Ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) analysis of europium-activated phosphate glass micro-beads scintillators at clinical carbon beam therapy field

Abstract

The possibility of real-time monitoring of clinical carbon beams was investigated by analyzing ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) using phosphate glass (PG) with a dopant of europium (Eu). Phosphate glass with a silver activator (PG: Ag) is known as a substrate for personal dosimeters. Several trials are being made by utilizing PG: Ag as an in-situ diagnostic tool for the clinical radiation therapy field. However, silvers are not actively responding to the radiation during the irradiation because of their build-up effect. In this study, we introduced a co-activator of europium, which is expected to coexist with silvers and have a scintillator property for real-time response. IBIL was successfully visualized with each bunch of 290 MeV/n from synchrotron under different beam intensity from 6.0×106 to 3.0×109 (clinical beam condition) counts/spill. IBIL measurement at each position of Bragg peak suggested that developed PG:Ag-beads with Eu co-activators have successfully demonstrated real-time radiation monitoring of clinical carbon beams.