Abstract Purpose To characterize a synthetic diamond dosimeter (PTW Freiburg microDiamond 60019) in high dose-per-pulse electron beams produced by an Intra Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT) ...dedicated accelerator. Methods The dosimetric properties of the microDiamond were assessed under 6, 8 and 9 MeV electron beams by a NOVAC11 mobile accelerator (Sordina IORT Technologies S.p.A.). The characterization was carried out with dose-per-pulse ranging from 26 to 105 mGy per pulse. The microDiamond performance was compared with an Advanced Markus ionization chamber and a PTW silicon diode E in terms of dose linearity, percentage depth dose (PDD) curves, beam profiles and output factors. Results A good linearity of the microDiamond response was verified in the dose range from 0.2 Gy to 28 Gy. A sensitivity of 1.29 nC/Gy was measured under IORT electron beams, resulting within 1% with respect to the one obtained in reference condition under60 Co gamma irradiation. PDD measurements were found in agreement with the ones by the reference dosimeters, with differences in R50 values below 0.3 mm. Profile measurements evidenced a high spatial resolution of the microDiamond, slightly worse than the one of the silicon diode. The penumbra widths measured by the microDiamond resulted approximately 0.5 mm larger than the ones by the Silicon diode. Output factors measured by the microDiamond were found within 2% with those obtained by the Advanced Markus down to 3 cm diameter field sizes. Conclusions The microDiamond dosimeter was demonstrated to be suitable for precise dosimetry in IORT applications under high dose-per-pulse conditions.
In the framework of the uRANIA (u-Rwell Advanced Neutron Imaging Apparatus) project, we are developing innovative thermal neutron detectors based on resistive gaseous devices such as micro-Resistive ...WELL (μ-RWELL) and surface Resistive Plate Counter (sRPC).
The μ-RWELL is a single amplification stage resistive MPGD developed for HEP applications. The amplification stage, based on the same Apical® foil used for the manufacturing of the GEM, is embedded through a resistive layer in the readout board. The resistive layer is realized by sputtering the back side of the Apical® foil with DiamondLike-Carbon (DLC). A cathode electrode, defining the gas conversion/drift gap, completes the detector mechanics. The deposition of a thin layer of
10
B4C on the cathode surface allows the thermal neutrons conversion into
7
Li and α ions, which can be easily detected in the active volume of the device. Results from tests performed with different detector layouts show that a thermal neutron (25 meV) detection efficiency up to 7% can be achieved with a single detector. A comparison between experimental data and the simulation of the detector behaviour has been performed. In parallel, we are proposing the development of thermal neutron detectors based on a novel RPC concept. The sRPC is a revolutionary RPC based on surface resistive electrodes realized by exploiting the well-established DLC sputtering technology on thin (50µm) polyimide foils, the same used in the manufacturing of the µ-RWELL. The DLC foil is glued onto a 2 mm thick float-glass. The 2 mm gas gap between the electrodes is ensured by spacers made of Delrin®, inserted without gluing at the edges of the glass supports. By replacing DLC with
10
B4C sputtered electrodes, the device becomes sensitive to thermal neutrons. Different layouts of
10
B4C coated electrodes have been tested, allowing to achieve efficiency up to 6%. The robustness, ease of construction, and scalability of the sRPC technology should allow the construction of cost-effective large area detector units as required by applications in homeland security (such as Radiation Portal Monitor).
The µ-RWELL is a single-amplification stage resisitive MPGD. The amplification element, realized on a polyimide foil micro-patterned with a high density blind-holes (wells), is embedded through a ...thin resistive film, in the readout PCB. The introduction of the resistive layer affects the charge spread on the readout electrodes and suppresses the transition from streamer to spark giving the possibility to achieve large gains (>104). As a drawback the capability to stand high particle fluxes is reduced. In order to get rid of such a limitation different resistive layouts with prompt current evacuation schemes have been designed. In this work we present the study of the performance of the high rate layouts done at PSI, together with the measurement of the space resolution for orthogonal and inclined tracks performed at CERN.
We searched for evidence of a Higgsstrahlung process in a secluded sector, leading to a final state with a dark photon U and a dark Higgs boson h′, with the KLOE detector at DAΦNE. We investigated ...the case of h′ lighter than U, with U decaying into a muon pair and h′ producing a missing energy signature. We found no evidence of the process and set upper limits to its parameters in the range 2mμ<mU<1000 MeV, mh′<mU.
The ratio Rη=Γ(η→π+π−γ)/Γ(η→π+π−π0) has been measured by analysing 22 million ϕ→ηγ decays collected by the KLOE experiment at DAΦNE, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 558 pb−1. The η→π+π−γ ...proceeds both via the ρ resonant contribution, and possibly a non-resonant direct term, connected to the box anomaly. Our result, Rη=0.1856±0.0005stat±0.0028syst, points out a sizable contribution of the direct term to the total width. The di-pion invariant mass for the η→π+π−γ decay could be described in a model-independent approach in terms of a single free parameter, α. The determined value of the parameter α is α=(1.32±0.08stat−0.09syst+0.10±0.02theo) GeV−2.
Purpose: Intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOeRT) is considered the first clinical translation of FLASH with electrons. A crucial aspect is represented by the precise dose monitoring and ...measurement; to this aim, we propose a method fully based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation that uses as input the beam current measurement and the beam optics simulation. To validate this approach, we chose the NOVAC11 (produced by Sordina IORT Technologies SpA) accelerator, which provides a well-studied model. Methods: We used FLUKA and FRED MC software to simulate in detail the geometry of the NOVAC11 and the coupled applicator usually adopted in clinical practice to deliver the dose in the surgical bed. The simulation results of the longitudinal and off-axis profiles and dose per pulse obtained in a water phantom with different applicators are compared to the experimental data. Results: A very good agreement not only for the relative dosimetry in both the longitudinal and off-axis profiles, with a gamma index pass rate of 100% with 3%/3 mm acceptance criteria, but also for the absolute dosimetry was obtained. Conclusion: The results completely validate the MC description of the system and provide a reliable evaluation of the dose per pulse and output factor with an accuracy of the order of few % for different sets of applicator diameters and lengths.
We have studied the vector to pseudoscalar conversion decay ϕ→ηe+e−, with η→π0π0π0, with the KLOE detector at DAΦNE. The data set of 1.7 fb−1 of e+e− collisions at s∼Mϕ contains a clear conversion ...decay signal of ∼31,000 events from which we measured a value of BR(ϕ→ηe+e−)=(1.075±0.007±0.038)×10−4. The same sample is used to determine the transition form factor by a fit to the e+e− invariant mass spectrum, obtaining bϕη=(1.28±0.10−0.08+0.09) GeV−2, that improves by a factor of five the precision of the previous measurement and is in good agreement with VMD expectations.
Status of the cylindrical-GEM project for the KLOE-2 inner tracker Balla, A.; Bencivenni, G.; Cerioni, S. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
02/2011, Volume:
628, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The status of the R&D on the Cylindrical-GEM (CGEM) detector foreseen as inner tracker for KLOE-2, the upgrade of the KLOE experiment at the
DA
Φ
NE
φ
-factory
, is presented. The R&D includes ...several activities: (i) the construction and complete characterization of the full-size CGEM prototype, equipped with
650
μ
m
pitch 1-D longitudinal strips; (ii) the study of the 2-D readout with XV patterned strips and operation in magnetic field (up to 1.5
T), performed with small planar prototypes in a dedicated test at the H4-SPS beam facility; (iii) the characterization of the single-mask GEM technology for the realization of large-area GEM foils.