Development of an Innovative Penning Ion Source Optimized for He++ Production

D-Pace, Inc. supplies high-quality precision equipment and services to the particle accelerator industry. D-Pace has identified a market for positively-charged helium ion sources. Cyclotrons require positive helium ions to generate radioisotopes as such as Astatine-211 for radioimmunotherapy, and Sn-117m for imaging and therapy. Complex and costly Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion sources are currently used for this purpose. D-Pace has determined that Penning ion source technology, a simpler and more compact approach than ECR sources, may be suitable to meet the needs of this market segment. This would bring radio-pharmaceutical costs down and improve the availability of these agents.
Penning ion sources currently do not have sufficient positive helium ion current, kinetic energy, and beam quality to compete with ECR sources. The scope of this project will include a thorough review of the scientific literature, followed by the application of modern computer modeling techniques to optimize the Penning source design.

Faculty Supervisor:

Reiner Kruecken

Student:

Partner:

D-Pace Inc

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: