Power supply for fast-scanning magnet in proton therapy: Design and test

Proton therapy is one of the most effective radiation methods to combat cancer and offers a substantial advantage over conventional photon therapy. Magnetic scanning systems consisting of a magnet and power supply form an integral part of proton therapy and allow the beam position (x, y) to be controlled during spot scanning. Ensuring that the dose is rapidly and precisely distributed within the contour of the tumor requires a high-precision, fast-ramp-speed, and high-stability power supply with accurate control. The present work uses a three-phase bridge rectifier and multiple series-parallel H-bridge converters to propose a prototype power supply for the scanning magnet of a magnetic scanning system. The power supply is controlled using a proportional integral controller using digital signal processing. A prototype of the scanning power supply is developed and tested, and the results demonstrate an output current of ±500 A, a ramp speed of ±40 kA/s, and a short- and long-term stability of less than 20 ppm.