Radiation-induced effects in glass windows for optical readout GEM-based detectors

Oliveira, A. Maia; Braccini, S.; Casolaro, Pierluigi; Heracleous, N.; Leidner, Johannes; Mateu, Isidre; Murtas, F.; Silari, M.

doi:10.1088/1748-0221/16/07/t07009

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The cyclotron is used overnight for the commercial 18 F production necessary for the synthesis of fluorodeoxyglucose for the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging; during the day, multi-disciplinary research activities are carried out by the Laboratory for High Energy Physics (LHEP) of the University of Bern. These activities include the production of novel radioisotope for theranostics, developments on particle accelerators and detectors for medical applications, as well as radiation hardness 50 – 54 . The cyclotron features eight independent exit ports.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel experimental approach to characterize neutron fields at high- and low-energy particle accelerators

Braccini

Casolaro

Dellepiane

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The characterization of particle accelerator induced neutron fields is challenging but fundamental for research and industrial activities, including radiation protection, neutron metrology, developments of neutron detectors for nuclear and high-energy physics, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and studies of neutron damage on materials and electronic components. This work reports on the study of a novel approach to the experimental characterization of neutron spectra at two complex accelerator environments, namely the CERF, a high-energy mixed reference field at CERN in Geneva, and the Bern medical cyclotron laboratory, a facility used for multi-disciplinary research activities, and for commercial radioisotope production for nuclear medicine. Measurements were performed through an innovative active neutron spectrometer called DIAMON, a device developed to provide in real time neutron energy spectra without the need of guess distributions. The intercomparison of DIAMON measurements with reference data, Monte Carlo simulations, and with the well-established neutron monitor Berthold LB 6411, has been found to be highly satisfactory in all conditions. It was demonstrated that DIAMON is an almost unique device able to characterize neutron fields induced by hadrons at 120 GeV/c as well as by protons at 18 MeV colliding with different materials. The accurate measurement of neutron spectra at medical cyclotrons during routine radionuclide production for nuclear medicine applications is of paramount importance for the facility decommissioning. The findings of this work are the basis for establishing a methodology for producing controlled proton-induced neutron beams with medical cyclotrons.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel experimental approach to characterize neutron fields at high- and low-energy particle accelerators

Braccini

Casolaro

Dellepiane

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…The Bern cyclotron laboratory is equipped with an IBA Cyclone HC, accelerating Hions to a kinetic energy of 18 MeV with a maximum current of 150 µA 13 . In addition to the commercial radioisotope production for Positron Emission Tomography (PET), the Bern cyclotron is used for multi-disciplinary research activities, including studies of novel radioisotopes for nuclear medicine 14,15 , developments on particle accelerators and detectors 16 , studies of environmental physics 17 and radiation hardness 18,19 . These activities are possible thanks to a 6-meter long Beam Transfer Line (BTL) ending in a separate bunker with independent access to the experimental area.…”

Section: The Bern Cyclotron Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-high dose rate dosimetry with miniaturized scintillation detectors coupled to optical fibers

Casolaro

Dellepiane

Gottstein

et al. 2023

Preprint

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FLASH radiotherapy is a novel radiation delivery modality, generally considered a potential breakthrough in cancer care. With ultra-high dose rates (>40 Gy/s) delivered in fractions of a second, FLASH is characterized by unique irradiation conditions which bring along new challenges in dosimetry and beam monitoring. This article reports on the validation of innovative detection systems based on sub-millimeter-sized fast scintillation detectors coupled to optical fibers. We characterized different scintillators, namely Gadolinium Aluminium Gallium Garnet (GAGG), yttrium doped barium fluoride (Y-BaF2), and polystyrene, by studying their response to ultra-high dose rate 18 MeV proton beams. Beam tests were carried out at the Bern medical cyclotron, providing beams for multidisciplinary research activities and commercial radioisotope production, that we characterized for ultra-high dose rates irradiations. The possibility of changing the scintillator to be coupled to the optical fiber gives great flexibility to the system, by allowing to measure proton dose rates up 10.4 kGy/s and mm-small fields with high time resolution. The measurements reported in this paper were performed at a sampling rate of 20 kHz, although data acquisition up to 10 MHz is possible. The developed detection system can be successfully used to measure ultra-high dose rates and it can be further optimized to address specific and essential issues of FLASH radiation therapy, including quality assurance, real-time beam monitoring and in-vivo dosimetry.

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“…The right-hand part of the figure corresponds to the change in transfer function (S 21 ) of the cable due to the irradiation, measured using a Vector Network Analyser. The facility has also been used to test the radiation hardness of components for space missions such as the Neutral gas and Ion Mass spectrometer (NIM) onboard ESA's JUpiter ICy moon Explorer (JUICE) [36,37], and to study radiation effects on glass windows for optical readout of Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) based detetors, targeting hadrontherapy applications [38].…”

Section: Examples Of Irradiation Campaignsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A facility for radiation hardness studies based on a medical cyclotron

Anders¹,

Braccini²,

Carzaniga³

et al. 2022

J. Inst.

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The development of instrumentation for operation in high-radiation environments represents a challenge in various research fields, particularly in particle physics experiments and space missions, and drives an ever-increasing demand for irradiation facilities dedicated to radiation hardness studies. Depending on the application, different needs arise in terms of particle type, energy and dose rate. In this article, we present a versatile installation based on a medical cyclotron located at the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), which is used as a controlled 18-MeV proton source. This accelerator is used for daily production of medical radioisotopes, as well as for multidisciplinary research, thanks to a 6.5-meter long beam transfer line that terminates in an independent bunker, dedicated only to scientific activities. The facility offers a wide range of proton fluxes, due to an adjustable beam current from approximately 10 pA to the micro-ampere range, together with a series of steering and focusing magnets along the beamline that allow for the beam spot to be focused down to a few mm^2. The beamline can be instrumented with a variety of beam monitoring detectors, collimators, and beam current measurement devices to precisely control the irradiation conditions. The facility also hosts a well equipped laboratory dedicated to the characterisation of samples after irradiation. An experimental validation of the irradiation setup, with proton fluxes ranging from 5×10^9 cm^-2s^-1 to 4×10^11 cm^-2s^-1, is reported.

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Radiation-induced effects in glass windows for optical readout GEM-based detectors

Cited by 8 publications

References 25 publications

A novel experimental approach to characterize neutron fields at high- and low-energy particle accelerators

A novel experimental approach to characterize neutron fields at high- and low-energy particle accelerators

Ultra-high dose rate dosimetry with miniaturized scintillation detectors coupled to optical fibers

A facility for radiation hardness studies based on a medical cyclotron

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