Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for accommodating a solid target in an accelerator system having:a rotating target changer having at least one feed through slot dimensioned for passage of the solid target;an insert having a cavity with a radial circumference, the cavity radial circumference in communication with the feed through slot and passing the solid target therethrough;a piston having a tab, slidably received and retained within the insert cavity before the target is loaded into the insert;a cylinder coupled to the piston, which displaces the piston in one of three positions within the cavity; anda bracket coupled to the insert, cylinder and target changer;the method comprising:placing the piston in the first position, which is a load position;receiving the solid target within the insert via the feed through slot; andsecuring the solid target within the insert via a tab of the piston which prevents passage of the solid target out of the insert cavity. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:rotating the target changer from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is a service position and the second position is a beam position where the solid target is irradiated by a beam for a predetermined time at a predetermined current. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the piston in the second position, which is an extended position. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the piston in the third position, which comprises an extracted position. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system accommodates a solid target, a liquid target and a gaseous target; and the target changer has four ports and a service position. 6. A method for accommodating a solid target in an accelerator system having:a rotating target changer having at least one feed through slot dimensioned for passage of the solid target;an insert for passage of the solid target therethrough having:a cavity with a radial circumference and first and second axial openings;a piston having a tab slidably received within the first opening during target passage through the insert; andat least one insert slot defined within the cavity between the piston and second opening that is in communication with the feed through slot and receiving the solid target therein when the target changer is in a load position;a cylinder coupled to the piston, which displaces the piston within the cavity; anda bracket coupled to the insert, cylinder and target changer;the method comprising:placing the piston in the first position, which is a load position;receiving the solid target within the insert via the feed through slot; andsecuring the solid target within the insert via a tab of the piston which prevents passage of the solid target out of the insert cavity. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:rotating the target changer from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is a service position and the second position is a beam position where the solid target is irradiated by a beam for a predetermined time at a predetermined current. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising placing the piston in the second position, which is an extended position. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising placing the piston in the third position, which comprises an extracted position.