Quantum scalpel

To provide innovative and affordable cancer treatments, the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) have initiated a project to develop a compact heavy-ion therapy system. Their accelerator complex is called a “quantum scalpel” and consists of a multi-ion source and 4 MeV/u linear accelerator as an injector, a 430 MeV/u synchrotron with superconducting magnets and a 360-degree rotating gantry treatment room. The quantum scalpel is less than one-quarter the size of conventional heavy-ion therapy equipment. In addition, it is expected to be downsized further in the future by replacing the injector with a laser-driven accelerator. The goal of the quantum scalpel project is to realize compact therapy equipment, which can be installed in general hospital buildings, with an area of 20 m2 × 10 m2.