First application of a novel SRAM-based neutron detector for proton therapy

Ytre-Hauge, Kristian S.; Velure, A.; Stokkevåg, C.H.; Odland, O.H.; Röhrich, D.

doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2019.01.001

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Methods for detecting and correcting false counts due to functional errors in the memory have also been developed [4]. Recently SRAM-based hadron counters have also been proposed for proton therapy applications [5], since they made it possible to perform in-phantom fast neutron measurements. For SRAMs to be used as fluence monitors other required features are total ionizing dose (TID) tolerance, independence of 𝜎 from TID, and the devices must not undergo latch-up.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proton irradiation of FPGA-embedded hadron fluence sensors

Giordano,

Tortone,

Vincenzi

et al. 2024

J. Inst.

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Hadron fluence monitors based on static random access memories (SRAMs) are in use at particle accelerators for the protection of electronics and at proton-therapy facilities for measuring secondary neutrons. One shortcoming of current solutions is that they necessitate SRAMs to detect radiation-induced single event upsets and require additional components to transfer the counts from the radiation area. This approach limits the practicality of the sensors due to their power requirements, increased board complexity, larger physical footprint and reduced total ionizing dose tolerance. In this work, we present proton irradiation test results of a novel proton and neutron fluence sensor we designed. The sensor is fully embedded in a SRAM-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) solving the abovementioned limitations of the state of the art. The FPGA configuration SRAM is used as a sensitive element, while the Joint Test Action Group interface is leveraged as a read out circuitry. We irradiated six sensor units by means of a variable-energy proton beam at the Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA, Trento, Italy). We discuss our results in terms of proton to upset cross section as a function of the proton energy in the range from 70 to 228 MeV, also parameterized with respect to the power supply voltage. We evaluate the variability of the cross section in the set of irradiated samples. Moreover, we show how we used the device to image the proton beam and measure beam profiles for aligning the configuration RAM and beam centers. We also suggest alternate reading modes to measure the fluence on the device by measuring the drawn current, rather than counting upsets.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proton irradiation of FPGA-embedded hadron fluence sensors

Giordano,

Tortone,

Vincenzi

et al. 2024

J. Inst.

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“…The cross section depends on the device, technology, power supply voltage, type of hadrons and their kinetic energy, and must be measured by means of irradiation tests [1]. SRAM-based hadron fluence sensors are in use at CERN [2]- [4] and have been proposed for proton therapy applications [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron-Irradiation Testing of FPGA-Embedded Hadron Fluence Sensors

Giordano

Tortone

Vincenzi

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.

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Hadron fluence monitors based on static random access memories (SRAMs) are being used at CERN and have been proposed for proton therapy facilities. Some of the limitations of the state of the art are related to the usage of separate components for sensing upsets and for reading them out, as these increase the power consumption, the board complexity and its size. Moreover, in some cases, due to radiation-tolerance requirements, the readout logic is fixed and it cannot be updated once the system has been implemented. In this work, we show how to overcome the mentioned limitations by using an SRAMbased field programmable gate array (FPGA) for implementing both the sensitive element (the configuration SRAM) and the readout logic (the firmware in the fabric). In fact, we describe the implementation of a compact, reprogrammable, low-power, actively self-reading hadron fluence sensor realized by means of a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA. Moreover, we present the customized radiation-hardening-by-design techniques adopted for the readout logic. We irradiated two sensor prototypes at the Jožef Stefan Institute's TRIGA Mark II research reactor, under different neutron spectra and flux conditions. We discuss our results, which include the measurements of the radiation tolerance, the single event upset cross section of the configuration SRAM, the sensitivity to thermal neutrons, and the failure cross section of the readout logic.

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