Abstract
Radiation therapy is currently the most utilized technique for the treatment of tumors by means of ionizing radiation, such as electrons, protons and x/gamma rays, depending on the type, size and depth of the cancer mass. Radiation therapy has in general fulfilled the main requirement of targeting thus damaging the malignant cells and sparing the healthy tissues as best as possible. In this scenario, electron linear accelerators have been operated as viable tools for the delivery of both high-energetic electrons and x-ray beams, which are obtained via the bremsstrahlung process of the electrons hitting on a high-Z material. Recently, it has been experimentally demonstrated that ultrahigh dose-rate bursts of electrons and x-ray beams increase the differential response between healthy and tumor tissues. This beneficial response is referred to as the FLASH effect. For this purpose, we have developed the first dedicated compact $S$-band linear accelerator for FLASH radiotherapy. This linac is optimized for a nominal energy of 7 MeV and a pulsed electron beam current of 100 mA and above. The accelerator is mounted on a remote-controlled system for preclinical research studies in the FLASH regime. We will show the rf and beam dynamics design of the $S$-band linac as well as the commissioning and high-power rf tests. Furthermore, the results of the dosimetric measurements will be illustrated.
Highlights
Over the past century, radiation therapy, usually referred to as radiotherapy (RT), has provided invaluable benefits for the treatment of tumors
It has to be noted that the EF system will work at lower energies than the nominal one as well as it will permit to increase the output beam energy by lowering the electron peak current. This collaboration effort aims at establishing the first step in the development of a reliable technology which can help define the FLASH effect in an accurate way
The electron beam is generated by a thermionic electron gun and the linear accelerator is optimized in order to deliver the high-current electron beam
Summary
Radiation therapy, usually referred to as radiotherapy (RT), has provided invaluable benefits for the treatment of tumors. The system works in electron mode only, it is designed to produce both FLASH and conventional dose rates, with a nominal output electron beam energy of 7 MeV with a pulsed current beyond 100 mA. With the new dedicated linac, it is possible to obtain a heavily pulsed beam, with dose rates that range from 0.01 up to 4000 Gy=s, and higher This project effort is the result of a well-established collaboration between the University of Rome “Sapienza” and the private company SIT spa. It has to be noted that the EF system will work at lower energies than the nominal one as well as it will permit to increase the output beam energy by lowering the electron peak current This collaboration effort aims at establishing the first step in the development of a reliable technology which can help define the FLASH effect in an accurate way. The factory acceptance test was carried out at SIT and the system was installed at the Institut Curie in August 2020
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