By the mid-1950s, a linear accelerator suitable for treating deep-seated tumors was built in the Stanford Microwave Laboratory and installed at Stanford Hospital. It served as a prototype for commercial units that were built later. Since that time, medical linear accelerators gained in popularity as major radiation therapy devices, but few basic training materials on their operation had been produced for use by medical professionals. C.J. Karzmark, a radiological physicist at Stanford University, was involved with medical linacs since their development, and he agreed to collaborate with Robert Morton of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (formerly the Bureau of Radiological Health), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in writing the first edition of this primer.

Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy, Second Edition focuses on the fundamentals of accelerator systems, explaining the underlying physics and the different features of these systems. This edition includes expanded sections on the treatment head, on x-ray production via multileaf and dynamic collimation for the production of wedged and other i

Organized to serve as a ready reference, this book covers the design & principles of operation of microwave electron linear accelerators for the radiation treatment of cancer. Designed for use by persons without extensive knowledge & experience of accelerator technology, the book assumes a knowledge of elementary physics & mathematics & places its emphasis on how accelerators actually function & how they are used in cancer treatment. Coverage includes the history of development & application, general theory of acceleration, accelerator systems, radiation beam systems & associated equipment, performance characteristics, testing & use. The major modules of a representative medical accelerator are described, including principles of operation & how these models function collectively to produce electron & X-ray beams for radiotherapy.

This unique resource offers you a clear overview of medical and industrial accelerators. Using minimal mathematics, this book focuses on offering thorough explanations of basic concepts surrounding the operation of accelerators. You find well illustrated discussions designed to help you use accelerator-based systems in a safer, more productive, and more reliable manner. This practical book details the manufacturing process for producing accelerators for medical and industrial applications. You become knowledgeable about the commonly encountered real-world manufacturing issues and potential sources of defects which help you avoid costly production problems. From principles of operation and the role of accelerators in cancer radiation therapy, to manufacturing techniques and future trends in accelerator design and applications, this easy-to-comprehend volume quickly brings you up-to-speed with the critical concepts you need to understand for your work in the field.

This book deals with the principal areas of activity in radiation physics. Although the basic descriptions of theory and practice are presented in a format which is suitable mainly as a revision text for undergraduate and postgraduate students, the book also serves as an introduction to the field which will be of interest to other informed workers. Detailed treatment is foregone in the interests of a comprehensive survey. The book has evolved from lectures given in the University of London MSc course on radiation physics, and from undergraduate lectures given at Queen Mary and Westfield College. Industrial as well as medical aspects of the field are considered.