Emission Of Cherenkov Radiation Research Articles

Semi-analytic model for plasma production and Cherenkov radiation emission from hypervelocity impacts on soda–lime glass

A semi-analytic method is proposed to compute the produced plasma and the emitted Cherenkov radiation from hypervelocity impacts on soda–lime glass for various projectiles and impact velocities. First, the Taylor–von Neumann–Sedov blast wave model, coupled with the system of nonlinear Saha equations for multispecies, strongly coupled plasma, is adopted to estimate the hydrodynamic profiles and the ionization state of the target material in the early stage of the impact. Second, the Frank–Tamm formula is considered to investigate the onset of the Cherenkov radiation and to compute the emitted energy. The present approach predicts a linear dependence of the produced total electric charge on the projectile density and a quadratic dependence on the projectile velocity, whereas the emitted Cherenkov radiation scales quadratically with the produced charge if the onset conditions are met.

Cherenkov Radiation: A Stochastic Differential Model Driven by Brownian Motions

With the development of molecular imaging, Cherenkov optical imaging technology has been widely concerned. Most studies regard the partial boundary flux as a stochastic variable and reconstruct images based on the steadystate diffusion equation. In this paper, time-variable will be considered and the Cherenkov radiation emission process will be regarded as a stochastic process. Based on the original steady-state diffusion equation, we first propose a stochastic partial differential equation model. The numerical solution to the stochastic partial differential model is carried out by using the finite element method. When the time resolution is high enough, the numerical solution of the stochastic diffusion equation is better than the numerical solution of the steady-state diffusion equation, which may provide a new way to alleviate the problem of Cherenkov luminescent imaging quality. In addition, the process of generating Cerenkov and penetrating in vitro imaging of 18 F radionuclide in muscle tissue are also first proposed by GEANT4 Monte Carlo method. The result of the GEANT4 simulation is compared with the numerical solution of the corresponding stochastic partial differential equations, which shows that the stochastic partial differential equation can simulate the corresponding process.

Review of in vivo optical molecular imaging and sensing from x-ray excitation.

.Significance: Deep-tissue penetration by x-rays to induce optical responses of specific molecular reporters is a new way to sense and image features of tissue function in vivo. Advances in this field are emerging, as biocompatible probes are invented along with innovations in how to optimally utilize x-ray sources.Aim: A comprehensive review is provided of the many tools and techniques developed for x-ray-induced optical molecular sensing, covering topics ranging from foundations of x-ray fluorescence imaging and x-ray tomography to the adaptation of these methods for sensing and imaging in vivo.Approach: The ways in which x-rays can interact with molecules and lead to their optical luminescence are reviewed, including temporal methods based on gated acquisition and multipoint scanning for improved lateral or axial resolution.Results: While some known probes can generate light upon x-ray scintillation, there has been an emergent recognition that excitation of molecular probes by x-ray-induced Cherenkov light is also possible. Emission of Cherenkov radiation requires a threshold energy of x-rays in the high kV or MV range, but has the advantage of being able to excite a broad range of optical molecular probes. In comparison, most scintillating agents are more readily activated by lower keV x-ray energies but are composed of crystalline inorganic constituents, although some organic biocompatible agents have been designed as well. Methods to create high-resolution structured x-ray-optical images are now available, based upon unique scanning approaches and/or a priori knowledge of the scanned x-ray beam geometry. Further improvements in spatial resolution can be achieved by careful system design and algorithm optimization. Current applications of these hybrid x-ray-optical approaches include imaging of tissue oxygenation and pH as well as of certain fluorescent proteins.Conclusions: Discovery of x-ray-excited reporters combined with optimized x-ray scan sequences can improve imaging resolution and sensitivity.

Cherenkov emissions for studying tumor changes during radiation therapy: An exploratory study in domesticated dogs with naturally-occurring cancer.

PurposeReal-time monitoring of physiological changes of tumor tissue during radiation therapy (RT) could improve therapeutic efficacy and predict therapeutic outcomes. Cherenkov radiation is a normal byproduct of radiation deposited in tissue. Previous studies in rat tumors have confirmed a correlation between Cherenkov emission spectra and optical measurements of blood-oxygen saturation based on the tissue absorption coefficients. The purpose of this study is to determine if it is feasible to image Cherenkov emissions during radiation therapy in larger human-sized tumors of pet dogs with cancer. We also wished to validate the prior work in rats, to determine if Cherenkov emissions have the potential to act an indicator of blood-oxygen saturation or water-content changes in the tumor tissue–both of which have been correlated with patient prognosis.MethodsA DoseOptics camera, built to image the low-intensity emission of Cherenkov radiation, was used to measure Cherenkov intensities in a cohort of cancer-bearing pet dogs during clinical irradiation. Tumor type and location varied, as did the radiation fractionation scheme and beam arrangement, each planned according to institutional standard-of-care. Unmodulated radiation was delivered using multiple 6 MV X-ray beams from a clinical linear accelerator. Each dog was treated with a minimum of 16 Gy total, in ≥3 fractions. Each fraction was split into at least three subfractions per gantry angle. During each subfraction, Cherenkov emissions were imaged.ResultsWe documented significant intra-subfraction differences between the Cherenkov intensities for normal tissue, whole-tumor tissue, tissue at the edge of the tumor and tissue at the center of the tumor (p<0.05). Additionally, intra-subfraction changes suggest that Cherenkov emissions may have captured fluctuating absorption properties within the tumor.ConclusionHere we demonstrate that it is possible to obtain Cherenkov emissions from canine cancers within a fraction of radiotherapy. The entire optical spectrum was obtained which includes the window for imaging changes in water and hemoglobin saturation. This lends credence to the goal of using this method during radiotherapy in human patients and client-owned pets.

Timing-performance evaluation of Cherenkov-based radiation detectors

With the upgradation of detector components, such as scintillators and photodetectors, the PET-image signal-to-noise ratio of time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) systems has been improved, compared to those of ordinary nonTOF-PET systems. A TOF-PET with an ultrahigh time resolution, for example a coincidence time resolution (CTR) better than few tens of picoseconds, can not only improve the image quality, but also remove the image reconstruction process, significantly impacting medical imaging. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a high-time resolution PET detector. We focus on the prompt emission of Cherenkov radiation, owing to the instantaneousness of which, a high time resolution can be expected. One of the candidates for the Cherenkov radiator is lead fluoride (PbF2) due it has excellent properties, including transparency toward the ultraviolet region, high refractive index (n = 1.82), and high density (7.77 g/cm3). Moreover, it does not contain radioisotopes, unlike lutetium-based scintillators, which are commonly used in the currently available TOF-PET detectors. In this work, we experimentally investigate the timing performance of PbF2-based Cherenkov detectors, breaking down the timing performance into physical components. 3×3×5 mm3 and 9.6×9.6×5 mm3 PbF2 crystals are used as Cherenkov radiators; both are attached to a microchannel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT) because the single channel MCP-PMT is one of the best photodetectors in terms of the SPTR, which is 25 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM). All the surfaces, except the end surface where the MCP-PMT is connected, are wrapped in black tape to suppress the reflections of the Cherenkov photons in the crystal. The CTR is measured by placing a detector pair face-to-face, using an 22Na point source, and an oscilloscope at 20 GS/s with a set bandwidth of 4.2 GHz. A CTR of 46.9 ps FWHM, corresponding to a position resolution of 7.0 mm, is obtained, consistent with our simulation results.

A low-energy Cherenkov glow

Hyperbolic metamaterials are shown to enable the emission of Cherenkov radiation from low-energy charged particles travelling at slow speeds. The achievement could lead to new forms of light sources and detectors.

Beam and tissue factors affecting Cherenkov image intensity for quantitative entrance and exit dosimetry on human tissue.

This study's goal was to determine how Cherenkov radiation emission observed in radiotherapy is affected by predictable factors expected in patient imaging. Factors such as tissue optical properties, radiation beam properties, thickness of tissues, entrance/exit geometry, curved surface effects, curvature and imaging angles were investigated through Monte Carlo simulations. The largest physical cause of variation of the correlation ratio between of Cherenkov emission and dose was the entrance/exit geometry (˜50%). The largest human tissue effect was from different optical properties (˜45%). Beyond these, clinical beam energy varies the correlation ratio significantly (˜20% for X-ray beams), followed by curved surfaces (˜15% for X-ray beams and ˜8% for electron beams), and finally, the effect of field size (˜5% for X-ray beams). Other investigated factors which caused variations less than 5% were tissue thicknesses and source to surface distance. The effect of non-Lambertian emission was negligible for imaging angles smaller than 60 degrees. The spectrum of Cherenkov emission tends to blue-shift along the curved surface. A simple normalization approach based on the reflectance image was experimentally validated by imaging a range of tissue phantoms, as a first order correction for different tissue optical properties.

Cherenkov luminescence measurements with digital silicon photomultipliers: a feasibility study.

BackgroundA feasibility study was done to assess the capability of digital silicon photomultipliers to measure the Cherenkov luminescence emitted by a β source. Cherenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is possible with a charge coupled device (CCD) based technology, but a stand-alone technique for quantitative activity measurements based on Cherenkov luminescence has not yet been developed. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are photon counting devices with a fast impulse response and can potentially be used to quantify β-emitting radiotracer distributions by CLI.MethodsIn this study, a Philips digital photon counting (PDPC) silicon photomultiplier detector was evaluated for measuring Cherenkov luminescence. The PDPC detector is a matrix of avalanche photodiodes, which were read one at a time in a dark count map (DCM) measurement mode (much like a CCD). This reduces the device active area but allows the information from a single avalanche photodiode to be preserved, which is not possible with analog SiPMs. An algorithm to reject the noisiest photodiodes and to correct the measured count rate for the dark current was developed.ResultsThe results show that, in DCM mode and at (10–13) °C, the PDPC has a dynamic response to different levels of Cherenkov luminescence emitted by a β source and transmitted through an opaque medium. This suggests the potential for this approach to provide quantitative activity measurements. Interestingly, the potential use of the PDPC in DCM mode for direct imaging of Cherenkov luminescence, as a opposed to a scalar measurement device, was also apparent.ConclusionsWe showed that a PDPC tile in DCM mode is able to detect and image a β source through its Cherenkov radiation emission. The detector’s dynamic response to different levels of radiation suggests its potential quantitative capabilities, and the DCM mode allows imaging with a better spatial resolution than the conventional event-triggered mode. Finally, the same acquisition procedure and data processing could be employed also for other low light levels applications, such as bioluminescence.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40658-015-0134-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Emission of Cherenkov radiation as a mechanism for Hamiltonian friction

We study the motion of a heavy tracer particle weakly coupled to a dense, weakly interacting Bose gas exhibiting Bose–Einstein condensation. In the so-called mean-field limit, the dynamics of this system approaches one determined by nonlinear Hamiltonian evolution equations. We prove that if the initial speed of the tracer particle is above the speed of sound in the Bose gas, and for a suitable class of initial states of the Bose gas, the particle decelerates due to emission of Cherenkov radiation of sound waves, and its motion approaches a uniform motion at the speed of sound, as time t tends to ∞.

TH-A-141-09: BEST IN PHYSICS (IMAGING) - Superficial Dose Imaging Based On Cherenkov Radiation Emission During Megavoltage External Beam Radiotherapy

Purpose: To show that Cherenkov emission generated by megavoltage X-ray beams could be imaged in real time during external beam radiotherapy. Images of Cherenkov emission could be applied for quality assurance (QA) and estimate the superficial dose distribution for complex surface profiles. Methods: Cherenkov radiation has been documented to be generated by MeV external beam radiotherapy in both water and tissue. A typical breast cancer treatment plan was adopted to irradiate the breast and torso region of an anthropometric phantom. Images of Cherenkov emission have been taken by using a scientific-grade time-gated ICCD camera, synchronized to the LINAC pulse output, during treatment. Sampling depth depending on wavelength and angular distribution of Cherenkov photons (similar to Lambertian distribution) emitted from the surface have been investigated for different optical properties by Monte Carlo simulations in GAMOS and corresponding angular emission corrections have been applied. Registration of the 2-D Cherenkov emission images to 3-D surface profiles measured by motion monitoring system (Catalyst™, C-RAD) has been investigated. Results: The images show that superficial dose varies dramatically with complex surface profiles. Imaging of this can be done, with a typical acquisition time of 2 sec, based upon Signal to noise ratio of SNR=30 for a 10 MeV beam, suggesting that near real time surface dosimetry is possible during the treatment time. The spatial resolution achieved here was approximately 1mm. Conclusion: Superficial dose can be imaged in realtime directly with a camera, capturing the Cherenkov emitted from the surface of the treatment region during external beam radiotherapy, and these surface dose images could potentially allow real time monitoring, quality assurance and decisions to be made about dose errors in complex treatment areas.

Conservation of the photon number in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation in axially varying optical fibers

We reexamine the derivation of the generalized nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation in the case of nonaxially uniform optical fibers, taking into account the longitudinal and spectral evolutions of all pertinent linear parameters. Our theory leads to an improved form of this equation that highlights an additional term, which ensures the conservation of the total photon number in nonuniform optical fibers in the absence of attenuation. Numerical simulations confirm the validity of this theory in the context of a Raman-induced soliton self-frequency shift, emission of Cherenkov radiation, and a soliton blue shift.

Cherenkov radiation generated by a beam of electrons revisited

Cherenkov radiation generated by a beam of electrons is theoretically investigated. In the case that the boundary effect is negligible, coherent Cherenkov radiation does not depend on the longitudinal bunch form of the electron beam, which is remarkably different from other kinds of coherent radiation like coherent transition radiation and coherent synchrotron radiation. The reason for this result is ascribed to the criterion of the emission of Cherenkov radiation. The angular distribution of coherent Cherenkov radiation is mainly determined by the transverse bunch form of the beam. The spectral intensity of incoherent Cherenkov radiation is proportional to the velocity distribution function of the electrons in the beams. Based on these results, some methods are suggested to study hot electrons with the measurement of Cherenkov radiation.

Cherenkov Radiation Emission in uniaxial optical materials

We report a theoretical study of the Cherenkov radiation emission in uniaxial optical materials. The formalism is based on the previous work of Muzicar (1961) whose results in terms of energetic properties of the emitted waves are corrected. This formalism is used to predict the Cherenkov radiation emission in a strongly birefringent sodium nitrate crystal (NaNO3).