First acceleration of a proton beam in a side coupled drift tube linac

Ronsivalle, C.; Picardi, L.; Ampollini, A.; Bazzano, G.; Marracino, F; Nenzi, Paolo; Snels, Claudia; Surrenti, V.; Vadrucci, Monia; Ambrosini, F.

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/111/14002

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Two groups are currently leading the challenge to build the first clinical PTS made from these RF-LINACs: The TOP-IMPLART project headed by Dr Picardi at ENEA Frascati, Italy [96] and the CERN spin-off company AVO-ADAM with its project LIGHT [97]. Both systems follow the all-LINAC approach.…”

Section: Radio-frequency Linac Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preclinical Challenges in Proton Minibeam Radiotherapy: Physics and Biomedical Aspects

et al. 2020

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The concept of spatial fractionation in radiotherapy was developed for better sparing of normal tissue in the entrance channel of radiation. Spatial fractionation utilizing proton minibeam radiotherapy (pMBRT) promises to be advantageous compared to X-ray minibeams due to higher dose conformity at the tumor. Preclinical in vivo experiments conducted with pMBRT in mouse ear models or in rat brains support the prospects, but the research about the radiobiological mechanisms and the search for adequate application parameters delivering the most beneficial minibeam therapy is still in its infancy. Concerning preclinical research, we consider glioma, non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma as the most promising targets and propose investigating the effects on healthy tissue, especially neuronal cells and abdominal organs. The experimental setups for preclinical pMBRT used so far follow different technological approaches, and experience technical limitations when addressing the current questions in the field. We review the crucial physics parameters necessary for proton minibeam production and link them to the technological challenges to be solved for providing an optimal research environment. We consider focusing of pencil or planar minibeams in a scanning approach superior compared to collimation due to less beam halos, higher peak-to-valley dose ratios and higher achievable dose rates. A possible solution to serve such a focusing system with a high-quality proton beam at all relevant energies is identified to be a 3 GHz radio-frequency linear accelerator. We propose using a 16 MeV proton beam from an existing tandem accelerator injected into a linear post-accelerator, boosted up to 70 MeV, and finally delivered to an imaging and positioning end-station suitable for small animal irradiation. Ion-optical simulations show that this combination can generate focused proton minibeams with sizes down to 0.1 mm at 18 nA mean proton current - sufficient for all relevant preclinical experiments. This technology is expected to offer powerful and versatile tools for unleashing structured and advanced preclinical pMBRT studies at the limits and also has the potential to enable a next step into precision tumor therapy.

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Section: Radio-frequency Linac Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preclinical Challenges in Proton Minibeam Radiotherapy: Physics and Biomedical Aspects

et al. 2020

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“…A two stems geometry has been eventually considered ( Fig. 11), as proposed in [7]. Such modification allows for a sufficient heat dissipation and mechanical stability, but heavily impacts on the ZTT profile presented in Fig.…”

Section: Ghz Scdtlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This issue has not been addressed yet by the authors. However, Picardi et al presented a working solution in [7].…”

Section: Ghz Scdtlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the design of Ref. [4], the ENEA (Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development) group of Frascati, Italy, worked on an all-linac solution, with an rf quadrupole (RFQ) and a drift tube linac (DTL) system covering the particle acceleration up to 40-70 MeV [7], to be followed by the coupled cavity linac (CCL) designed by TERA [5,6]. All these activities have been described in the review paper of Ref.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High gradient linac for proton therapy

Benedetti

Latina

2017

Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams

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Proposed for the first time almost 30 years ago, the research on radio frequency linacs for hadron therapy experienced a sparkling interest in the past decade. The different projects found a common ground on a relatively high rf operating frequency of 3 GHz, taking advantage of the availability of affordable and reliable commercial klystrons at this frequency. This article presents for the first time the design of a proton therapy linac, called TULIP all-linac, from the source up to 230 MeV. In the first part, we will review the rationale of linacs for hadron therapy. We then divided this paper in two main sections: first, we will discuss the rf design of the different accelerating structures that compose TULIP; second, we will present the beam dynamics design of the different linac sections.

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“…The excellent perspectives of a proton therapy dedicated linac, and the promising results of SCDTL structures, encouraged the growth of two industrial initiatives, Linac for Image Guided Hadron Therapy (LIGHT) and Enhanced Radioterapy with HAdrons (ERHA) [10][11][12][13], to develop a commercial proton therapy linear accelerator. Both projects started before the definitive experimental demonstration of the SCDTL concept, which occurred in 2014 at the TOP-IMPLART facility [14]. Based on detailed studies provided by ENEA, both LIGHT and ERHA employ SCDTL sections after the injector, up to energies of about 30 MeV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beam commissioning of the 35 MeV section in an intensity modulated proton linear accelerator for proton therapy

Picardi

Ampollini

Bazzano

et al. 2020

Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams

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This paper presents the experimental results on the Terapia Oncologica con Protoni-Intensity Modulated Proton Linear Accelerator (TOP-IMPLART) beam that is currently accelerated up to 35 MeV, with a final target of 150 MeV. The TOP-IMPLART project, funded by the Innovation Department of Regione Lazio (Italy), is led by Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Health and the Oncological Hospital Regina Elena-IFO. The accelerator, under construction and test at ENEA-Frascati laboratories, employs a commercial 425 MHz, 7 MeV injector followed by a sequence of 3 GHz accelerating modules consisting of side coupled drift tube linac (SCDTL) structures up to 71 MeV and coupled cavity linac structures for higher energies. The section from 7 to 35 MeV, consisting on four SCDTL modules, is powered by a single 10 MW klystron and has been successfully commissioned. This result demonstrates the feasibility of a "fully linear" proton therapy accelerator operating at a high frequency and paves the way to a new class of machines in the field of cancer treatment.

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First acceleration of a proton beam in a side coupled drift tube linac

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Preclinical Challenges in Proton Minibeam Radiotherapy: Physics and Biomedical Aspects

Preclinical Challenges in Proton Minibeam Radiotherapy: Physics and Biomedical Aspects

High gradient linac for proton therapy

Beam commissioning of the 35 MeV section in an intensity modulated proton linear accelerator for proton therapy

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