design and simulation of magnetic coil for steering of cyclotron proton beam

Abstract

The PETtrace cyclotron is used for the production of pharmaceutical radioisotopes delivered to local hospitals for cancer diagnosis and nuclear imaging. The fine adjustment of where the proton beam hits the target can improve the production of radioisotopes. The design and simulation of a magnetic coil to steer the proton beam by deflecting it using magnetic force was conducted for this purpose. The design of the magnetic coil was based on MURR cyclotron parameters. The simulation analysis was performed to predict actual performance of a steering system inside the cyclotron facility and find the optimum parameter to implement the system. The steering has done by controlling the deflection length of the proton beam in the x and y directions; with the beam traveling in the z-direction. The system was designed by using magnetic circuit and electromagnetic theory. A software package called finite element method magnetic (FEMM) was used as a simulation tool to conduct finite element analysis of the designed coil.