Image quality of the proton imaging from computer-simulated data

In this paper, the proton image quality of three designed phantoms is studied by the Monte Carlo simulation tool FLUKA, and is compared with that of the photon, and electron imaging. The passages of parallel beams were simulated by the phantoms for protons, electrons and X-rays, and the fluence and energy spectra of exiting particles are recorded. The proton energy loss imaging has a high quality under low transmission proton fluence, and its quality is superior to that of electron and photon fluence. The results demonstrate that proton energy loss imaging is especially suitable for the samples ofhundreds of nano-thicknesses.     

Ion-luminescence properties of GaN films being developed for IPEM

Radiation effects microscopy (REM) for the next generation integrated circuits (ICs) will require GeV ions both to provide high ionization and to penetrate the thick overlayers in present day ICs. These ion beams can be provided by only a few cyclotrons in the world. Since it is extremely hard to focus these higher-energy ions, we have proposed the ion photon emission microscope (IPEM) that allows the determination of the ion hits by focusing the emitted photons to a position sensitive detector. The IPEM needs a thin luminescent foil that has high brightness, good spatial resolution and does not change the incident ion’s energy and direction significantly. Available organic-phosphor foils require a large thickness to produce enough photons, which results in poor spatial resolution. To solve this problem, we have developed thin, lightly doped n-type GaN films that are extremely bright. We have grown high quality GaN films on sapphire using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), detached the films from the substrate using laser ablation, and made them self-supporting. The smallest foils have 1 mm² area and 1 μm thickness. The optical properties, such as light yield, spectrum and decay times were measured and compared to those of conventional phosphors, by using both alpha particles from a radioactive source and 250 keV ions from an implanter. We found that the GaN performance strongly depends on composition and doping levels. The conclusion is that 1-2 μm GaN film of a 1 mm² area may become an ideal ion position detector.     

CR-39 detector based thermal neutron flux measurements, in the photo neutron project

PhoNeS (photo neutron source) is a project aimed at the production and moderation of neutrons by exploiting high energy linear accelerators, currently used in radiotherapy. A feasibility study has been carried out with the scope in mind to use the high energy photon beams from these accelerators for the production of neutrons suitable for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Within these investigations, it was necessary to carry out preliminary measurements of the thermal neutron component of neutron spectra, produced by the photo-conversion of X-ray radiotherapy beams supplied by three LinAcs: 15 MV, 18 MV and 23 MV. To this end, a simple passive thermal neutron detector has been used which consists of a CR-39 track detector facing a new type of boron-loaded radiator. Once calibrated, this passive detector has been used for the measurement of both the thermal neutron component and the cadmium ratio of different neutron spectra. In addition, bubble detectors with a response highly sensitive to thermal neutrons have also been used. Both thermal neutron detectors are simple to use, very compact and totally insensitive to low-ionizing radiation such as electrons and X-rays. The resultant thermal neutron flux was above 10⁶ n/cm²s and the cadmium ratio was no greater than 15 for the first attempt of photo-conversion of X-ray radiotherapy beams.     

Comparative study of depth-dose distributions for beams of light and heavy nuclei in tissue-like media

We study the energy deposition by beams of light and heavy nuclei in tissue-like media for their possible application in charged-particle cancer therapy. The depth-dose distributions for protons, ³He, ¹²C, ²⁰Ne and ⁵⁸Ni nuclei are calculated within a Monte Carlo model based on the GEANT4 toolkit. These distributions are compared with each other and with available experimental data. It is demonstrated that nuclear fragmentation reactions essentially reduce the peak-to-plateau ratio of the dose profiles for deeply penetrating energetic ions heavier than ³He. On the other hand, the shapes of depth-dose profiles for all projectiles up to ⁵⁸Ni were found similar at low penetration depths.     

Microbeam line with 1.5 MeV helium ions and protons at Osaka

A microprobe for Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) measurements has been realized by focusing 1.5 MeV helium-ion or proton beams with a demagnification system consisting of piezo-driven objective slits and a magnetic quadrupole doublet. Minimum beam spot sizes of 1.3 × 2.2 μm² for helium ions and 2.2 × 4.0 μm² for protons have been achieved. The factors which may limit the minimum spot size are discussed using a Monte Carlo simulation procedure. Rutherford backscattering image mapping of 3-dimensional structures is demonstrated.     

用于硼中子俘获疗法治疗束的光子谱仪设计

实验确认治疗束的谱源项参数是硼中子俘获治疗（BNCT）物理剂量学研究的重要环节之一,全面细致地掌握相关信息,对精准制定临床治疗计划进而准确评估患者的给予剂量十分重要。为验证理论计算源项光子能谱的可靠性,设计适用于BNCT治疗束特点（宽能量范围、高强度n/γ混合束）的新型光子谱仪。通过蒙特卡罗模拟方法优化探测器内的中子注量率、光子计数率及次级光子占比（次级光子计数率/初级光子计数率）三个重要参数,在降低辐射强度以避免探测器的辐射损伤和死时间过大的同时,尽可能抑制中子诱导次级光子的产生,将次级光子占比降至5.45,以实现BNCT治疗束光子谱的快速准确测量。同时,开展谱仪对不同能量光子响应的校准方法研究,以便得到准确的响应函数,为光子谱的解谱工作奠定基础。     

Effect of spin polarization of Ni(1 1 0) surface on Auger neutralization for grazing scattering of He ions

The survival of ions during grazing scattering of keV He⁺ ions from a clean Ni(1 1 0) surface is studied as function of target temperature. We observe ion fractions in the scattered beams of typically 10⁻³ which show a slight increase with temperature of the target surface. From computer simulations of projectile trajectories we attribute this enhancement for ion fractions to effects of thermal vibrations of lattice atoms on the survival of ions in their initial charge state. Based on concepts of Auger neutralization, we discuss the role of the spin polarization of target electrons on charge transfer. We do not find corresponding signatures in our data and conclude that in the present case of Ni(1 1 0) the spin polarization has to be small.     

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy on Intracranial Structures Using an LUÉR-20M Medical Linear Accelerator

A system for stereotactic radiation therapy using narrow bremsstrahlung beams for pathological and normal intracranial structures is examined. The system is based on an LUÉR-20M medical linear accelerator.The method is based on stereotactic centering of a small intracranial target using an x-ray centering guide and rigidly securing the patient's head, with no bleeding, on a treatment table using a rapidly solidifying individual plastic mask, isocentric movement of the treatment table toward the linear accelerator, and subsequent treatment with a narrow static or rotating photon beam. One hundred patients have been treated. The results show that this treatment method is effective.Stereotactic photon beam therapy can be an alternative method to surgery and treatment with a photon beam.     

Therapeutic techniques applied in the heavy-ion therapy at IMP

Superficially-placed tumors have been treated with carbon ions at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), since November 2006. Up to now, 103 patients have been irradiated in the therapy terminal of the heavy ion research facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL) at IMP, where carbon-ion beams with energies up to 100 MeV/u can be supplied and a passive beam delivery system has been developed and commissioned. A number of therapeutic and clinical experiences concerning heavy-ion therapy have been acquired at IMP. To extend the heavy-ion therapy project to deep-seated tumor treatment, a horizontal beam line dedicated to this has been constructed in the cooling storage ring (CSR), which is a synchrotron connected to the HIRFL as an injector, and is now in operation. Therapeutic high-energy carbon-ion beams, extracted from the HIRFL-CSR through slow extraction techniques, have been supplied in the deep-seated tumor therapy terminal. After the beam delivery, shaping and monitoring devices installed in the therapy terminal at HIRFL-CSR were validated through therapeutic beam tests, deep-seated tumor treatment with high-energy carbon ions started in March 2009. The therapeutic techniques in terms of beam delivery system, conformal irradiation method and treatment planning used at IMP are introduced in this paper.     

Calculated energy loss of a swift fullerene ion beam in InP

Bombardment of semiconductors with fullerene has been used to induce the formation of tracks. It is now accepted that target electronic excitation and ionization, which gives rise to the slowing down of the projectile is essential to calculate the track diameter. In the case of cluster beams, like fullerenes, the electronic excitation induced by each of the cluster constituents is enhanced, for certain projectile energies and target depths, by the so-called vicinage effects. Here we use a simulation code to calculate the energy lost by a swift fullerene ion beam in InP, paying special attention to the vicinage effects where they are significative. The code describes classically the movement of each cluster constituent under the influence of the self-retarding force, the Coulomb repulsion among molecular fragments, the wake forces responsible for the vicinage effects and the multiple scattering with the target nuclei. The simulation code also takes into account the possibility that the molecular fragments can also capture or loss electrons from the target, changing its charge state in their travel through the solid.Our simulations show that the energy deposited by the atomic ions that constitute the C₆₀ ion is clearly higher than the energy deposited by the same atomic ions but isolated. This difference being larger as the incident energy increases. We have predicted that track diameters of can be obtained in an InP target when using C₆₀ ions with an initial energy of 300 MeV.     

Development of a Double Layered Scintillator for Separating and Detecting Low Energy Protons and Electrons

A scintillator system consisting of a thin (5,000 ? - 15,000 ?) CsI(Tl) layer evaporated onto a plastic scintillator (NE-102) has been developed for the purpose of distinguishing low energy protons from electrons and measuring the energy of each species. Evaporations in a high vacuum (10-8 Torr) produced layers of CsI(Tl) that scintillate with an efficiency comparable to optimally doped bulk material, If the CsI(Tl) layer thickness is 15,000 ?, it stops protons with energies below 170 keV and electrons with energies below 18 keV. Thus, protons with energies between about 25 and 250 keV can be distinguished from electrons with energies above 18 keV by examining the shape of the light pulse generated in the dual scintillator. Results obtained with protons and electron beams will be presented.     

Alternative scattering power for Gaussian beam model of heavy charged particles

This study provides an accurate, efficient and simple multiple scattering formulation for heavy charged particles such as protons and heavier ions with a new form of scattering power that is a key quantity for beam transport in matter. The Highland formula for multiple scattering angle was modified to a scattering power formula to be used within the Fermi-Eyges theory in the presence of heterogeneity. An analytical formula for RMS end-point displacement in homogeneous matter was also derived for arbitrary ions. The formulation was examined in terms of RMS angles and displacements in comparison with other formulations and measurements. The results for protons, helium ions and carbon ions in water agreed with them at a level of 2% or the differences were discussed.     

Swift ions in radiotherapy - Treatment planning with TRiP98

Since 1997 GSI operates a pilot project to treat tumours in the head and neck region with scanned beams of swift carbon ions. In order to exploit the unique physical and radiobiological properties of ion radiation, a dedicated treatment planning system (TPS) is mandatory. For this purpose the TRiP98 code package has been developed for well over a decade, in order to calculate and optimize absorbed as well as biological dose distributions for scanned ion beams. In collaboration with the DKFZ Heidelberg, the Radiological University Hospital Heidelberg and the FZ Rossendorf more than 400 patients have been planned and treated so far. This article will summarize the current capabilities of the TRiP98 TPS as well as future challenges and developments.     

Polarization effects in non-relativistic ep scattering

The cross section which addresses the spin-flip transitions of a proton (antiproton) interacting with a polarized non-relativistic electron or positron is calculated analytically. In the case of attraction, this cross section is greatly enhanced for sufficiently small relative velocities as compared to the result obtained in the Born approximation. However, it is still very small, so that the beam polarization time turns out to be enormously large for the parameters of e^± beams available now. This practically rules out a use of such beams to polarize stored antiprotons or protons.     

Comparison of secondary electron emission in helium ion microscope with gallium ion and electron microscopes

To evaluate secondary electron (SE) image characteristics in helium ion microscope, Si surfaces with a rod and step structures is scanned by 30 keV He and Ga ion beams and 1 keV electron beam. The topographic sensitivity of He ions is in principle higher than that for scanning electron microscope (SEM) because of the stronger dependency of SE yield versus incident angle for He ions. As shrinking to sub nm patterns, the pseudo-images constructed from line profile of SE intensity by the electron beam lose their sharpness, however, the images for the He and Ga ion beams keep clearness due to darkening the bottom corners of the pattern. Here, the sputter erosion for Ga ions must be considered. Furthermore, trajectories of emitted SEs are simulated for a rectangular Al surface scanned by the beams to study voltage contrast, where positive and negative voltages are applied to the small area of the sample. Both less high energy component in the energy distribution of SEs and dominant contribution of direct SE excitation by a projectile He ion keep a high voltage contrast down to a sub nm sized area positively biased against the zero-potential surroundings.     

0.96-2.74MeV质子在铝上的160°散射截面测量

采用薄靶对能量0.962.74MeV质子在纯度为99.99%铝上的160非卢瑟福弹性背散射截面进行了测量。质子束由21.7MV串列加速器提供,测量仪器采用金硅面垒探测能谱仪。实验中最低能区进入卢瑟福弹性散射能区,测量结果用图表形式给出,并与以前发表的结果进行了比较。所测量数据可供从事背散射分析技术的有关人员参考。     

Stopping cross sections of liquid water for MeV energy protons

Cross sections for the stopping of swift protons in liquid water have been measured for the first time by using a liquid water jet target of 50 μm in diameter. The energy loss spectra of incident 2.0 MeV protons were measured at scattering angles of 5.0-50 mrad. Experimental energy loss spectra have been successfully reproduced by Monte Carlo simulation calculations (GEANT4.9.1.p02 toolkit) by taking account of multiple scattering of projectile ions inside the liquid water target. The present stopping cross sections are found to be considerably smaller than other standard stopping power data, revealing e.g. about 11% deviation from those of SRIM2003.     

Application of High Energy Protons in Inertial Confinement Fusion by Using the Fast Ignitor Concept for DT Fusion

A short-laser-pulse driven ion flux is examined as a fast ignitor candidate for inertial confinement fusion. The main mechanism for ion acceleration is charge separation in a plasma due to high-energy electrons driven by the laser inside the target. Another very new branch of fast ignition research is the investigation of the use of laser generated proton beams. In the present paper aims to provide insights into the feasibility of the fast ignition concept with high energy beams of protons generated in laser–plasma interactions. The optimum parameters of an ion beam and laser pulse that are suitable for an ignition spark in a hot precompressed DT fuel are estimated as a rough guide. Also, in this paper we estimate the radius of Deuterium–Tritium (DT) fuel pellet that is equal to the protons range in DT plasma.     

Mixed Ne/Ni beams for radiation damage studies on the harwell variable-energy cyclotron

Ion irradiation facilities which use metal ions beams concurrently with beams of He or He+H have been developed extensively in recent years for the simulation of radiation effects which occur in metals during neutron irradiation in fission or fusion reactors. Helium ions are considered necessary to simulate the effect of helium on cavity nucleation and the metal atom is used to create an adequate atomic displacement rate. Many of these dual-beam facilities require the provision of two accelerators, one to produce a gas atom and the other a metal atom beam, and commonly employ low-energy metal ions (eg. 4 MeV ⁵⁸Ni⁺) which have a limited range (0.75 μm) in metals of practical interest. Damage can be created at greater depths by use of high energy ions (eg 45 MeV ⁵⁸Ni) in a cyclotron, but charge-to-mass constraints make it difficult to produce a mixed beam of concurrent He and metal ions. It is noted that the heavier inert gas atom neon has similarities in atomistic behaviour in metals to those of helium and could possibly be used as an analogue for helium. In this report we consider this aspect and show than by suitable matching of $\text{e}\text{m}$ ratio a mixed beam of 15 MeV ²⁰Ne²⁺ and 45 MeV ⁶⁰Ni⁶⁺ can be obtained from the Harwell VEC with gas/metal atom ratios and beam currents that are suitable for use in radiation damage simulation experiments in metals. It is proposed that exploratory studies should be carried out with mixed Ne/Ni beams into nickel to investigate the possibility of using neon as an analogue for helium in radiation damage simulation studies.