A design study is currently underway at the University of Melbourne for a large energy acceptance beamline to enable future hadron therapy modalities. As part of the TURBO project, a beam delivery system demonstrator is being developed for a DC Pelletron accelerator, which will provide 3 MeV H+ beams. Fixed Field Accelerator optics will be used to maximise momentum acceptance, with dispersion minimised at both ends of the transport line. This project aims to be the first `closed dispersion arc' with fixed fields ever constructed. As part of the design process, the input beam phase space from the Pelletron has been characterised. Our results show that the Pelletron beam can be injected into the novel transport line successfully, and Zgoubi simulations show that near-zero dispersion at each end will be achievable. This is supplemented by error studies and magnet investigations, demonstrating that beam transport can be achieved under realistic circumstances. This initial study establishes the feasibility of this beamline design and work is continuing toward further optimisation for implementation.

A design study is currently underway at the University of Melbourne for a large energy acceptance beamline to enable future hadron therapy modalities. As part of the TURBO project, a beam delivery system demonstrator is being developed for a DC Pelletron accelerator, which will provide 3 MeV H+ beams. Fixed Field Accelerator optics will be used to maximise momentum acceptance, with dispersion minimised at both ends of the transport line. This project aims to be the first `closed dispersion arc' with fixed fields ever constructed. As part of the design process, the input beam phase space from the Pelletron has been characterised. Our results show that the Pelletron beam can be injected into the novel transport line successfully, and Zgoubi simulations show that near-zero dispersion at each end will be achievable. This is supplemented by error studies and magnet investigations, demonstrating that beam transport can be achieved under realistic circumstances. This initial study establishes the feasibility of this beamline design and work is continuing toward further optimisation for implementation.

TURBO – Technology for Ultra Rapid Beam Operation – is a novel beam delivery system (BDS) in development at the University of Melbourne. The BDS determines several aspects of treatment delivery, where a bottleneck is the deadtime associated with beam energy variation. Beamlines at treatment facilities have a ±1% momentum acceptance range, requiring all the magnetic fields to adjust to deliver beams of different energies at multiple depths along the tumour volume. A BDS using Fixed Field Alternating Gradient optics could reduce the energy layer switching time by enabling the transport of a large range of beam energies within the same fixed fields. We present recent progress and ongoing developments with TURBO, a proof-of-concept demonstrator adapted for low energy protons. Characterisation measurements were performed to determine realistic parameters for beam transport and particle tracking modelling. Initial simulation and design studies are shown for an energy degrader, prototype magnets constructed using 3D-printed holders and considerations of canted-cosine-theta magnets for a scaled-up BDS. Future plans further explore the clinical feasibility of TURBO for charged particle therapy.