Source of Protons for an Accelerator?

How do they get free proton to use in proton radiation therapy? Thanks
- Ben Compani (age 65)
Roswell ga

You start out with a bottle of hydrogen gas.  The gas is passed through a region where there is a very intense electric field.  If the field is strong enough the electrons can be separated from the protons in the hydrogen atom, which then fly apart.  The protons are collected and sent through a series of accelerating fields to achieve the necessary energy for the radiation therapy.

LeeH

(published on 11/25/2011)