Author Of 1 Presentation
TOWARDS A REAL-TIME TURN-KEY NON-INTERCEPTIVE, NON-SATURATING, BEAM-SIZE-INDEPENDENT FLASH DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM AT PSI
Abstract
Background and Aims
At PSI’s proton therapy facility PROSCAN, two novel compact cavity resonators for non-interceptive beam-size-independent monitoring have been developed. For the ongoing FLASH effect experiments at PROSCAN, the application of these monitors has been expanded to include dedicated real-time signal processing with the cooperation of Instrumentation Technologies.
Methods
This enhances PSI’s solution towards a non-interceptive online turn-key FLASH beam diagnostics system that could be customized for other particle therapy facilities. A major challenge in FLASH-beam conditions is the use of accurate dosimetry devices and the characterization of suitable detectors. Until now, interceptive monitors, such as ionization chambers have been used to measure the high beam currents. However, these monitors are prone to significant recombination and saturation effects with increased dose-rates, which also depend on the beam size. The resulting absolute dose accuracy issues will limit the use of such monitors for FLASH experiments. Cavity resonators do not suffer from such limitations and , since non-interceptive, do not disturb the beam. These advantages make them very attractive for FLASH measurements.
Results
To comply with the short FLASH pulses, Instrumentation Technologies’ processing electronics has been adapted to provide 1-millisecond measurement resolution to take advantage of the fast response (of few microseconds) that PSI's cavity monitors offer.
Conclusions
In this contribution, we report on the new processing chain's results for proton beam currents up to 400 nA (corresponding to FLASH dose-rates), the advantages this diagnostics system presents, and its potential future applications in FLASH particle therapy machines.