Abstract
To fully exploit the physics potentials of particle therapy in delivering dose with high accuracy and selectivity, charged particle therapy needs further improvement. To this scope, a multidisciplinary project (MoVeIT) of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) aims at translating research in charged particle therapy into clinical outcome. New models in the treatment planning system are being developed and validated, using dedicated devices for beam characterization and monitoring in radiobiological and clinical irradiations. Innovative silicon detectors with internal gain layer (LGAD) represent a promising option, overcoming the limits of currently used ionization chambers. Two devices are being developed: one to directly count individual protons at high rates, exploiting the large signal-to-noise ratio and fast collection time in small thicknesses (1 ns in 50 μm) of LGADs, the second to measure the beam energy with time-of-flight techniques, using LGADs optimized for excellent time resolutions (Ultra Fast Silicon Detectors, UFSDs). The preliminary results of first beam tests with therapeutic beam will be presented and discussed.
Highlights
Two devices are being developed: one to directly count individual protons at high rates, exploiting the large signal-to-noise ratio and fast collection time in small thicknesses (1 ns in 50 μm) of Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGAD), the second to measure the beam energy with time-of-flight techniques, using LGADs optimized for excellent time resolutions (Ultra Fast Silicon Detectors, UFSDs)
Ionization chambers are currently used in charged particle therapy to monitor the beam, by measuring the beam flux and the beam position through the collection of the free charges generated by ionization effects in a gas volume, confined between a pair of metal electrodes
Three beam tests have been performed at the CNAO particle therapy center (Pavia, Italy) with the therapeutic proton beam, to evaluate the counting and timing properties of UFSDs
Summary
The medical physics group of the Turin division of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is working in developing a new generation of silicon detectors able to count single particles of therapeutic beams, and to measure the beam energy with time-of-flight techniques. This represents a task of the interdisciplinary project MoVeIT (Modeling and Verification for Ion beam Treatment planning), involving the collaboration of various INFN groups.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
