This thesis details the creation of an integrated system of software packages and custom code, which facilitates the design of RFQ vane tips, utilising computer-aided design (CAD) models for both simulation and manufacture, accurate multi-physics modelling of the electric field and particle tracking simulations. Carbon ions are pre-accelerated by an RFQ and a short linear accelerator (linac). The injector for the PAMELA FFAG accelerator includes separate pre-acceleration chains for protons and carbon ions, culminating in a shared injection system into the first FFAG ring. This new technology offers significant advantages over both cyclotrons and synchrotrons for CPT. The PAMELA project (part of the BASROC consortium) aims to design new charged particle therapy (CPT) facilities using non-scaling fixed-field alternating-gradient accelerators (ns-FFAGs).

This allows higher doses to treat the cancer while minimising damage to healthy surrounding tissue and organs.

Charged hadron beams, such as protons and carbon, deposit most of the dose at the Bragg peak, which can be aligned with the tumour. Radiotherapy is a valuable form of cancer treatment, but current methods using photons or electrons make it difficult to deliver an adequate dose to the tumour without damaging healthy surrounding tissue and organs. This thesis describes a new design method for a radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ), and its application to the first stage of acceleration for carbon ions in the PAMELA injector.

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