Detailed Examination of the Medical Linear Accelerator (LINAC)
The Medical Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is the cornerstone technology of modern external beam radiation therapy, a sophisticated device that generates high-energy X-rays and electrons for the precise destruction of cancer cells while meticulously sparing surrounding healthy tissue, fundamentally driving the field of oncology.
Its core mechanism involves accelerating electrons in a vacuum chamber, guiding them toward a heavy metal target to produce high-energy X-rays via a process called bremsstrahlung, or using the electron beam directly for superficial tumor treatment, all under exceptionally precise computer control.
The functional components of a LINAC are complex and highly integrated. It includes an electron gun (the source of electrons), a waveguide (where electrons are accelerated by microwave energy), and a treatment head. Within the treatment head, the beam is shaped and refined. Key technological advancements include the **multileaf collimator (MLC)**, a device consisting of hundreds of small, individually controlled metal leaves that dynamically shape…
