Proton Radiography Research Articles

Self-generated magnetic field in plasma reconstructed by using inverse Abel transformation in proton radiography

The magnetic fields generated in plasmas have extensive influences on many processes of the inertial confinement fusion and the astrophysics. Therefore, the quantitative diagnosis of the magnetic field is quite essential. Proton radiography is a widely used experimental technique to diagnose the electric field or magnetic field in high-energy-density plasma. The effective explanation of the results of proton radiography depends on the reliability and availability of the inversion method. Traditional inversion methods can only provide one- or two-dimensional structure of the self-generated magnetic field. In this study, it is found that there is an Abel transformation relationship between the deflection velocity and the magnetic field with column symmetry, which allows us to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field for the first time. We theoretically deduce the process of reconstructing the cylindrical magnetic field through proton radiography with the Abel inversion algorithm. The feasibility of this method is verified by numerical simulation as well. Based on this inversion method, we reanalyze the proton radiography experimental results of Li et al. (<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13081">2016 <i>Nat. Commun.</i> <b>7</b> 13081</ext-link>) on the self-generated magnetic field of plasma jets. The inversion results show that the maximum magnetic field intensity is about 1.9 times the traditional inversion results. We discuss a new proton radiography inversion method for the existence of magnetic fields with cylindrical symmetry in thiswork, which will contributes to an intensive understanding of the self-generated electromagnetic field and its spatiotemporal evolution related to the laser fusion and the laboratory astrophysics.

High-contrast low-dose proton radiography of thin samples at the Tandetron accelerator

We investigate the ability of using high-resolution position-sensitive pixel detector and standard non-scanning beams of low-energy protons in air as a flexible tool and simplified technique for density-sensitivity imaging of thin samples. Proton radiography can provide high contrast and low radiation dose delivered to the inspected sample. Density-sensitive contrast response can be provided by a single proton per imaging pixel. For this purpose, we use the silicon semiconductor high-resolution pixel detector Timepix3 to evaluate particle radiography of thin samples with monoenergetic low-energy proton beams from the Tandetron light-ion accelerator. Measurements were performed with various well-defined thin samples. A proton micro beam was used to test and evaluate the technique. Spatial information of the samples is provided by the imaging detector. Density-sensitive contrast is obtained from the measurement of small differences in the deposited energy of transmitted protons across the sample. The transmitted protons are detected with high spatial resolution in the pixel detector. The single particle tracks registered in the detector are analysed by detailed pattern recognition algorithms. Various of these track parameters of spectral response are used for imaging contrast. Resulting proton radiographies for various well-defined thin samples are presented.

Development of a novel proton CT system using a 3D scintillator detector

The goal of this work is to develop a novel proton computed tomography (CT) system using a 3-dimensional (3D) scintillator detector. The detector design of the pCT system consists of a 3D scintillator that generates scintillation light in response to the incident proton beams. A scientific charge-coupled device (CCD) camera placed along the beam axis captures a 2D projection or radiograph of the resulting 3D scintillation light signal. A set of CCD cameras placed laterally to the beam axis capture two unique depth dose distributions of the beam. These additional beam images can be used to improve the resolution of the proton radiograph. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of this unique imaging system design for proton radiography using a 3D liquid scintillator detector.

Design of a Lens System Reduces Chromatic Aberration for Proton Radiography

Multi-GeV proton radiography is an important tool for diagnosing density distribution of thick objects. The magnetic lens system called Zumbro lens is widely employed because it compensates for the image distortion induced by small angle multiple Coulomb scattering (MCS) that occurs when the charged protons passing through the object. However, radiography is still suffering from chromatic aberration induced blurring, if the momentum of transmitted proton is different from the reference value of Zumbro lens. In this paper, two methods are employed to reduce chromatic aberration. The first is based on magnetic lens optimization. In addition, a new lens system is first proposed locating the downstream of Zumbro. It is named “auxiliary” lens, which can correct the chromatic aberration for certain protons with momentum far away from the reference of Zumbro lens. Monte Carlo simulation shows that this proposed lens can decrease chromatic aberration and improve the radiography image evidently.

Different radiographic imaging modalities with a proton computed tomography demonstrator

Proton computed tomography aims at improving proton-beam therapy, which is an established method to treat deep-seated tumours in cancer therapy. In treatment planning, the stopping power (SP) within a patient, describing the energy loss of a proton in a tissue, has to be known with high accuracy. However, conventional computed tomography (CT) returns Hounsfield units (HU), which have to be converted to SP values to perform the required treatment planning, thus introducing range uncertainties in the calculated dose distribution. Using protons not only for therapy but also for the preceding planning CT enables the direct measurement of the SP. Hence, this imaging modality eliminates the need for further conversion and therefore offers the possibility to improve treatment planning in proton therapy. In order to examine the principles of such a proton CT (pCT) setup, a demonstrator system, consisting of four double-sided silicon strip detectors and a range telescope, was built. The performance of the pCT demonstrator was tested with measurements at the MedAustron facility in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. In this paper, 2D imaging modalities going beyond the idea of a standard proton radiography, will be discussed. Namely, fluence loss imaging and scattering radiography results obtained with the demonstrator will be shown. The advantage of these modalities is that they do not rely on an additional energy measurement and can therefore be conducted only with the tracker of the demonstrator.

A novel proton-integrating radiography system design using a monolithic scintillator detector: Experimental studies

Research on proton-based imaging systems aims to improve treatment planning, internal anatomy visualization, and patient alignment for proton radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a new proton radiography system design consisting of a monolithic plastic scintillator volume and two optical cameras for use with scanning proton pencil beams. Unlike the thin scintillating plates currently used for proton radiography, the plastic scintillator volume (20 × 20 × 20 cm 3) captures a wider distribution of proton beam energy depositions and avoids proton-beam modulation. The proton imaging system’s characteristics were tested using image uniformity (2.6% over a 5 × 5 cm 2 area), stability (0.37%), and linearity (R2=1) studies. We used the light distribution produced within the plastic scintillator to generate proton radiographs via two different approaches: (a) integrating light by using a camera placed along the beam axis, and (b) capturing changes to the proton Bragg peak positions with a camera placed perpendicularly to the beam axis. The latter method was used to plot and evaluate relative shifts in percentage depth light (PDL) profiles of proton beams with and without a phantom in the beam path. A curvelet minimization algorithm used differences in PDL profiles to reconstruct and refine the phantom water-equivalent thickness (WET) map. Gammex phantoms were used to compare the proton radiographs generated by these two methods. The relative accuracies in calculating WET of the phantoms using the calibration-based beam-integration (and the PDL) methods were -0.18 ± 0.35% (-0.29 ± 3.11%), -0.11 ± 0.51% (-0.15 ± 2.64%), -2.94 ± 1.20% (-0.75 ± 6.11%), and -1.65 ± 0.35% (0.36 ± 3.93%) for solid water, adipose, cortical bone, and PMMA, respectively. Further exploration of this unique multicamera-based imaging system is warranted and could lead to clinical applications that improve treatment planning and patient alignment for proton radiotherapy.

A comparison of proton stopping power measured with proton CT and x-ray CT in fresh postmortem porcine structures.

Currently, calculations of proton range in proton therapy patients are based on a conversion of CT Hounsfield units of patient tissues into proton relative stopping power. Uncertainties in this conversion necessitate larger proximal and distal planned target volume margins. Proton CT can potentially reduce these uncertainties by directly measuring proton stopping power. We aim to demonstrate proton CT imaging with complex porcine samples, to analyze in detail three-dimensional regions of interest, and to compare proton stopping powers directly measured by proton CT to those determined from x-ray CT scans. We have used a prototype proton imaging system with single proton tracking to acquire proton radiography and proton CT images of a sample of porcine pectoral girdle and ribs, and a pig's head. We also acquired close in time x-ray CT scans of the same samples and compared proton stopping power measurements from the two modalities. In the case of the pig's head, we obtained x-ray CT scans from two different scanners and compared results from high-dose and low-dose settings. Comparing our reconstructed proton CT images with images derived from x-ray CT scans, we find agreement within 1% to 2% for soft tissues and discrepancies of up to 6% for compact bone. We also observed large discrepancies, up to 40%, for cavitated regions with mixed content of air, soft tissue, and bone, such as sinus cavities or tympanic bullae. Our images and findings from a clinically realistic proton CT scanner demonstrate the potential for proton CT to be used for low-dose treatment planning with reduced margins.

Clinical suitability of deep learning based synthetic CTs for adaptive proton therapy of lung cancer.

PurposeAdaptive proton therapy (APT) of lung cancer patients requires frequent volumetric imaging of diagnostic quality. Cone‐beam CT (CBCT) can provide these daily images, but x‐ray scattering limits CBCT‐image quality and hampers dose calculation accuracy. The purpose of this study was to generate CBCT‐based synthetic CTs using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) and investigate image quality and clinical suitability for proton dose calculations in lung cancer patients.MethodsA dataset of 33 thoracic cancer patients, containing CBCTs, same‐day repeat CTs (rCT), planning‐CTs (pCTs), and clinical proton treatment plans, was used to train and evaluate a DCNN with and without a pCT‐based correction method. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean error (ME), peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, and structural similarity were used to quantify image quality. The evaluation of clinical suitability was based on recalculation of clinical proton treatment plans. Gamma pass ratios, mean dose to target volumes and organs at risk, and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) were calculated. Furthermore, proton radiography simulations were performed to assess the HU‐accuracy of sCTs in terms of range errors.ResultsOn average, sCTs without correction resulted in a MAE of 34 ± 6 HU and ME of 4 ± 8 HU. The correction reduced the MAE to 31 ± 4HU (ME to 2 ± 4HU). Average 3%/3 mm gamma pass ratios increased from 93.7% to 96.8%, when the correction was applied. The patient specific correction reduced mean proton range errors from 1.5 to 1.1 mm. Relative mean target dose differences between sCTs and rCT were below ± 0.5% for all patients and both synthetic CTs (with/without correction). NTCP values showed high agreement between sCTs and rCT (<2%).ConclusionCBCT‐based sCTs can enable accurate proton dose calculations for APT of lung cancer patients. The patient specific correction method increased the image quality and dosimetric accuracy but had only a limited influence on clinically relevant parameters.

Demonstration of TNSA proton radiography on the National Ignition Facility Advanced Radiographic Capability (NIF-ARC) laser

Proton radiography using short-pulse laser drivers is an important tool in high-energy density (HED) science for dynamically diagnosing key characteristics in plasma interactions. Here we detail the first demonstration of target-normal sheath acceleration (TNSA)-based proton radiography the NIF-ARC laser system aided by the use of compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs). The multi-kJ energies available at the NIF-ARC laser allows for a high-brightness proton source for radiography and thus enabling a wide range of applications in HED science. In this demonstration, proton radiography of a physics package was performed and this work details the spectral properties of the TNSA proton probe as well as description of the resulting radiography quality.

Full treatment of the proton radiography technique for laser-driven capacitor-coil targets

Ultrafast proton radiography has been frequently used for direct measurement of the electromagnetic fields around laser-driven capacitor-coil targets. The goal is to accurately infer the coil currents and their magnetic field generation for a robust magnetic field source that can lead to many applications. The technique often involves numerical calculations for synthetic proton images to reproduce experimental measurements. While electromagnetic fields are the primary source for proton deflections around the capacitor coils, stopping power and small angle deflection can also contribute to the observed experimental features. Here we present a comprehensive study of the proton radiography technique including all sources of proton deflections as a function of coil shapes, current magnitudes, and proton energies. Good agreements were achieved between experimental data and numerical calculations that include both the stopping power and small angle deflections, particularly when the induced coil currents were small.

Contrast-enhanced proton radiographic sensitivity limits for tumor detection.

Purpose: Proton radiography may guide proton therapy cancer treatments with beam's-eye-view anatomical images and a proton-based estimation of proton stopping power. However, without contrast enhancement, proton radiography will not be able to distinguish tumor from tissue. To provide this contrast, functionalized, high- nanoparticles that specifically target a tumor could be injected into a patient before imaging. We conducted this study to understand the ability of gold, as a high- , biologically compatible tracer, to differentiate tumors from surrounding tissue. Approach: Acrylic and gold phantoms simulate a tumor tagged with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Calculations correlate a given thickness of gold to levels of tumor AuNP uptake reported in the literature. An identity, , and proton magnifying lens acquired lens-refocused proton radiographs at the 800-MeV LANSCE proton beam. The effects of gold in the phantoms, in terms of percent density change, were observed as changes in measured transmission. Variable areal densities of acrylic modeled the thickness of the human body. Results: A -thick gold strip was discernible within 1cm of acrylic, an areal density change of 0.2%. Behind 20cm of acrylic, a gold strip was visible. A 1-cm-diameter tumor tagged with 50-nm AuNPs per cell has an amount of contrast agent embedded within it that is equivalent to a thickness of gold, an areal density change of 0.63% in a tissue thickness of 20cm, which is expected to be visible in a typical proton radiograph. Conclusions: We indicate that AuNP-enhanced proton radiography might be a feasible technology to provide image-guidance to proton therapy, potentially reducing off-target effects and sparing nearby tissue. These data can be used to develop treatment plans and clinical applications can be derived from the simulations.

Optimizing calibration settings for accurate water equivalent path length assessment using flat panel proton radiography

Objective: Proton range uncertainties can compromise the effectiveness of proton therapy treatments. Water equivalent path length (WEPL) assessment by flat panel detector proton radiography (FP-PR) can provide means of range uncertainty detection. Since WEPL accuracy intrinsically relies on the FP-PR calibration parameters, the purpose of this study is to establish an optimal calibration procedure that ensures high accuracy of WEPL measurements. To that end, several calibration settings were investigated. Approach: FP-PR calibration datasets were obtained simulating PR fields with different proton energies, directed towards water-equivalent material slabs of increasing thickness. The parameters investigated were the spacing between energy layers (ΔE) and the increment in thickness of the water-equivalent material slabs (ΔX) used for calibration. 30 calibrations were simulated, as a result of combining ΔE = 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 MeV and ΔX = 10, 8, 5, 3, 2, 1 mm. FP-PRs through a CIRS electron density phantom were simulated, and WEPL images corresponding to each calibration were obtained. Ground truth WEPL values were provided by range probing multi-layer ionization chamber simulations on each insert of the phantom. Relative WEPL errors between FP-PR simulations and ground truth were calculated for each insert. Mean relative WEPL errors and standard deviations across all inserts were computed for WEPL images obtained with each calibration. Main results: Large mean and standard deviations were found in WEPL images obtained with large ΔE values (ΔE = 9 or 7 MeV), for any ΔX. WEPL images obtained with ΔE ≤ 5 MeV and ΔX ≤ 5 mm resulted in a WEPL accuracy with mean values within ±0.5% and standard deviations around 1%. Significance: An optimal FP calibration in the framework of this study was established, characterized by 3 MeV ≤ ΔE ≤ 5 MeV and 2 mm ≤ ΔX ≤ 5 mm. Within these boundaries, highly accurate WEPL acquisitions using FP-PR are feasible and practical, holding the potential to assist future online range verification quality control procedures.

Methods for extremely sparse-angle proton tomography.

Proton radiography is a widely fielded diagnostic used to measure magnetic structures in plasma. The deflection of protons with multi-MeV kinetic energy by the magnetic fields is used to infer their path-integrated field strength. Here the use of tomographic methods is proposed for the first time to lift the degeneracy inherent in these path-integrated measurements, allowing full reconstruction of spatially resolved magnetic field structures in three dimensions. Two techniques are proposed which improve the performance of tomographic reconstruction algorithms in cases with severely limited numbers of available probe beams, as is the case in laser-plasma interaction experiments where the probes are created by short, high-power laser pulse irradiation of secondary foil targets. A new configuration allowing production of more proton beams from a single short laser pulse is also presented and proposed for use in tandem with these analytical advancements.

Low Intensity Beam Extraction Mode on the Protom Synchrotron for Proton Radiography Implementation

Proton radiography is one of the most important and actual areas of research that can significantly improve the quality and accuracy of proton therapy. Currently, the calculation of the proton range in patients receiving proton therapy is based on the conversion of Hounsfield CT units of the patient's tissues into the relative stopping power of protons. Proton radiography is able to reduce these uncertainties by directly measuring proton stopping power. The study demonstrates the possibility of Protom synchrotron-based proton therapy facilities to operate in a special mode which makes it possible to implement proton radiography. This work presents the status of the new low beam intensity extraction mode. The paper describes algorithms of low flux beam control, calibration procedures and experimental measurements. Measurements and calibration procedures were performed with certified Protom Faraday Cup, PTW Bragg Peak Chamber and specially designed experimental external.

First experimental results of gated proton imaging using x-ray fluoroscopy to detect a fiducial marker

Increasing numbers of proton imaging research studies are being conducted for accurate proton range determination in proton therapy treatment planning. However, there is no proton imaging system that deals with motion artifacts. In this study, a gated proton imaging system was developed and the first experimental results of proton radiography (pRG) were obtained for a moving object without motion artifacts. A motion management system using dual x-ray fluoroscopy for detecting a spherical gold fiducial marker was introduced and the proton beam was gated in accordance with the motion of the object. To demonstrate the performance of the gated proton imaging system, gated pRG images of a moving phantom were acquired experimentally, and the motion artifacts clearly were diminished. Also, the factors causing image deteriorations were evaluated focusing on the new gating system developed here, and the main factor was identified as the latency (with a maximum value of 93 ms) between the ideal gating signal according to the actual marker position and the actual gating signal. The possible deterioration due to the latency of the proton imaging system and proton beam irradiation was small owing to appropriate setting of the time structure.

Influence factors of resolution in laser accelerated proton radiography and image deblurring

Contact imaging based on MeV energy laser accelerated protons is studied in this paper. First, we show that both external structures and the internal organs of ants can be distinguished with micrometer spatial resolution by proton radiography. Then, we systematically study several specific influence factors and their coupled effects on the spatial resolution of proton radiography, i.e., the accumulated shot number, the proton irradiation dose, the different types of detectors, and the incident proton energy, using two specially designed resolution calibration targets. Under our experimental conditions with MeV protons, the best resolution obtained with the radiochromic film is 20 μm, and that with the solid-state nuclear-track detector (CR39) is 10 μm. In the end, we propose an image deblurring algorithm that uses deconvolution to eliminate the blurring caused by the nonzero spatial extent of the source and multiple Coulomb scattering. This work studies the comprehensive factors of laser accelerated proton radiography with resolution calibration targets and presents incremental additions to previous work on proton radiography.

High-Gradient Booster for Enhanced Proton Radiography at LANSCE

High-Gradient Booster for Enhanced Proton Radiography at LANSCE

Investigating particle track topology for range telescopes in particle radiography using convolutional neural networks

Background Proton computed tomography (pCT) and radiography (pRad) are proposed modalities for improved treatment plan accuracy and in situ treatment validation in proton therapy. The pCT system of the Bergen pCT collaboration is able to handle very high particle intensities by means of track reconstruction. However, incorrectly reconstructed and secondary tracks degrade the image quality. We have investigated whether a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based filter is able to improve the image quality. Material and methods The CNN was trained by simulation and reconstruction of tens of millions of proton and helium tracks. The CNN filter was then compared to simple energy loss threshold methods using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (AUROC), and by comparing the image quality and Water Equivalent Path Length (WEPL) error of proton and helium radiographs filtered with the same methods. Results The CNN method led to a considerable improvement of the AUROC, from 74.3% to 97.5% with protons and from 94.2% to 99.5% with helium. The CNN filtering reduced the WEPL error in the helium radiograph from 1.03 mm to 0.93 mm while no improvement was seen in the CNN filtered pRads. Conclusion The CNN improved the filtering of proton and helium tracks. Only in the helium radiograph did this lead to improved image quality.

Image quality evaluation of projection- and depth dose-based approaches to integrating proton radiography using a monolithic scintillator detector

The purpose of this study is to compare the image quality of an integrating proton radiography (PR) system, composed of a monolithic scintillator and two digital cameras, using integral lateral-dose and integral depth-dose image reconstruction techniques. Monte Carlo simulations were used to obtain the energy deposition in a 3D monolithic scintillator detector (30 × 30 × 30 cm3 poly vinyl toluene organic scintillator) to create radiographs of various phantoms—a slanted aluminum cube for spatial resolution analysis and a Las Vegas phantom for contrast analysis. The light emission of the scintillator was corrected using Birks scintillation model. We compared two integrating PR methods and the expected results from an idealized proton tracking radiography system. Four different image reconstruction methods were utilized in this study: integral scintillation light projected from the beams-eye view, depth-dose based reconstruction methods both with and without optimization, and single particle tracking PR was used for reference data. Results showed that heterogeneity artifact due to medium-interface mismatch was identified from the Las Vegas phantom simulated in air. Spatial resolution was found to be highest for single-event reconstruction. Contrast levels, ranked from best to worst, were found to correspond to particle tracking, optimized depth-dose, depth-dose, and projection-based image reconstructions. The image quality of a monolithic scintillator integrating PR system was sufficient to warrant further exploration. These results show promise for potential clinical use as radiographic techniques for visualizing internal patient anatomy during proton radiotherapy.

Proton radiography in background magnetic fields

Proton radiography has proved increasingly successful as a diagnostic for electric and magnetic fields in high-energy-density physics experiments. Most experiments use target-normal sheath acceleration sources with a wide energy range in the proton beam, since the velocity spread can help differentiate between electric and magnetic fields and provide time histories in a single shot. However, in magnetized plasma experiments with strong background fields, the broadband proton spectrum leads to velocity-spread-dependent displacement of the beam and significant blurring of the radiograph. We describe the origins of this blurring and show how it can be removed from experimental measurements, and we outline the conditions under which such deconvolutions are successful. As an example, we apply this method to a magnetized plasma experiment that used a background magnetic field of 3 T and in which the strong displacement and energy spread of the proton beam reduced the spatial resolution from tens of micrometers to a few millimeters. Application of the deconvolution procedure accurately recovers radiographs with resolutions better than 100 µm, enabling the recovery of more accurate estimates of the path-integrated magnetic field. This work extends accurate proton radiography to a class of experiments with significant background magnetic fields, particularly those experiments with an applied external magnetic field.