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At least 595 records · Page 33

A method for modeling laterally asymmetric proton beamlets resulting from collimation

Purpose: To introduce a method to model the 3D dose distribution of laterally asymmetric proton beamlets resulting from collimation. The model enables rapid beamlet calculation for spot scanning (SS) delivery using a novel penumbra-reducing dynamic collimation system (DCS) with two pairs of trimmers oriented perpendicular to each other. Methods: Trimmed beamlet dose distributions in water were simulated with MCNPX and the collimating effects noted in the simulations were validated by experimental measurement. The simulated beamlets were modeled analytically using integral depth dose curves along with an asymmetric Gaussian function to represent fluence in the beam’s eye view (BEV). The BEV parameters consisted of Gaussian standard deviations (sigmas) along each primary axis (σ{sub x1},σ{sub x2},σ{sub y1},σ{sub y2}) together with the spatial location of the maximum dose (μ{sub x},μ{sub y}). Percent depth dose variation with trimmer position was accounted for with a depth-dependent correction function. Beamlet growth with depth was accounted for by combining the in-air divergence with Hong’s fit of the Highland approximation along each axis in the BEV. Results: The beamlet model showed excellent agreement with the Monte Carlo simulation data used as a benchmark. The overall passing rate for a 3D gamma test with 3%/3 mm passing criteria was 96.1% between the analytical model and Monte Carlo data in an example treatment plan. Conclusions: The analytical model is capable of accurately representing individual asymmetric beamlets resulting from use of the DCS. This method enables integration of the DCS into a treatment planning system to perform dose computation in patient datasets. The method could be generalized for use with any SS collimation system in which blades, leaves, or trimmers are used to laterally sharpen beamlets.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Simulation Study of Hollow Electron Beam Collimation for LHC

In this note we describe the results of numerical simulations of hollow electron beam collimation for the nominal LHC machine. The halo cleaning rates for various operating scenarios are predicted. The impact of electron lens imperfections on the collider luminosity performance is estimated.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

SU-E-T-167: Characterization of In-House Plastic Scintillator Detectors Array for Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To characterize basic performance of plastic scintillator detectors (PSD) array designed for dosimetry of radiation therapy. Methods: An in-house PSD array has been developed by placing single point PSD into customized 2D holder. Each point PSD is a plastic scintillating fiber-based detector designed for highly accurate measurement of small radiotherapy fields used in patient plan verification and machine commissioning and QA procedures. A parallel fiber without PSD is used for Cerenkov separation by subtracting from PSD readings. Cerenkov separation was confirmed by optical spectroscopy. Alternative Cerenkov separation approaches are also investigated. The optical signal was converted to electronic signal with a photodiode and then subsequently amplified. We measured its dosimetry performance, including percentage depth dose and output factor, and compared with reference ion chamber measurements. The PSD array is then placed along the radiation beam for multiple point dose measurement, representing subsets of PDD measurements, or perpendicular to the beam for profile measurements. Results: The dosimetry results of PSD point measurements agree well with reference ion chamber measurements. For percentage depth dose, the maximal differences between PSD and ion chamber results are 3.5% and 2.7% for 6MV and 15MV beams, respectively. For the output factors, PSD measurements are within 3% from ion chamber results. PDD and profile measurement with PSD array are also performed. Conclusions: The current design of multichannel PSD array is feasible for the dosimetry measurement in radiation therapy. Dose distribution along or perpendicular to the beam path could be measured. It might as well be used as range verification in proton therapy.A PS hollow fiber detector will be investigated to eliminate the Cerenkov radiation effect so that all 32 channels can be used.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Self-focusing of Hermite-Gaussian laser beam with relativistic nonlinearity

This paper presents an investigation of self-focusing of Hermite-Gaussian laser beams in plasma considering relativistic nonlinearity. The differential equations for beam width parameters are obtained using the usual Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin and paraxial approximations. The nonlinearity in the dielectric constant is assumed to be aroused mainly due to the relativistic mass correction of electron. To highlight the nature of focusing, graphical results of the behavior of beam-width parameters with the dimensionless distance of propagation is presented. The numerical computation is completed by using Taylor series method. The present work is helpful to understand issues related to the beam propagation in laser plasma interaction experiments.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

An overview of Booster and AGS polarized proton operation during Run 15

This note is an overview of the Booster and AGS for the 2015 Polarized Proton RHIC run from an operations perspective. There are some notable differences between this and previous runs. In particular, the polarized source intensity was expected to be, and was, higher this year than in previous RHIC runs. The hope was to make use of this higher input intensity by allowing the beam to be scraped down more in the Booster to provide a brighter and smaller beam for the AGS and RHIC. The RHIC intensity requirements were also higher this run than in previous runs, which caused additional challenges because the AGS polarization and emittance are normally intensity dependent.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Heavy ion beam probe measurements of radial potential profiles in the Modified Penning discharge

The reported measurements were conducted with the primary beam of an ion beam probe in a plasma discharge in which the space potential represents a large fraction of the primary beam energy. A Lewis ion beam probe similar to the device employed by Jobes et al. (1969) was used in the investigation. The apparatus used in the experiments is discussed along with the experimental procedure. The approximate radial potential profile was obtained by observing the effect of the plasma on the trajectory of the primary beam.

Kambic, G. X.↗

Enhanced electron yield from laser-driven wakefield acceleration in high-Z gas jets

An investigation of the electron beam yield (charge) form helium, nitrogen, and neon gas jet plasmas in a typical laser-plasma wakefield acceleration experiment is carried out. The charge measurement is made by imaging the electron beam intensity profile on a fluorescent screen into a charge coupled device which was cross-calibrated with an integrated current transformer. The dependence of electron beam charge on the laser and plasma conditions for the aforementioned gases are studied. We found that laser-driven wakefield acceleration in low Z-gas jet targets usually generates high-quality and well-collimated electron beams with modest yields at the level of 10-100 pC. On the other hand, filamentary electron beams which are observed from high-Z gases at higher densities reached much higher yields. Evidences for cluster formation were clearly observed in the nitrogen gas jet target, where we received the highest electron beam charge of ∼1.7 nC. Those intense electron beams will be beneficial for the applications on the generation of bright X-rays, gamma rays radiations, and energetic positrons via the bremsstrahlung or inverse-scattering processes.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A Flexure-Based Mechanism for Precision Adjustment of National Ignition Facility Target Shrouds in Three Rotational Degrees of Freedom

This study presents the design of a flexure-based mount allowing adjustment in three rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs) through high-precision set-screw actuators. The requirements of the application called for small but controlled angular adjustments for mounting a cantilevered beam. The proposed design is based on an array of parallel beams to provide sufficiently high stiffness in the translational directions while allowing angular adjustment through the actuators. A simplified physical model in combination with standard beam theory was applied to estimate the deflection profile and maximum stresses in the beams. A finite element model was built to calculate the stresses and beam profiles for scenarios in which the flexure is simultaneously actuated in more than one DOF.

3 DOF↗

Tunable mega-ampere electron current propagation in solids by dynamic control of lattice melt

The influence of lattice-melt-induced resistivity gradients on the transport of mega-ampere currents of fast electrons in solids is investigated numerically and experimentally using laser-accelerated protons to induce isochoric heating. Tailoring the heating profile enables the resistive magnetic fields which strongly influence the current propagation to be manipulated. This tunable laser-driven process enables important fast electron beam properties, including the beam divergence, profile, and symmetry to be actively tailored, and without recourse to complex target manufacture.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electron density profile measurements at a self-focusing ion beam with high current density and low energy extracted through concave electrodes

The self-focusing phenomenon has been observed in a high current density and low energy ion beam. In order to study the mechanism of this phenomenon, a special designed double probe to measure the electron density and temperature is installed into the chamber where the high current density ion beam is injected. Electron density profile is successfully measured without the influence of the ion beam components. Estimated electron temperature and density are ∼0.9 eV and ∼8 × 10{sup 8} cm{sup −3} at the center of ion beam cross section, respectively. It was found that a large amount of electrons are spontaneously accumulated in the ion beam line in the case of self-forcing state.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Muon Beam at the Fermilab Test Beam Area

The intensities and profiles of the muon beam behind the beam dump of the Fermilab test beam area when the facility is running in the "pion" beam mode are measured and summarized in this note. This muon beam with momenta in the range 10 - 50 GeV/c provides an opportunity to perform various measurements in parallel with other users of the test beam area.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Beam Trail Tracking at Fermilab

We present a system for acquiring and sorting data from select devices depending on the destination of each particular beam pulse in the Fermilab accelerator chain. The 15 Hz beam that begins in the Fermilab ion source can be directed to a variety of additional accelerators, beam lines, beam dumps, and experiments. We have implemented a data acquisition system that senses the destination of each pulse and reads the appropriate beam intensity devices so that profiles of the beam can be stored and analysed for each type of beam trail. We envision utilizing this data long term to identify trends in the performance of the accelerators

Nicklaus, Dennis J.↗

Run 16, eIPM Summary

Three problems with the eIPMs were corrected during the 2015 summer shutdown. These involved ac coupling and 'negative profiles', detector 'dead zone' created by biasing, and gain control on ramp. With respect to Run 16, problems dealt with included gain depletion on horizontal MCP and rf pickup on profile signals; it was found that the MCP was severely damaged over part of the aperture. Various corrective measures were applied. Some results of these measured obtained during Run 16 are shown. At the end of Run 16 there was a three-­day beam run to study polarized proton beams in the AGS. Attempts to minimize beam injection errors which increase emittance by using the eIPMs to measure the contribution of injection mismatch to the AGS output beam emittance are recounted. .

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

SU-E-J-23: Characteristics of X-Rays From ExacTrac and Patient Dose From Imaging Procedures

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is 1) provide the beam characteristics of x-rays produced by a Novalis TX ExacTrac system; 2) present a method to commission such beams, 3) present radiation dose to patients resulting from the imaging procedures. Methods: The Monte Carlo simulations were used to obtain the characteristics of kV beams and validated by measurements. The calculated beam HVLs, profiles and depth-dose curves were benchmarked against measurements. Twelve different image acquisition protocols were studied. The x-ray tube voltage ranges from 70 - 145 kV and milliampere-second (mAs) ranges from 8 - 80 mAs depending on the selection of Cranium, Head & Neck, Thorax or Abdomen imaging protocols. The beam output of each image acquisition protocol was determined by using an ionization chamber. The air kerma calibration factors of the ion chamber were obtained from an Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Laboratory for specified HVLs. Results: The agreements between measured and simulated results were within the uncertainties for HVLs, dose profiles and depth-dose curves. When %dd was normalized at 1 cm depth, its values at depth of 5 cm ranged from 45% to 66% of in water for kV beams range from 70 kVp to 145 kVp respectively. For head images, a typical dose to eye resulting from single projection ranged from 0.008 cGy to 0.025 cGy depending on the cranial image protocols selected. For a single pelvic image the skin dose could reach up to 0.1 cGy from an abdominal protocol. Conclusion: Although multiple pairs of x-ray images are commonly acquired during a daily patient treatment, the imaging doses to patients resulting from the sum of these projected x-rays are generally much less than 0.5 cGy. The knowledge obtained from this investigation can be used to estimate the image dose and optimize the used of the system.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Estimating Beam-Target Heating

At Los Alamos National Laboratory, two high-current linear induction accelerators (LIAs) are used to produce bremsstrahlung source spots for flash radiography of high-explosive driven hydrodynamic experiments at the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) facility. Measurements of the electron-beam current density profile are valuable for understanding the beam dynamics in order to improve the quality of the radiography source spot. A technique commonly used at DARHT is to image the profile in Cerenkov or Optical Transition Radiation (OTR) light created by the beam striking a thin target inserted into the beam line. Target materials include aluminized dielectrics and titanium foils for OTR, and fused silica wafers for Cerenkov radiation. A practical complication with this technique is heating of the target by the electron beam. If the beam density is too great, the target can be destroyed. Moreover, even if the beam density is kept low enough to be nondestructive, the beam can heat the target to a high enough temperature to desorb gas from the surface. In that case, direct impact ionization of the gas by beam electrons can partially neutralize the beam, causing it to over-focus, thereby spoiling the data, if not destroying the target. The purpose of this note is to review some of the fundamental physics of electron beam heating in order to provide some elementary guidance for design of these imaging experiments to avoid overheating the target. Some specific examples for materials that we often use for imaging targets and beam-target experiments are provided.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Electro-optic sampling beam position monitor for relativistic electron beams

Here, an electro-optic sampling beam position monitor for installation at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory FACET-II facility is described. Simulations of the detector signal were performed using realistic electron beam current profiles, demonstrating that this single-shot, non-destructive, compact detector is capable of resolving the relative transverse offset and longitudinal separation of an ultra-relativistic, two-bunch electron beam to order 1 μm and 10 fs, respectively. A design study was performed to optimize the detector’s response to the ultra-relativistic two-bunch electron beam utilized in plasma wakefield accelerator experiments. In addition, the expected sensitivity to beam tilt is studied for typical electron beams used in free electron lasers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗