Multi-beam accelerator system for mobile food irradiation applications

Statement of the Problem Food security is increasingly identified as a national security problem. A particularly emerging innovation in this space is mobile food irradiation, which brings the benefits of irradiation directly to food producers, processors, and distribution centers without requiring large, stationary facilities. Mobile units equipped with electron beam (e-beam) or X-ray technology offer a cost-effective and flexible solution, especially for small and medium-sized food businesses that may not have access to traditional irradiation plants. These conventional systems, based on Rhodotrons or high-energy linacs, are too large and heavy for mobile applications, and require to be placed in a special facility with proper concrete shielding. Technical Approach To resolve this problem, we propose the idea of using a multibeam accelerating structure approach. In this approach a standing wave accelerating structure, consisting of multiple cavities, coupled together to form a single resonating is utilized. However, unlike conventional structures, where the beam passes through the cells consequently, in these structures multiple electron beams are accelerated in every single RF cavity individually. In this case, each beamlet will gain a fraction of the total energy, stored in the whole structure (~1 MeV) but their currents can be as high as in conventional linacs (~100-200 mA peak). Therefore, a multibeam accelerating structure allows to achieve the same amount of power for low-energy beams, which is a key factor for radiation shielding amount reduction. Phase I Plans The goal of this project is to develop a novel type of accelerator as a cost-effective radiation source for mobile irradiation systems. In Phase I we will carefully optimize the accelerator design, based on a novel multi-beam accelerating structure approach. In particular, we will perform the accelerating structure design and optimization, choose the required components (e-guns, power source, waveguides, etc.), and perform engineering design of the critical systems (windows, beam transport system, and radiation system) to minimize the system dimensions, so it can be placed on a truck platform. In Phase II, we will build and test the linac prototype. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits The output of this project will be a high-power (tens of kW) low-energy (~1 MeV) electron linac that can be placed on mobile platforms to perform food irradiation in the remote areas. Beyond food irradiation, this linac can have many other industrial, agricultural and security applications, including medical device sterilization, seed irradiation, inspection systems etc.