CERN collaborates with CHUV (Lausanne) on the design of an innovative clinical FLASH radiation therapy facility. The baseline design is nearly complete and a Conceptual Design Report (CDR) is being written.  With the feasibility of the baseline design established, the priority for the design effort is now to elaborate in greater depth initial design choices and to evaluate if alternatives can provide better performance, reliability etc.  This project proposes to carry out a critical review of the proposed CLIC technology-based X-band linac RF system and to evaluate alternative components, especially the accelerating structures.

The project bridges the gap between the first project phase (conceptual design) and the actual construction of a FLASH radiotherapy facility at CHUV.

More funding has been given in 2021 to carry out a critical review of the proposed magnet system for the facility and evaluate alternative designs and technologies, especially for the separator magnet. This is one of the key elements of the accelerator part of the facility, as it dictates the geometry of the downstream transfer lines to the patient treatment station, and consequently determines the size of the facility.