Development of dosimetry tools for proton therapy research

Dosimetry tools for proton therapy research have been developed to measure the properties of a therapeutic proton beam. A CCD camera–scintillation screen system, which can verify the 2D dose distribution of a scanning beam and can be used for proton radiography, was developed. Also developed were a large area parallel-plate ionization chamber and a multi-layer Faraday cup to monitor the beam current and to measure the beam energy, respectively. To investigate the feasibility of locating the distal dose falloff in real time during patient treatment, a prompt gamma measuring system composed of multi-layer shielding structures was then devised. The system worked well for a pristine proton beam. However, correlation between the distal dose falloff and the prompt gamma distribution was blurred by neutron background for a therapy beam formed by scattering method. We have also worked on the design of a Compton camera to image the 2D distribution of prompt gamma rays.     

Use of the EUR LiB 15/5 data set for radiation shielding calculations in iron

Abstract

The shielding effect of an iron sphere assembly has been tested for a Pu-α-Be neutron source placed in the center of the shield assembly. Emergent neutron and gamma spectra were measured with a stilbene scintillation counter. Discrimination between neutrons and gammas was achieved by the pulse shape discrimination technique based on the zero crossing method. Calculations have been made using the one-dimensional transport code ANISN-Westinghouse version (ANISN-W) and the EUR LiB 15/5 cross section data set. The agreement between measurements and calculations indicates that the cross section set and the calculation model are suitable for studying the iron shielding experiments over the neutron energy range 1.35–10 MeV and the gamma energy range 0.3–6 MeV. Total macroscopic cross sections for fast neutrons, linear attenuation coefficients for gamma rays and half-value thicknesses for neutrons and gammas for the whole energy range and at different energies have been obtained.     

基于前冲康普顿电子高能伽马能谱测量系统设计

除中子外,聚变核心同时释放大量高能伽马,其能谱可反映聚变过程的关键物理参数,并为过程诊断提供重要信息.由于聚变伽马的时间与能量特性,需要设计高探测效率及能量分辨率的伽马谱仪.根据高能伽马谱仪的概念设计(gamma-to-electron magnetic spectrometer),针对该系统中伽马-电子转换靶、电子偏转汇聚、电子探测等关键环节进行优化设计以提高系统探测效率及能量分辨率.其中采用Monte-Carlo程序Geant4模拟研究了伽马-电子转换靶中康普顿散射与多次库仑散射对由转换靶出射电子的能谱与角分布的影响.开发并行遗传算法对复杂几何偏转磁场参数进行优化,得到低强度(小于100 Gauss)复杂边界偏转磁场.根据系统优化设计结果,采用Geant4模拟了该系统对不同能量伽马的响应.此外,还可模拟该系统对特征聚变伽马能谱的测量,结果显示,该系统可在聚变中子产额分别为2.5×10~(15)及1.2×10~(16)条件下,对10—20 MeV高能伽马能谱测量实现能量分辨分别满足0.5 MeV(小于5%)及0.25 MeV(小于2.5%),说明该系统可用于聚变过程伽马能谱的诊断.     

利用252 Cf快裂变室测量BC501A液闪探测器的相对探测效率和响应函数

本文利用²⁵²Cf快裂变室和多参数数据采集系统,逐事例的同时记录了自发裂变中子和瞬发伽马的飞行时间(TOF),脉冲形状甄别(PSD)和反冲能量(RE,裂变中子是通过测量反冲质子;瞬发伽马是通过测量康普顿反冲电子)三维信息.详细介绍了通过离线数据分析完全扣除三维信息中的伽马事例贡献,以获得Φ50.8 mm×50.8 mm的BC501A液闪探测器的相对探测效率和响应函数的方法.在不通过探测器响应函数进行数据转换的条件下,利用中子的能量直接确定了中子的有效测量阈值.得到的中子 关键词： 252Cf快裂变室')" href="#">²⁵²Cf快裂变室 BC501A液闪探测器 相对探测效率 响应函数     

Performance optimization of a deep-sea scintillation gamma detector

Processes attendant to the propagation of gammas in the sea water, in the wall of an immersed detector, and in a scintillator are simulated by the Monte Carlo method. The Compton spectra recorded by a deep-sea scintillation detector are simulated as a function of the wall thickness for two design versions of the detector. From the photoabsorption peak, the properties of wall materials, V-95 and steel 40, are compared. The background spectra of gammas generated in the scintillator are calculated. It is shown that a reasonable increase in the dimensions of the detector (without increasing those of the scintillator) improves the gamma detection efficiency.     

Measurement of doubly differential collision cross-sections for double-photon Compton scattering of 0.662 MeV gamma rays

The doubly differential collision cross-sections of the double-photon Compton process have been measured experimentally for 0.662 MeV incident gamma photons. The measurements are carried out using a single gamma detector, a technique avoiding the use of the complicated slow–fast coincidence set-up used till now for observing this higher order QED process. The energy spectra of detected photons are observed as a long tail to the single-photon Compton line on the lower side of the full energy peak in the recorded scattered energy spectrum. The measured values of the cross-section for different independent energy levels of one of the two final photons are of the same magnitude but show deviation from the corresponding values obtained from the theory. However, the present measurements are first of its kind and in view of the nature and order of deviations, the agreement of measured values with theory is quite satisfactory.     

软调制双散射质子治疗束流配送系统

质子治疗是一种新兴的放射治疗方法,它的主要优点是剂量分布特性优良,可以使高辐射剂量集中于肿瘤部位,减少对周围正常组织的损伤.这一优点的实现主要依靠束流配送系统,它包含质子能量调节与调制、束流扩展和准直等功能.现提出一种新的软调制双散射质子治疗束流配送系统.其特点是利用程序控制质子能量变化以改变质子在体内的射程从而展宽Bragg峰,同时利用两次散射获得较大面积的均匀照射野.它的优点是运行可靠、调节灵活,并特别有利于实现适形治疗.     

An experimental study on cross-section ratio of coherent to incoherent scattering for 145 keV incident gamma photons

The coherent (Rayleigh) to incoherent (Compton) scattering cross-section ratio of elements, in the range 6 ≤ Z ≤ 82, are determined experimentally for 145 keV incident gamma photons. An HPGe (High purity germanium) semiconductor detector is employed, at scattering angle of 50°, 70° and 90°, to record the spectra originating from interactions of incident gamma photons with the target under investigation. The intensity ratio of Rayleigh to Compton scattered peaks observed in the recorded spectra, and corrected for photo-peak efficiency of gamma detector and absorption of photons in the target and air, along with the other required parameters provides the differential cross-section ratio. The measured values of cross-section ratio are found to agree with theoretical predictions (corresponding to 4.939, 6.704 and 8.264 Å⁻¹ photon momentum transfer) based upon non-relativistic form factor, relativistic form factor, modified form factor and S-matrix theory.     

Experimental measurement of effective atomic number of composite materials for Compton effect in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-ray region 280–1115 keV by a new method

In this paper, we report a new method to determine the effective atomic number, Z _eff, of composite materials for Compton effect in the γ-ray region 280–1115 keV based on the theoretically obtained Klein–Nishina scattering cross-sections in the angular range 50°–100° as well as a method to experimentally measure differential incoherent (Compton) scattering cross-sections in this angular range. The method was employed to evaluate Z _eff for different inorganic compounds containing elements in the range Z = 1–56, at three scattering angles 60°, 80° and 100° at three incident gamma energies 279.1 keV, 661.6 keV and 1115.5 keV and we have verified this method to be an appropriate method. Interestingly, the Z _eff values so obtained for the inorganic compounds were found to be equal to the total number of electrons present in the sample as given by the atomic number of the elements constituting the sample in accordance with the chemical formula of the sample. This was the case at all the three energies.     

Dispersion relation formalism for virtual Compton scattering off the proton

We present in detail a dispersion relation formalism for virtual Compton scattering (VCS) off the proton from threshold into the Δ(1232)-resonance region. Such a formalism can be used as a tool to extract the generalized polarizabilities of the proton from both unpolarized and polarized VCS observables over a larger energy range. We present calculations for existing and forthcoming VCS experiments and demonstrate that the VCS observables in the energy region between pion production threshold and the Δ(1232)-resonance show an enhanced sensitivity to the generalized polarizabilities. Received: 14 March 2001 / Accepted: 18 June 2001     

Measurement of the energy distribution of bremsstrahlung using Compton scattering

The GEANT 4.9.2 software package is applied for the simulation of primary and Compton scattered bremsstrahlung spectra. The possibility of restoring primary γ-radiation spectra with the energy 0.02–1200 MeV using Compton scattering on secondary scattering targets is studied. The advantages of light targets using are demonstrated. An additional bremsstrahlung contribution from e^±-pairs is calculated for high-energy γ quanta; the influence of CXR on the form of scattered X-ray quantum spectra is estimated. The spectra which have a multipeak structure are restored. For high-energy γ quanta there occurs significant spread of energies in the Compton scattered radiation spectrum, which imposes stringent conditions on collimation and detector resolution capability. The possibility of measuring the bremsstrahlung spectra from a primary target during high-angle Compton scattering is estimated.     

多普勒展宽效应对康普顿相机成像分辨的影响

在重离子癌症治疗中,康普顿相机是一种非常有应用前景的在线监测离子射程的技术。由于康普顿相机使用晶体探测器来确定伽马射线的位置和沉积能量,因此对这些物理量的测量误差会影响康普顿相机的成像分辨率。除了这些测量误差,多普勒展宽效应也会对相机的成像分辨率产生影响。本文使用开源Geant4软件包分别对150和511 keV的伽马射线在几种晶体材料中产生的多普勒展宽效应进行了角分辨模拟。通过对反投影算法的优化和对成像空间中体素的细化,使得康普顿相机的成像分辨率能够达到1.0 mm以上。本工作还基于角分辨标度,推导了一个可快速估计康普顿相机成像分辨率的近似公式。     

A high energy component of the intense laser-accelerated proton beams detected by stacked CR-39

A precise measurement has been made utilizing a stacked CR-39 detectors unit for laser-accelerated high intensity protons. The proton beams are derived from a thin polyimide target exposed to an high intense Ti:sapphire laser 8 J energy and 40 fs duration. The sample sets, stacked radiochromic film and CR-39 detectors covered with 13 μm aluminum filter, are irradiated under vacuum condition. By analyzing the etch pits on the last layer of CR-39 which recorded etchable tracks, the energies of each proton in high-energy region are evaluated more precisely than in the past. The residual ranges for each particle in the last layer has been obtained from etch pit growth curves with multi-step etching technique. The maximum energy of proton is 14.39 ± 0.05 MeV. This method allows us to measure the maximum energy of proton precisely, which can obtain high energy resolution with uncertainty ΔE = 0.1 MeV in the laser-driven particle acceleration experiment.     

Monte Carlo study of a high resolution gamma ray telescope used as a polarimeter

Recent results of computer modeling show how the UCLA-UTD High Resolution Gamma Ray Telescope could potentially be used to detect the polarization states of incoming gammas to learn more about the nature of their source. The High Resolution Gamma Ray Telescope is operated as a Compton telescope consisting of a Liquid Argon Converter, a Gas Drift Chamber and a Liquid Argon Calorimeter. Through slight modifications of the telescope, we show that it may be possible to ascertain the linear polarization states of the gamma rays if a large enough number of events can be analyzed.     

Dual-modality and dual-energy gamma ray densitometry of petroleum products using an artificial neural network

The prediction of volume fractions in order to measure the multiphase flow rate is a very important issue and is the key parameter of multi-phase flow meters (MPFMs). Currently, the gamma ray attenuation technique is known as one of the most precise methods for obtaining volume fractions. The gamma ray attenuation technique is based on the mass attenuation coefficient, which is sensitive to density changes; density is sensitive in turn to temperature and pressure fluctuations. Therefore, MPFM efficiency depends strongly on environmental conditions. The conventional solution to this problem is the periodical recalibration of MPFMs, which is a demanding task. In this study, a method based on dual-modality densitometry and artificial intelligence (AI) is presented, which offers the advantage of the measurement of the oil–gas–water volume fractions independent of density changes. For this purpose, several experiments were carried out and used to validate simulated dual modality densitometry results. The reference density point was established at a temperature of 20 °C and pressure of 1 bar. To cover the full range of likely density fluctuations, four additional density sets were defined (at changes of ±4% and ±8% from the reference point). An annular regime with different percentages of oil, gas and water at different densities was simulated. Four features were extracted from the transmission and scattered detectors and were applied to the artificial neural network (ANN) as inputs. The input parameters included the ²⁴¹Am full energy peak, ¹³⁷Cs Compton edge, ¹³⁷Cs full energy peak and total scattered count, and the outputs were the oil and air percentages. A multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network was used to predict the volume fraction independent of the oil and water density changes. The obtained results show that the proposed ANN model achieved good agreement with the real data, with an estimated root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 3.     

Elastic compton scattering from the deuteron and nucleon polarizabilities

Cross sections for elastic Compton scattering from the deuteron were measured over the laboratory angles straight theta(gamma) = 35 degrees -150 degrees. Tagged photons in the laboratory energy range E(gamma) = 84-105 MeV were scattered from liquid deuterium and detected in the large-volume Boston University NaI spectrometer. Using the calculations of Levchuk and L'vov, along with the measured differential cross sections, the isospin-averaged nucleon polarizabilities in the deuteron were estimated. A best-fit value of (alpha;-beta;) = 2.6+/-1.8 was determined, constrained by dispersion sum rules. This is markedly different from the accepted value for the proton of (alpha;-beta;)(p) = 10.0+/-1.5+/-0.9.     

Measurement of the total photoabsorption cross section on a proton in the energy range 600–1500 MeV at the GRAAL

The total photoabsorption cross section on a free proton was measured at the GRAAL facility in the energy range E _γ = 600−1500 MeV. The large-aperture LAGRANγE detector and a liquid hydrogen target were used in the experiment performed with a back-scattered Compton gamma beam. To improve the accuracy, two alternative methods were employed. First, a subtraction method of using empty-target measurements allowed the cross section σ _tot to be evaluated directly because of a low level of the electromagnetic background. Second, an algorithm for evaluating σ _tot on the basis of summing the dominating partial cross sections was developed. Experimental results obtained for σ _tot by the two methods are compared with existing data. The article was translated by the authors. Published in Russian in Yadernaya Fizika, 2008, Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. 76–83.     

γ射线在大气中产生康普顿电流的快速计算方法

康普顿电流是激励核电磁脉冲的主要机制。为了提高核电磁脉冲数值模拟中γ射线产生康普顿电流过程的计算效率,发展了一种γ射线在均匀大气中产生康普顿电流的快速计算方法。首先通过计算康普顿电子在出射方向上的衰减特征,得到在电子出射方向净电子流与其射程和出射距离的拟合关系,然后结合康普顿散射微分截面,给出单能γ射线在大气中产生的康普顿电流密度的解析数值计算方法。和蒙特卡罗程序的计算结果比较,用该方法计算得到的电流密度值差异在10%以内,计算速度提高两个量级以上。该计算方法可用于大气中康普顿电流的快速估算。     

Electron momentum distribution and Compton profiles of europium

The electron momentum distribution and Compton profiles of the rare earth element Eu was measured using HPGe photon detector. The target atoms were excited by means of 59.54 keV gamma rays from Am-241 radioactive source of strength 300 mCi. Elemental foil of uniform aerial density, and purity better than 99.9% was used as target. The data were recorded and analyzed using a 4 K multichannel analyzer. These data duly corrected for instrumental resolution effects, sample absorption, energy dependence of the differential Compton cross-section and double scattering, and compared with theoretical renormalized free atom (RFA) values.     

60Coγ和高能电子在硅中NIEL的Monte Carlo计算

本文提出了计算高能电子和γ非电离能量损失(NIEL)的Monte Carlo方法,首次利用Monte Carlo方法计算了高能电子和⁶⁰Coγ的NIEL.给出了电子和⁶⁰Coγ在半导体硅材料中产生的NIEL和缺陷分布.计算结果与文献的比较表明模型是合理的.