Benchmark measurements and simulations of dose perturbations due to metallic spheres in proton beams

Monte Carlo simulations are increasingly used for dose calculations in proton therapy due to its inherent accuracy. However, dosimetric deviations have been found using Monte Carlo code when high density materials are present in the proton beamline. The purpose of this work was to quantify the magnitude of dose perturbation caused by metal objects. We did this by comparing measurements and Monte Carlo predictions of dose perturbations caused by the presence of small metal spheres in several clinical proton therapy beams as functions of proton beam range and drift space. Monte Carlo codes MCNPX, GEANT4 and Fast Dose Calculator (FDC) were used. Generally good agreement was found between measurements and Monte Carlo predictions, with the average difference within 5% and maximum difference within 17%. The modification of multiple Coulomb scattering model in MCNPX code yielded improvement in accuracy and provided the best overall agreement with measurements. Our results confirmed that Monte Carlo codes are well suited for predicting multiple Coulomb scattering in proton therapy beams when short drift spaces are involved.     

强流质子束辐照形成的冲击波

 对强流质子束在铝材料中引起的冲击波进行了数值模拟，其中强流质子束在铝中的能量沉积行为采用蒙特卡罗方法模拟，而能量的非均匀沉积后引起的力学效应采用一维流体弹塑性模型进行计算。计算给出了强流质子束在铝材料中的能量沉积曲线和引起的冲击波的时间演化规律。     

Development of a laser-driven proton accelerator for cancer therapy

Recent advances in laser technology have made proton (light ion) acceleration possible using laser-induced plasmas. In this work, we report our work for the last few years on the investigation of a new proton therapy system for radiation oncology, which employs laser-accelerated protons. If successfully developed, the new system will be compact, cost-effective, and capable of delivering energy-and intensity-modulated proton therapy (EIMPT). We have focused our research on three major aspects: (1) target design for laser-proton acceleration, (2) system design for particle/energy selection and beam collimation, and (3) dosimetric studies on the use of laser-accelerated protons for cancer therapy. We have performed particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to investigate optimal target configurations for proton/ion acceleration. We also performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the beam characteristics and the feasibility of using such beams for cancer treatment. Since laser-accelerated protons have broad energy and angular distributions, which are not suitable for radiotherapy applications directly, we have designed a compact particle selection and beam collimating system for EIMPT beam delivery. We also proposed a new gantry design to make the whole system compact to retrofit existing linac vaults. We have compared Monte Carlo calculated dose distributions using X-ray IMRT and laser-proton EIMPT. Our results show that EIMPT using laser protons produces superior target coverage and much reduced critical structure dose and integral dose compared to X-ray IMRT.     

非弹性核反应对质子束能量沉积的影响

提出了一种比较精确且又省时的质子穿透的解析算法,并给出了考虑核反应后50—250MeV质子在水中的能量沉积,与Monte-Carlo方法的结果进行了比较.结果表明:1)非弹性核反应对质子的能量沉积有明显的影响,特别是对较高能量的质子束入射情况;2)该方法计算效率比Monte Carlo方法高百倍以上.因此,本文方法解决了质子能量沉积计算中效率和精度之间的矛盾,有可能在质子束放射治疗中得到实际应用. 关键词： 质子能量沉积 核反应 截面     

Proton computed tomography as a tool for proton therapy planning: preliminary computer simulations and comparisons with x‐ray CT basics

Proton beams can destroy tumors better than other radiation treatment options because they deliver their energy in a very accurate way, while leaving the surrounding tissue undamaged. However, it requires a very accurate prediction of the Bragg peak position within the patient's body. In existing proton treatment centers, the dose calculations are performed based on x‐ray computed tomography (CT) and the patient is positioned with x‐ray radiographs. During the 1970s and early 1980s, it was shown that the use of proton beams rather than conventional x‐rays could have some advantages. With the development of specialized medical proton gantries at Loma Linda University Medical Center (USA) and several other proton treatment centers worldwide, interest in this question has been renewed. The modern approach has advanced from simple proton film radiography to CT reconstructions from proton energy loss measurements employing individual proton tracking techniques. This permits image degradation due to multiple Coulomb scattering, one of the main problems of proton CT, to be reduced. Current work is devoted to the comparison of conventional x‐ray CT and proton computed tomography (pCT) as two alternative tools for measuring the physical properties of the human body, required for proton treatment planning. In this paper, a brief comparative overview of the physical basics of both methods are followed by the analysis of Monte Carlo simulation results. The first‐generation CT scheme was assumed for simplicity. The precisions relative to water volumetric electron density distributions, extracted from CT and pCT images, and the sources of absolute errors are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of chemical and diffusive exchange on water proton transverse relaxation in plant tissues

Transverse water proton relaxation in parenchyma tissue of courgette, onion and apple shows a dependence on CPMG pulse spacing characteristic of each tissue. An analysis of this dependence suggests that transverse relaxation in these tissues is caused by various combinations of fast proton exchange between water and cell biopolymers (or solutes) and diffusion through internally generated magnetic field gradients. Diffusion between intra- and extracellular water compartments also averages the water proton signal to an extent that depends on cell morphology and membrane permeability and this is calculated using a two-compartment model. No recourse need be made to popular concepts such as exchange between free and "bound" water. The implications of our results for NMR image contrast are discussed.     

基于Windows下的质子在物质中运动的模拟程序

采用解析法和Monte-Carlo方法相结合的Windows环境下模拟计算了不同能量的质子在Si,Ge等半导体物质和Au-Si探测器内的运动情况，并用计算机实际作出了质子在以上物质中的运动径流，直观动态的描绘了质子在半导体物质中的运动情况，得到了比较符合实际的模拟结果。     

Coupled electron-ion monte carlo calculations of dense metallic hydrogen

We present an efficient new Monte Carlo method which couples path integrals for finite temperature protons with quantum Monte Carlo calculations for ground state electrons, and we apply it to metallic hydrogen for pressures beyond molecular dissociation. We report data for the equation of state for temperatures across the melting of the proton crystal. Our data exhibit more structure and higher melting temperatures of the proton crystal than do Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics results. This method fills the gap between high temperature electron-proton path integral and ground state diffusion Monte Carlo methods and should have wide applicability.     

CCD质子辐照损伤效应的三维蒙特卡罗模拟

针对空间质子诱发CCD性能退化问题,开展了CCD质子辐照效应的三维蒙特卡罗模拟研究。采用三维蒙特卡罗软件Geant4模拟计算了不同能量质子在Si和SiO₂中的射程及Bragg峰,分析了不同能量质子在材料中能量沉积的过程,并将模拟结果与相关数据进行对比,模拟误差在5%以内。根据质子与材料相互作用的物理过程,选取了合适的Lindhard分离函数,添加合适的物理过程,模拟计算了不同能量质子在SiO₂中的电离能量损失和Si中的非电离能量损失,并将结果与国外相关数据进行对比。根据CCD的生产工艺参数,建立了单个像元的三维模拟模型,确定了质子辐照损伤的灵敏体积,模拟计算了不同能量质子在像元灵敏体积内的电离能量沉积与非电离能量沉积,分析了CCD不同能量质子的辐照损伤差异产生的机理。结合粒子输运计算结果与CCD质子辐照实验结果,分析了质子辐照诱发CCD辐射敏感参数退化的物理机制。     

Application of a fast proton dose calculation algorithm to a thorax geometry

Treatment planning in proton therapy requires the calculation of absorbed dose distributions on beam shaping components and the patient anatomy. Analytical pencil-beam dose algorithms commonly used are not always accurate enough. The Monte Carlo approach is more accurate but extremely computationally intensive. The Fast Dose Calculator, a track-repeating algorithm, has been proposed as an alternative fast and accurate dose calculation. In this work FDC is applied to a proton therapy patient thoracic anatomy.     

A Multiple Scattering Theory for Proton Penetration

We extend the electron small-angle multiple scattering theory to proton penetration. After introducing the concept of narrow energy spectra,the proton energy loss process is included in the proton deep penetration theory. It precisely describes the whole process of proton penetration.Compared to the Monte Carlo method,this method maintains the comparable precision and possesses much higher computational efficiency. Thus, it shows the real feasibility of applying this algorithm to proton clinical radiation therapy.     

Update of the MCSANC Monte Carlo integrator,v. 1.20

New features of the MCSANC v.1.20 program, a Monte Carlo tool for calculation of the next-to-leading order electroweak and QCD corrections to various Standard Model processes, have been presented. The extensions concern implementation of Drell–Yan-like processes and include a systematic treatment of the photon-induced contribution in proton–proton collisions and electroweak corrections beyond the NLO approximation. There are also technical improvements such as calculation of the forward–backward asymmetry for the neutral current Drell–Yan process. The updated code is suitable for studies of the effects due to EW and QCD radiative corrections to Drell–Yan (and several other) processes at the LHC and for forthcoming high-energy proton–proton colliders.     

MR monitoring of focused ultrasound surgery in a breast tissue model in vivo

The objective of this study was to investigate MRI methods for monitoring focused ultrasound surgery (FUS) of breast tumors. To this end, the mammary glands of sheep were used as tissue model. The tissue was treated in vivo with numerous single sonications which covered extended target volumes by employing a scanning technique. The ultrasound focus position was controlled by online temperature mapping based on the temperature dependence of the relaxation time T(1). This approach proved to be reliable and offers thus an alternative to proton resonance frequency methods, whose application is hampered in fatty tissues. FUS-induced tissue changes were visible on T(2)- as well as on pre- and post-contrast T(1)-weighted images. According to our initial experience, noninvasive MRI-guided FUS of breast tumors is feasible.     

基于D3He反应产生的单能质子对ICF内爆过程的照相模拟研究

 为实现单能质子对惯性约束聚变(ICF)内爆过程的诊断,使用FLUKA蒙特卡罗程序模拟分析了影响质子对内爆过程诊断的因素。通过设置不同初始质子数目,来分析质子产额对小球图像质量的影响,结果发现,要得到清晰图像,需要10⁹的质子数。参照实验中常用的靶参数,模拟了直接驱动和间接驱动条件下的照相情况,分析了间接驱动情况下,金属腔对质子束的散射会造成内爆小球图像模糊,说明质子照相不适合间接驱动内爆。给出了一种时间分辨的质子照相方法,通过调整质子产生和内爆产生的时间差,实现了对内爆过程前后不同时刻的照相等。模拟表明,D³He反应产生的14.7 MeV的准单能质子具有的脉宽短、尺寸小的优点,可用于ICF内爆过程的动态照相。     

Estimation of the proton energy spectrum in knee region by analog read-out of ARGO-YBJ experiment

Based on the six months data set of ARGO-YBJ experiment with analog read-out and its Monte Carlo simulation,we study the difference between different primaries induced showers by using the space-time information of the charged particles in Extensive Air Showers.With five parameters which can efficiently pick out primary proton induced showers as inputs of an artificial neural network,the proton spectrum from 100 TeV to 10 PeV can be obtained.     

Estimation of the proton energy spectrum in knee region by analog read-out of ARGO-YBJ experiment

Based on the six months data set of ARGO-YBJ experiment with analog read-out and its Monte Carlo simulation, we study the difference between different primaries induced showers by using the space-time information of the charged particles in Extensive Air Showers. With five parameters which can efficiently pick out primary proton induced showers as inputs of an artificial neural network, the proton spectrum from 100 TeV to 10 PeV can be obtained.     

激光加速质子束对电磁孤立子的照相模拟研究

激光在次稠密等离子中传输, 由于频率下移而被俘获, 从而产生电磁孤立子. 根据先前理论及PIC 模拟给出的孤立子的演化过程, 对不同阶段孤立子的电磁场分布进行了建模. 使用Geant4蒙特卡罗程序, 模拟研究了激光加速产生的能量为几个MeV的质子束对后孤立子的照相. 分析了质子能量, 质子源尺寸等因素对照相结果的影响, 并利用了TNSA加速产生质子束的分幅特性, 开展了时间分辨的孤立子照相模拟研究. 模拟给出的质子照相结果验证了文献中给出的孤立子静电场模型, 为以后在实验上探测孤立子提供了理论依据. 关键词： 超短激光 质子照相 孤立子 蒙特卡罗方法     

基于磁场调制的质子放疗新方法及其调制机制

提出一种基于磁场调制的质子放射治疗新方法, 探索肿瘤剂量、正常器官剂量与磁场调制方法之间的关联机制, 研究磁场调制质子放疗在器官环绕型肿瘤(肿瘤被正常器官环绕或包围)治疗中的应用。基于蒙特卡罗粒子输运程序Geant4,分别建立了理想器官环绕结构（由若干平行六面体结构组成）和含胰腺肿瘤人体腹部解剖结构两种几何构型。分别对两种几何构型内部施加磁场, 通过改变磁场强度和方向,调制质子束布拉格峰几何位置, 利用质子径迹的磁致偏转效应使质子束绕开正常器官对肿瘤进行照射。 对于理想器官环绕型构型, 磁场调制质子放疗可在保证95%剂量覆盖肿瘤情况下将受质子照射正常器官体积控制在接近于零的极低水平。对于胰腺肿瘤解剖构型, 磁场调制方法可使质子束在调制磁场作用下, 绕过脊髓和肾脏照射肿瘤, 并使肿瘤被95%剂量较好地覆盖。通过磁场调制, 可对质子束布拉格峰几何位置和质子径迹弯曲程度进行调制, 绕过正常器官对肿瘤进行照射,从而最大限度地减少正常器官的受照体积和剂量。     

Study on Multifractal Structure of the Distribution Fluctuation of Secondary Perticles in the Core Region of EAS

The differences of space distributions and time profiles between the γ-ray and proton induced shower particles are studied using Monte Carlo simulation data. The multifractal analysis is performed with the G-moment method for the distribution fluctuation of secondary particles near the core of showers induced by γ-rays and protons. From the spectrum functions of γ and proton events, it is seen that this method can be adopted as a basis for the γ/proton separation. It is shown that the separation of γ and proton can be achieved with a good efficiency in the energy region of 1—10TeV.     

Ep≤63 GeV 质子入射铅、铋引起的中子产生双微分截面的模拟(英文)

加速器驱动次临界系统(ADS) 液态Pb-Bi 散裂靶的设计中,需要可靠的理论计算工具精确地预言几个GeV 能量范围的质子引起的散裂反应产生的各种粒子和核素。利用蒙特卡罗模拟软件包Geant4 计算研究了800 MeV至3 GeV 质子入射铅、铋材料引起的中子产生双微分截面。比较了Geant4 不同物理模型得到的模拟结果与现有的实验数据。其中,Geant4 的QGSP BERT和QGSP INCL ABLA 物理模型模拟结果很好地再现了实验数据。本工作证实了Geant4 蒙特卡罗模拟软件包适合用于能量高达3 GeV 的质子入射铅、铋引起的中子产生双微分截面的模拟计算。A detailed design of the liquid Pb-Bi spallation target of the Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) requires powerful and reliable computational tools that can accurately predict particles and nuclides production by the proton induced spallation reactions in the energy range of a few GeV. In this paper, the neutron production double-differential cross sections for Pb and Bi target materials at incident proton kinetic energies between 800 MeV and 3 GeV are studied by calculations with Monte Carlo simulation package Geant4. The simulated results of Geant4 with several physics models are compared with available experimental data. The simulated results generated by QGSP BERT and QGSP INCL ABLA physics models of Geant4 well reproduce the available experimental data. The present results validated that Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation package is suitable for simulations of neutron production double-differential cross sections of proton induced reaction on Pb and Bi targets in the incident energy range up to 3 GeV.