Accurate Stopping Power Research Articles

Proton dose calculation based on converting dual-energy CT data to stopping power ratio (DEEDZ-SPR): a beam-hardening assessment

To achieve an accurate stopping power ratio (SPR) prediction in particle therapy treatment planning, we previously proposed a simple conversion to the SPR from dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT) data via electron density and effective atomic number (Z eff) calibration (DEEDZ-SPR). This study was conducted to carry out an initial implementation of the DEEDZ-SPR conversion method with a clinical treatment planning system (TPS; VQA, Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo) for proton beam therapy. Consequently, this paper presents a proton therapy plan for an anthropomorphic phantom to evaluate the stability of the dose calculations obtained by the DEEDZ-SPR conversion against the variation of the calibration phantom size. Dual-energy x-ray CT images were acquired using a dual-source CT (DSCT) scanner. A single-energy CT (SECT) scan using the same DSCT scanner was also performed to compare the DEEDZ-SPR conversion with the SECT-based SPR (SECT-SPR) conversion. The scanner-specific parameters necessary for the SPR calibration were obtained from the CT images of tissue substitutes in a calibration phantom. Two calibration phantoms with different sizes (a 33 cm diameter phantom and an 18 cm diameter phantom) were used for the SPR calibrations to investigate the beam-hardening effect on dosimetric uncertainties. Each set of calibrated SPR data was applied to the proton therapy plan designed using the VQA TPS with a pencil beam algorithm for the anthropomorphic phantom. The treatment plans with the SECT-SPR conversion exhibited discrepancies between the dose distributions and the dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of the 33 cm and 18 cm phantom calibrations. In contrast, the corresponding dose distributions and the DVHs obtained using the DEEDZ-SPR conversion method coincided almost perfectly with each other. The DEEDZ-SPR conversion appears to be a promising method for providing proton dose plans that are stable against the size variations of the calibration phantom and the patient.

A carbon CT system: how to obtain accurate stopping power ratio using a Bragg peak reduction technique

In this study, we investigate the performance of the Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center’s ion computed tomography (CT) system, which measures the residual range of a carbon-ion beam using a fluoroscopy screen, a charge-coupled-device camera, and a moving wedge absorber and collects CT reconstruction images from each projection angle. Each 2D image was obtained by changing the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) thickness, such that all images for one projection could be expressed as the depth distribution in PMMA. The residual range as a function of PMMA depth was related to the range in water through a calibration factor, which was determined by comparing the PMMA-equivalent thickness measured by the ion CT system to the water-equivalent thickness measured by a water column. Aluminium, graphite, PMMA, and five biological phantoms were placed in a sample holder, and the residual range for each was quantified simultaneously. A novel method of CT reconstruction to correct for the angular deflection of incident carbon ions in the heterogeneous region utilising the Bragg peak reduction (BPR) is also introduced in this paper, and its performance is compared with other methods present in the literature such as the decomposition and differential methods. Stopping power ratio values derived with the BPR method from carbon-ion CT images matched closely with the true water-equivalent length values obtained from the validation slab experiment.

A simulation study on proton computed tomography (CT) stopping power accuracy using dual energy CT scans as benchmark

ABSTRACTBackground. Accurate stopping power estimation is crucial for treatment planning in proton therapy, and the uncertainties in stopping power are currently the largest contributor to the employed dose margins. Dual energy x-ray computed tomography (CT) (clinically available) and proton CT (in development) have both been proposed as methods for obtaining patient stopping power maps. The purpose of this work was to assess the accuracy of proton CT using dual energy CT scans of phantoms to establish reference accuracy levels.Material and methods. A CT calibration phantom and an abdomen cross section phantom containing inserts were scanned with dual energy and single energy CT with a state-of-the-art dual energy CT scanner. Proton CT scans were simulated using Monte Carlo methods. The simulations followed the setup used in current prototype proton CT scanners and included realistic modeling of detectors and the corresponding noise characteristics. Stopping power maps were calculated for all three scans, and compared with the ground truth stopping power from the phantoms.Results. Proton CT gave slightly better stopping power estimates than the dual energy CT method, with root mean square errors of 0.2% and 0.5% (for each phantom) compared to 0.5% and 0.9%. Single energy CT root mean square errors were 2.7% and 1.6%. Maximal errors for proton, dual energy and single energy CT were 0.51%, 1.7% and 7.4%, respectively.Conclusion. Better stopping power estimates could significantly reduce the range errors in proton therapy, but requires a large improvement in current methods which may be achievable with proton CT.

Accurate stopping power calculations for antiprotons and protons

SynopsisThe convergent close-coupling method is applied to calculate antiproton and proton stopping cross sections for atomic and molecular targets. Excellent agreement with experimental measurements is obtained for antiprotons in helium while unexpectedly large disagreement is found for the hydrogen molecule, which is inconsistent with very good agreement between our ionisation cross section and the experiment.

Accurate stopping power measurements for (0.21–2.68) MeV/u 1H+ and 4He+ ions crossing thin Al foils; extraction of the (I, b) parameters

The stopping powers of thin Al foils for H+ and 4He+ ions have been measured over the energy range E=(206.03–2680.05)keV/amu with an overall relative uncertainty better than 1% using the transmission method. The derived S(E) experimental data are compared to previous ones from the literature, to values derived by the SRIM-2008 code or compiled in the ICRU-49 report, and to the predictions of Sigmund–Schinner binary collision stopping theory. Besides, the S(E) data for H+ ions together with those for He2+ ions reported by Andersen et al. (1977) have been analyzed over the energy interval E>1.0MeV using the modified Bethe–Bloch stopping theory. The following sets of values have been inferred for the mean excitation potential, I, and the Barkas–Andersen parameter, b, for H+ and He+ projectiles, respectively: (I=164±3)eV, b=1.40 and (I=163±2.5)eV, b=1.38. As expected, the I parameter is found to be independent of the projectile electronic structure presumably indicating that the contribution of charge exchange effects becomes negligible as the projectile velocity increases. Therefore, the I parameter must be determined from precise stopping power measurements performed at high projectile energies where the Bethe stopping theory is fully valid.

The image quality of ion computed tomography at clinical imaging dose levels.

Accurately predicting the range of radiotherapy ions in vivo is important for the precise delivery of dose in particle therapy. Range uncertainty is currently the single largest contribution to the dose margins used in planning and leads to a higher dose to normal tissue. The use of ion CT has been proposed as a method to improve the range uncertainty and thereby reduce dose to normal tissue of the patient. A wide variety of ions have been proposed and studied for this purpose, but no studies evaluate the image quality obtained with different ions in a consistent manner. However, imaging doses ion CT is a concern which may limit the obtainable image quality. In addition, the imaging doses reported have not been directly comparable with x-ray CT doses due to the different biological impacts of ion radiation. The purpose of this work is to develop a robust methodology for comparing the image quality of ion CT with respect to particle therapy, taking into account different reconstruction methods and ion species. A comparison of different ions and energies was made. Ion CT projections were simulated for five different scenarios: Protons at 230 and 330 MeV, helium ions at 230 MeV/u, and carbon ions at 430 MeV/u. Maps of the water equivalent stopping power were reconstructed using a weighted least squares method. The dose was evaluated via a quality factor weighted CT dose index called the CT dose equivalent index (CTDEI). Spatial resolution was measured by the modulation transfer function. This was done by a noise-robust fit to the edge spread function. Second, the image quality as a function of the number of scanning angles was evaluated for protons at 230 MeV. In the resolution study, the CTDEI was fixed to 10 mSv, similar to a typical x-ray CT scan. Finally, scans at a range of CTDEI's were done, to evaluate dose influence on reconstruction error. All ions yielded accurate stopping power estimates, none of which were statistically different from the ground truth image. Resolution (as defined by the modulation transfer function = 10% point) was the best for the helium ions (18.21 line pairs/cm) and worst for the lower energy protons (9.37 line pairs/cm). The weighted quality factor for the different ions ranged from 1.23 for helium to 2.35 for carbon ions. For the angle study, a sharp increase in absolute error was observed below 45 distinct angles, giving the impression of a threshold, rather than smooth, limit to the number of angles. The method presented for comparing various ion CT modalities is feasible for practical use. While all studied ions would improve upon x-ray CT for particle range estimation, helium appears to give the best results and deserves further study for imaging.

Accurate stopping power determination of 15N ions for hydrogen depth profiling by a combination of ion beams and synchrotron radiation

Hydrogen analysis is of particular importance in thin film technology and it is often necessary to obtain a depth profile. The method with the best depth resolution is NRA using the 6385 keV resonance of the 1H( 15N,αγ) 12C nuclear reaction. The correct quantification of the depth and concentration scales in the measured hydrogen profiles relies on accurate stopping power values. We present a method to deduce these values from a combination of two techniques: NRA and X-ray reflectometry (XRR). This method is applied to the determination of the stopping power of ∼6.4 MeV 15N ions in H-containing amorphous Si-layers (a-Si:H). Density-independent stopping powers at different H concentrations are determined by combining the results from NRA and XRR with an overall uncertainty of 3.3%, showing good agreement with SRIM values. This work shows exemplary the methodology for future evaluation of stopping powers for quality assurance in NRA.

Energy‐range relation and mean energy variation in therapeutic particle beams

Analytical expressions for the mean energy and range of therapeutic light ion beams and low- and high-energy electrons have been derived, based on the energy dependence of their respective stopping powers. The new mean energy and range relations are power-law expressions relevant for light ion radiation therapy, and are based on measured practical ranges or known tabulated stopping powers and ranges for the relevant incident particle energies. A practical extrapolated range, Rp, for light ions was defined, similar to that of electrons, which is very closely related to the extrapolated range of the primary ions. A universal energy-range relation for light ions and electrons that is valid for all material mixtures and compounds has been developed. The new relation can be expressed in terms of the range for protons and alpha particles, and is found to agree closely with experimental data in low atomic number media and when the difference in the mean ionization energy is low. The variation of the mean energy with depth and the new energy-range relation are useful for accurate stopping power and mass scattering power calculations, as well as for general particle transport and dosimetry applications.

Evidence for observed projectile- z dependence in values of target parameters extracted from stopping power measurements

One version of modified Bethe–Bloch stopping power theory features two parameters characteristic of the target material, the mean excitation energy and the Barkas-effect parameter, that can be evaluated through fits to accurate stopping power measurements. In several recent investigations, the values of these parameters thus determined have revealed a dependence on projectile atomic number. Most of those studies have featured target materials possessing aggregation effects, such as solid compounds and alloys. In the current investigation, the search for systematics in projectile- z dependence has been extended to encompass other target materials, including elemental targets. Most of the results are corroborative of the previously reported trends.

Experimental determinations of electron stopping power at low energies

Abstract An accurate knowledge of electron stopping power is important for calculations and simulations of electron beam interactions with solids especially in the low energy region (< 10 keV). This paper describes a simplified and rapid experimental procedure using based on electron energy loss spectroscopy which permits accurate stopping power determinations to be made from any material which can be observed in a transmission electron microscope. It is demonstrated that the stopping power and oscillator strength data so generated is in good agreement with other measurements and theoretical predictions. The technique is now being applied to a wide variety of materials of semiconductor interest.