THE FIRST MAGNETIC FIELD CONTROL (B-TRAIN) TO OPTIMIZE THE DUTY CYCLE OF A SYNCHROTRON IN CLINICAL OPERATION

In December 2011 the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center started to use the magnetic field feedback control for its clinical operation. Therewith the magnetic field deviation of the ramped magnets in the synchrotron depending on eddy currents and hysteresis are no longer in effect. Waiting times on the flattop and the ”chimney” in the recovery phase of the synchrotron cycle are no longer necessary. The efficiency of the accelerator is increased by more than 20% and the treatment time shortens accordingly. The core of the magnetic feedback system is a real time measuring system of the magnetic field with extremely high precision.