Thermal management of LINAC targets

To increase the X-ray flux generated in a medical linear accelerator (LINAC), it is necessary to remove the heat deposited in the target by the impinging electrons. Higher X-ray fluxes are required for treatments that apply significant doses of radiation in a short period of time. We analyzed a variety of targets and cooling geometries in a typical LINAC. The Monte-Carlo code Geant4 was first used to determine the X-rays produced and the energy deposited in the targets, and the temperature distribution in the target was determined using finite-element analysis. Improved target/cooling designs to produce higher X-ray flux are described and quantified.