Two-dimensional Detector Array Research Articles

SU-E-T-384: An Easy Use Anthropomorphic Phantom for Lung IMRT QA.

Even though lung IMRT plans are calculated based on patient CT with heterogeneity correction, patient-specific validations are often performed by using measurements in homogeneous solid media. In this study we developed heterogeneous phantoms for measurement-based validation of lung IMRT. Three slabs from thorax region of anthropomorphic RANDO phantom and virtual water (VW) slabs were used to construct two versions of heterogeneous phantom, "Hetero-1" and "Hetero-2". The RANDO slabs are 2.5 cm thick. A two-dimensional diode array detector, MapCHECK and an ion chamber were used for measurements. "Hetero-1" consisted of three RANDO slabs placed horizontally on the MapCHECK plus a 3cm VW on the top. Hetero-2 was constructed by inserting a 2 cm VW with a chamber cavity on top of the first RANDO slab above the MapCHECK. Two lung-IMRT plans were generated using Pinnacle TPS, including a plan for the RPC Lung-Phantom. The point doses were compared with ion chamber measurements and planar dose were compared with MapCHECK measurements. The MapCHECK measurements were performed using "Hetero-1" on a beam-by-beam basis for the two IMRT plans. Passing rates under 3%/3mm Gamma criteria of were from 93.5% to 98.5% for all beams. Accumulative measurements were performed using "Hetero-2" and the passing rates under same criteria for two IMRT plans were 96.9% and 96.3% respectively, and 95.2% and 98.5% for measurements with 5cm lateral-IsoCenter-shift including more lung material. The differences between Ion-chamber- measurements and TPS-calculations were 1.2% and 1.71% for two IMRT plans. In vivo results obtained from RPC-report for two TLDs inside the PTV were 98% and 99% between measurements and calculations. An easy-to-setup heterogonous phantom for Lung IMRT QA can be constructed by adopting thorax region slabs of anthropomorphic-type phantoms. It can be implemented as a convenient and efficient tool for lung IMRT QA in a routine clinic.

SU-E-I-107: Suitability of Various Radiation Detectors Used in Radiation Therapy for X-Ray Dosimetry in Computed Tomography.

Assessment of suitability for X-ray dosimetry in computed tomography of various ionization chambers, diodes and two-dimensional detector arrays primarily used in radiation therapy. An Oldelft X-ray simulation unit was used to irradiate PTW 60008, 60012 dosimetry diodes, PTW 23332, 31013, 31010, 31006 axial symmetrical ionization chambers, PTW 23343, 34001 plane parallel ionization chambers and PTW Starcheck and 2D-Array seven29 as well as a prototype Farmer chamber with a copper wall. Peak potential was varied from 50 kV up to 125 kV and beam qualities were quantified through half-value-layer measurements. Energy response was investigated free in air as well as in 2 cm depth in a solid water phantom and refers to a manufacturer calibrated PTW 60004 diode for kV-dosimetry. The thimble ionization chambers PTW 31010, 31013, the uncapsuled diode PTW 60012 and the PTW 2D-Array seven29 exhibit an energy response deviation in the investigated energy region of approximately 10% or lower thus proving good usability in X-ray dosimetry if higher spatial resolution is needed or rotational irradiations occur. It could be shown that in radiation therapy routinely used detectors are usable in a much lower energy region. The rotational symmetry is of advantage in computed tomography dosimetry and enables dose profile as well as point dose measurements in a suitable phantom for estimation of organ doses. Additional the PTW 2D-Array seven29 can give a quick overview of radiation fields in non-rotating tasks.

Dark Current Characteristics of a Radiation Detector Array Developed Using MOVPE-Grown Thick CdTe Layers on Si Substrate

We present reverse bias current (dark current) characteristics of a two-dimensional monolithic pixel-type nuclear radiation detector array fabricated using metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE)-grown thick CdTe epitaxial layers on Si substrate. The (14 × 8) pixel array was formed by cutting deep vertical trenches using a dicing saw, where each pixel possesses a p-CdTe/ n-CdTe/n+-Si heterojunction diode structure. The dark currents showed pixel-to-pixel variations when measured at higher applied biases exceeding 100 V. The dark current had a dependence on the pixel thickness, where pixels with lower CdTe thickness exhibited higher currents. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the dark current revealed that a deep level with activation energy of around 0.6 eV is responsible for the observed dark currents and their pixel-to-pixel variation. We discuss that the effective ratio of Te to Cd at the growth surface is a major factor that controls the thickness variation, and is also responsible for the formation of 0.6 eV deep levels.

Quick measurement of crystal truncation rod profiles in simultaneous multi-wavelength dispersive mode

To conduct time-resolved measurements in the wide momentum transfer (q = 4π sinθ/λ, θ: the glancing angle of the x-ray beam, λ: x-ray wavelength) range of interest, we developed a method that can simultaneously measure the whole profile of x-ray diffraction and crystal truncation rod scattering of interest with no need of rotation of the specimen, detector, and monochromator crystal during the measurement. With a curved crystal polychromator (Si 111 diffraction), a horizontally convergent x-ray beam having a one-to-one correlation between wavelength (energy: 16.24–23.0 keV) and direction is produced. The convergent x-ray beam components of different wavelengths are incident on the specimen in a geometry where θ is the same for all the x-ray components and are diffracted within corresponding vertical scattering planes by a specimen ([GaAs(12ML)/AlAs(8 ML)]50 on GaAs(001) substrate) placed at the focal point. Although θ is the same for all the directions, q continuously varies because λ changes as a function of direction. The normalized horizontal intensity distribution across the beam, as measured using a two-dimensional pixel array detector downstream of the specimen, represents the reflectivity curve profile both near to and far from the Bragg point. As for the crystal truncation rod scattering around the 002 reflection, the diffraction profile from the Bragg peak down to reflectivity of 1.0 × 10−9 was measured with a sufficient data collection time (1000–2000 s). With data collection times of 100, 10, 1.0, and 0.1 s, profiles down to a reflectivity of ∼6 × 10−9, ∼2 × 10−8, ∼8 × 10−8, and ∼8 × 10−7 were measured, respectively. To demonstrate the time-resolving capability of the system, reflectivity curves were measured with time resolutions of 1.0 s while rotating the specimen. We have also measured the diffraction profile around the 113 reflection in the non-specular reflection geometry.

Spectral-domain phase microscopy with improved sensitivity using two-dimensional detector arrays

In this work we demonstrate the use of two-dimensional detectors to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity in spectral-domain phase microscopy for subnanometer accuracy measurements. We show that an increase in SNR can be obtained, from 82 dB to 105 dB, using 150 pixel lines of a low-cost CCD camera as compared to a single line, to compute an averaged axial scan. In optimal mechanical conditions, phase stability as small as 92 μrad, corresponding to 6 pm displacement accuracy, could be obtained. We also experimentally demonstrate the benefit of spatial-averaging in terms of the reduction of signal fading due to an axially moving sample. The applications of the improved system are illustrated by imaging live cells in culture.

Towards a 3-D tomographic retrieval for the air-borne limb-imager GLORIA

Abstract. GLORIA (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere) is a new remote sensing instrument essentially combining a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer with a two-dimensional (2-D) detector array in combination with a highly flexible gimbal mount. It will be housed in the belly pod of the German research aircraft HALO (High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft). It is unique in its combination of high spatial and state-of-the art spectral resolution. Furthermore, the horizontal view angle with respect to the aircraft flight direction can be varied from 45° to 135°. This allows for tomographic measurements of mesoscale events for a wide variety of atmospheric constituents. In this paper, a tomographic retrieval scheme is presented, which is able to fully exploit the manifold radiance observations of the GLORIA limb sounder. The algorithm is optimized for massive 3-D retrievals of several hundred thousands of measurements and atmospheric constituents on common hardware. The new scheme is used to explore the capabilities of GLORIA to sound the atmosphere in full 3-D with respect to the choice of the flightpath and to different measurement modes of the instrument using ozone as a test species. It is demonstrated that the achievable resolution should approach 200 m vertically and 20 km–30 km horizontally. Finally, a comparison of the 3-D inversion with conventional 1-D inversions using the assumption of a horizontally homogeneous atmosphere is performed.

Simultaneous measurement of X-ray specular reflection and off-specular diffuse scattering from liquid surfaces using a two-dimensional pixel array detector: the liquid-interface reflectometer of BL37XU at SPring-8

An X-ray reflectometer for simultaneous measurement of specular and off-specular reflection of liquid surfaces is described. The reflectometer, equipped with a two-dimensional single X-ray photon-counting pixel array detector obtained the full range of X-ray specular and off-specular reflections in an extremely short time (1 s). Both the specular and off-specular reflection of water exhibited good agreement with the predicted capillary-wave theory within the appropriate instrumental resolution. The approach is also demonstrated on an aqueous solution of 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The monolayer in which the dodecyl chain faces upwards and the Cl(-) anion locates next to the imidazolium ring formed on the water surface was found to be laterally homogeneous. The use of a pixel array detector will be particularly powerful for in situ measurements to investigate both out-of-plane and in-plane structures simultaneously, not only for liquid surfaces but also for other thin films.

Measurement of residual wedge angle of a high optical quality transparent parallel plate with a multipass optical configuration

A new technique of wedge angle measurement of a transparent nearly parallel plate (PP) is presented. In this technique, the single-pass angular deviation suffered by a pair of mutually parallel, laterally separated pencil beams is enhanced by using a multipass cavity formed with two right-angle prisms. The resultant angular deflection is converted to linear deviation by means of a Fourier transform lens (FTL), which focuses the pencil beams on to its focal plane. A two-dimensional CCD detector array placed at the focal plane of the FTL measures the linear shift of the intensity centroid (IC) of the resulting Young's fringes formed due to the superposition of the laterally separated pencil beams. The wedge angle is determined from the measured value of the linear shift of the IC due to the PP.

Depth Resolved and Elemental Selective XRF and XAS in Surface Layer of Annealed Fe-Cr Alloys

Cr in Fe-Cr alloys often forms some different phase of oxides during annealing at high temperatures. The phases of Cr oxides are determined depending on the annealing condition such as temperature and oxygen partial pressure. In this study, depth-resolved X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of Fe and Cr were carried out using a two-dimensional pixel array detector with geometrical arrangement of the grazing exit in detection of fluorescence X-ray emitted from the sample surface, in order to characterize the depth-directional distribution of the elements in the surface layers of Fe-Cr alloys annealed under low oxygen partial pressure. In addition, depth-resolved X-ray absorption spectra will also be able to be obtained by measuring the incident X-ray energetic dependencies of the fluorescence intensity. These techniques facilitate non-destructive measurement of the elemental distribution and the phase of metal or oxides in depth direction. The experiments were performed at the BL01B1 of SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility. The results showed that Cr was enriched and covered on the surface of the alloys during annealing and formed as Cr2O3 or FeCr2O4. The phase and thickness of formed oxides depended on the alloy composition and the annealing conditions.

Evaluation of delivered monitor unit accuracy of gated step‐and‐shoot IMRT using a two‐dimensional detector array

To overcome the problem of organ motion in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), gated IMRT is often used for the treatment of lung cancer. In this study, the authors investigated the accuracy of the delivered monitor units (MUs) from each segment during gated IMRT using a two-dimensional detector array for user-specific verification purpose. The authors planned a 6 MV photon, seven-port step-and-shoot lung IMRT delivery. The respiration signals for gated IMRT delivery were obtained from the one-dimensional moving phantom using the real-time position management (RPM) system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). The beams were delivered using a Clinac iX (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) with the Millennium 120 MLC. The MatriXX (IBA Dosimetry GmbH, Germany) was validated through consistency and reproducibility tests as well as comparison with measurements from a Farmer-type ion chamber. The authors delivered beams with varying dose rates and duty cycles and analyzed the MatriXX data to evaluate MU delivery accuracy. There was quite good agreement between the planned segment MUs and the MUs computed from the MatriXX within +/- 2% error. The beam-on times computed from the MatriXX data were almost identical for all cases, and they matched well with the RPM beam-on and beam-off signals. A slight difference was observed between them, but it was less than 40 ms. The gated IMRT delivery demonstrated an MU delivery accuracy that was equivalent to ungated IMRT, and the delivered MUs with a gating signal agreed with the planned MUs within +/- 0.5 MU regardless of dose rate and duty cycle. The authors can conclude that gated IMRT is able to deliver an accurate dose to a patient during a procedure. The authors believe that the methodology and results can be transferred to other vendors' devices, particularly those that do not provide MLC log data for a verification purpose.

Implementation and validation of a commercial portal dosimetry software for intensity-modulated radiation therapy pre-treatment verification

Electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) are extensively used for obtaining dosimetric information of pre-treatment field verification and in-vivo dosimetry for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). In the present study, we have implemented the newly developed portal dosimetry software using independent dose prediction algorithm EPIDose™ and evaluated this new tool for the pre-treatment IMRT plan quality assurance of Whole Pelvis with Simultaneous Integrated Boost (WP-SIB-IMRT) of prostate cases by comparing with routine two-dimensional (2D) array detector system (MapCHECK™). We have investigated 104 split fields using γ -distributions in terms of predefined γ frequency parameters. The mean γ values are found to be 0.42 (SD: 0.06) and 0.44 (SD: 0.06) for the EPIDose and MapCHECK™, respectively. The average γ∆ for EPIDose and MapCHECK™ are found as 0.51 (SD: 0.06) and 0.53 (SD: 0.07), respectively. Furthermore, the percentage of points with γ < 1, γ < 1.5, and γ > 2 are 97.4%, 99.3%, and 0.56%, respectively for EPIDose and 96.4%, 99.0% and 0.62% for MapCHECK™. Based on our results obtained with EPIDose and strong agreement with MapCHECK™, we may conclude that the EPIDose portal dosimetry system has been successfully implemented and validated with our routine 2D array detector

Simultaneous measurement of spectra at multiple ranges using a single spectrometer

We have designed and built an instrument having the capability to measure and display spectra at multiple ranges near simultaneously in real time. An excitation laser beam is oriented parallel to and offset from the axis of the light collection optics. The image of the laser beam is then displaced with range. Multiple optical fibers collect the displaced images at different ranges. The output ends of these fibers are positioned vertically along the input slit of a spectrometer that disperses the light from each fiber along different rows of the spectrometer's two-dimensional detector array. The detector array rows then give an immediate visual comparison of spectra at different ranges. A small prototype of this system covering a range from 3 to 13 m has been built. It has been successfully tested using containers holding two distinct fluorescent dyes. Numerical simulations indicate that the technique can be extended to longer-range systems.

Path-folded infrared spectrometer consisting of 10 sub-gratings and a two-dimensional InGaAs detector

A new compact infrared spectrometer without any mechanical moving elements has been designed and constructed using a two-dimensional InGaAs array detector and 10 sub-gratings. The instrument is compact, with a double-folded optical path configuration. The spectra are densely 10-folded to achieve 0.07-nm spectral resolution and a 2-ms data acquisition time in the 1450- to 1650-nm wavelength region, making the instrument useful for real-time spectroscopic data analyses in optical communication and many other fields.

Improved sensitivity gas detection by spontaneous Raman scattering

Accurate, real-time measurement of the dilute constituents of a gaseous mixture poses a significant challenge usually relegated to mass spectrometry. Here, spontaneous Raman backscattering is used to detect low pressure molecular gases. Rapid detection of gases in the approximately 100 parts in 10(6) (ppm) range is described. Improved sensitivity is brought about by use of a hollow-core, photonic bandgap fiber gas cell in the backscattering configuration to increase collection efficiency and an image-plane aperture to greatly reduce silica-Raman background noise. Spatial and spectral properties of the silica noise were examined with a two-dimensional CCD detector array.

Scintillating fiber detectors for the HypHI project at GSI

The construction and properties of three sets of two-dimensional scintillating fiber detector arrays for tracking of charged particles used in the HypHI Phase 0 experiment at GSI will be reported in this paper. The position resolutions and the detection efficiency of detectors have been obtained for each layer of detectors by using 6Li primary beams and particles with Z = 1 produced by fragment reactions of 136Xe projectiles on the hydrogen target. Besides, the response of energy deposition of charged particles in the first detector set placed right behind the target has been studied by using light projectile fragments with Z = 1 , 2 and 3 produced by 58Ni and 12C beams. Extracted resolutions for energy deposition and position as well as the detection efficiency fulfill the requirements of the HypHI Phase 0 experiment.

Near quantum-limited, single-shot coherent arbitrary optical waveform measurements

Four-quadrature spectral interferometry using balanced coherent detection enables single-shot full-field characterization of complex-shaped optical waveforms with near quantum-limited sensitivity. A 90 degrees optical hybrid places a waveform in four-quadrature-phases with a stronger, well-characterized reference pulse. Measurement of the four spectra with an integrating two-dimensional detector array followed by balanced detection uniquely determines the signal field. Balanced coherent detection provides common-mode noise rejection and coherent gain enabling near quantum-limited sensitivity. The single-shot waveform was temporally gated from a 100 ps periodic train of arbitrary optical waveforms generated using line-by-line pulse shaping on a 10 GHz optical frequency comb. The measurements show arbitrary waveforms with 200-ps record lengths, 500 GHz optical bandwidths and only 1200 detected photons.

Experimental evaluation of a robust optimization method for IMRT of moving targets

Internal organ motion during radiation therapy, if not considered appropriately in the planning process, has been shown to reduce target coverage and increase the dose to healthy tissues. Standard planning approaches, which use safety margins to handle intrafractional movement of the tumor, are typically designed based on the maximum amplitude of motion, and are often overly conservative. Comparable coverage and reduced dose to healthy organs appear achievable with robust motion-adaptive treatment planning, which considers the expected probability distribution of the average target position and the uncertainty of its realization during treatment delivery. A dosimetric test of a robust optimization method for IMRT was performed, using patient breathing data. External marker motion data acquired from respiratory-gated radiotherapy patients were used to build and test the framework for robust optimization. The motion trajectories recorded during radiation treatment itself are not strictly necessary to generate the initial version of a robust treatment plan, but can be used to adapt the plan during the course of treatment. Single-field IMRT plans were optimized to deliver a uniform dose to a rectangular area. During delivery on a linear accelerator, a computer-driven motion phantom reproduced the patients' breathing patterns and a two-dimensional ionization detector array measured the dose delivered. The dose distributions from robust-optimized plans were compared to those from standard plans, which used a margin expansion. Dosimetric tests confirmed the improved sparing of the non-target area with robust planning, which was achieved without compromising the target coverage. The maximum dose in robust plans did not exceed 110% of the prescription, while the minimum target doses were comparable in standard and robust plans. In test courses, optimized for a simplified target geometry, and delivered to a phantom that moved in one dimension with an average amplitude of 17 mm, the robust treatment design produced a reduction of more than 12% of the integral dose to non-target areas, compared to the standard plan using 10 mm margin expansion.

Developing a Confocal Acoustic Holography Microscope for non-invasive 3D temperature and composition measurements

A Confocal Acoustic Holography Microscope (CAHM) has been designed, simulated and partially verified experimentally to take holograms for non-invasive, three-dimensional measurements of a specimen's refractive indices from one view point. The designed and simulated prototype CAHM used a frequency of 2.25 MHz and measured sound speed changes of 16 m/s, temperature changes of 5 °C and had a spatial resolution of 660 μm. With future improvements utilizing the latest technologies such as two-dimensional array detectors, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), and acoustic lenses, resolutions of 1 m/s, 0.5 °C, and 150 μm are expected. The CAHM is expected to have many useful applications, including non-invasive mass and heat transfer measurements in fluids and materials and as a medical diagnostic tool to non-intrusively visualize compositions and temperatures within the human body.

Dosimetric characteristics of linear accelerator photon beams with small monitor unit settings

Several studies on the effect of tumor cell killing by dose rate variation have implied that the use of a shorter treatment time is more favorable for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Aiming at step-and-shoot IMRT with higher dose rates, the stabilities of beam output and profiles with small monitor unit (MU) settings were investigated for various dose rates. With the use of a Varian 21EX (Varian Medical Systems Inc., Palo Alto, CA), static and step-and-shoot IMRT beam output along with profiles were measured by use of an ion chamber and a two-dimensional diode array detector as a function of monitor units and dose rates. For a static case, as the MU approached 1, the beam output increased up to 2% for 300 MU/min and 4.5% for 600 MU/min, showing a larger overdose as the dose rate increased. Deterioration of the beam symmetry and flatness were also observed as the MU decreased to 1 monitor unit. For the step-and-shoot IMRT case, a large dosimetric error of more than 10% was also detected with the use of a small MU segment. However, no definite correlation with the dose rate was observed due to the combined beam start-up effects by the grid pulse and finite communication time between the machine console and multileaf collimator (MLC) controller. For step-and-shoot IMRT with higher dose rates, beam output and beam profile stability with small MU needs to be checked, and adequate MU limitation where segments are not allowed need to be reflected in the step-and-shoot IMRT planning.

Masking mechanisms applied to thin-film coatings for the manufacturing of linear variable filters for two-dimensional array detectors

We propose a method for manufacturing linear variable interference filters for two-dimensional (2D) array detectors, based on the use of correcting masks combining both rotation and translation movements of the masks and substrates. The major advantage of this method is its capability to produce several identical filters in a single run. 20 mm x 20 mm samples were manufactured with a wavelength ratio almost equal to 2 along the thickness gradient direction. In agreement with calculations, the measured uniformity perpendicular to the gradient is about 99.8% along 20 mm.