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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

A prototype scintillator real‐time beam monitor for ultra‐high dose rate radiotherapy

Background: FLASH Radiotherapy (RT) is an emergent cancer RT modality where an entire therapeutic dose is delivered at more than 1000 times higher dose rate than conventional RT. For clinical trials to be conducted safely, a precise and fast beam monitor that can generate out-of-tolerance beam interrupts is required. This paper describes the overall concept and provides results from a prototype ultra-fast, scintillator-based beam monitor for both proton and electron beam FLASH applications. Purpose: A FLASH Beam Scintillator Monitor (FBSM) is being developed that employs a novel proprietary scintillator material. The FBSM has capabilities that conventional RT detector technologies are unable to simultaneously provide: (1) large area coverage; (2) a low mass profile; (3) a linear response over a broad dynamic range; (4) radiation hardness; (5) real-time analysis to provide an IEC-compliant fast beam-interrupt signal based on true two-dimensional beam imaging, radiation dosimetry and excellent spatial resolution. Methods: The FBSM uses a proprietary low mass, less than 0.5 mm water equivalent, non-hygroscopic, radiation tolerant scintillator material (designated HM: hybrid material) that is viewed by high frame rate CMOS cameras. Folded optics using mirrors enable a thin monitor profile of ∼10 cm. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) data acquisition system generates real-time analysis on a time scale appropriate to the FLASH RT beam modality: 100–1000 Hz for pulsed electrons and 10–20 kHz for quasi-continuous scanning proton pencil beams. An ion beam monitor served as the initial development platform for this work and was tested in low energy heavy-ion beams ( 86 Kr +26 and protons). A prototype FBSM was fabricated and then tested in various radiation beams that included FLASH level dose per pulse electron beams, and a hospital RT clinic with electron beams. Results: Results presented in this report include image quality, response linearity, radiation hardness, spatial resolution, and real-time data processing. Furthermore, the HM scintillator was found to be highly radiation damage resistant. It exhibited a small 0.025%/kGy signal decrease from a 216 kGy cumulative dose resulting from continuous exposure for 15 min at a FLASH compatible dose rate of 237 Gy/s. Measurements of the signal amplitude versus beam fluence demonstrate linear response of the FBSM at FLASH compatible dose rates of >40 Gy/s. Comparison with commercial Gafchromic film indicates that the FBSM produces a high resolution 2D beam image and can reproduce a nearly identical beam profile, including primary beam tails. The spatial resolution was measured at 35–40 µm. Tests of the firmware beta version show successful operation at 20 000 Hz frame rate or 50 µs/frame, where the real-time analysis of the beam parameters is achieved in less than 1 µs. Conclusions: The FBSM is designed to provide real-time beam profile monitoring over a large active area without significantly degrading the beam quality. A prototype device has been staged in particle beams at currents of single particles up to FLASH level dose rates, using both continuous ion beams and pulsed electron beams. Using a novel scintillator, beam profiling has been demonstrated for currents extending from single particles to 10 nA currents. Radiation damage is minimal and even under FLASH conditions would require ≥50 kGy of accumulated exposure in a single spot to result in a 1% decrease in signal output. Beam imaging is comparable to radiochromic films, and provides immediate images without hours of processing. Real-time data processing, taking less than 50 µs (combined data transfer and analysis times), has been implemented in firmware for 20 kHz frame rates for continuous proton beams.

2D beam imaging↗
DOE OSTI2024

Effects of gamma, electron beam, and X-ray irradiation on the plastic components of a universal bone cement mixer medical device

Due to market and regulatory pressures, many healthcare manufacturers are considering alternatives to cobalt-60 gamma radiation, including accelerator-based electron beam (E-beam) and X-ray radiation for product sterilization. In this work, the effects of irradiation on a representative medical product, comprised of eight distinct polymer materials, were directly compared for three radiation technologies – cobalt-60 gamma, E-beam, and X-ray – at four dose levels (15, 25, 50, and 70 kGy). The objective was to determine how radiation effects (deleterious or beneficial) are influenced by source and dose level, with the specific goal of determining whether E-beam radiation and/or X-ray radiation could be viable alternatives to gamma radiation for device sterilization. Here, the specific product considered is a single-use medical device for orthopedic surgery, the Stryker Instruments MixeVac III bone cement mixer, which is currently sterilized using gamma radiation from cobalt-60 sources. Following ASTM International standards and input from the manufacturer, we characterized the effects of the three radiation sources on product functionality as well as on the mechanical and optical properties of the constituent polymers. Results indicate that although measurable differences in properties between the standard gamma irradiated materials and the alternative E-beam and X-ray irradiated materials were observed, those differences were small. Statistically significant differences were noted in the case of yellowness index for polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene, and polycarbonate, and in the case of tensile elongation at break for high impact polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. In general, the results of this study support the viability of E-beam and X-ray radiation as alternative options to cobalt-60 gamma radiation for sterilization of Stryker single-use universal bone cement mixer medical devices.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Transverse Beam Emittance Measurement by Undulator Radiation Power Noise

Generally, turn-to-turn power fluctuations of incoherent spontaneous synchrotron radiation in a storage ring depend on the 6D phase-space distribution of the electron bunch. In some cases, if only one parameter of the distribution is unknown, this parameter can be determined from the measured magnitude of these power fluctuations. In this contribution, we report the results of our experiment at the Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA) storage ring, where we carried out an absolute measurement (no free parameters or calibration) of a small vertical emittance (5–15 nm rms) of a flat beam by this new method, under conditions, when the small vertical emittance is unresolvable by a conventional synchrotron light beam size monitor.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improving the short-wave infrared response of strained GeSn/Ge multiple quantum wells by rapid thermal annealing

In this work, the evolution of structural, optical and optoelectronic properties of coherently strained Ge 0.883 Sn 0.117 /Ge multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy under rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is systematically investigated. The MQW structure remains fully-strained state with RTA at 400 °C or below and disrupts at higher annealing temperatures due to Sn segregation and interdiffusion of Ge and Sn atoms. The GeSn well layers exhibit the strongest absorption in 2.0–2.4 μm after annealing at 400 °C and become transparent above 1.8 μm after RTA at 600 °C or beyond due to serve Sn segregation. Owing to improved crystal quality after RTA at 400 °C, the dark current of the fabricated metal-semiconductor-metal photodetector is effectively lowered by more than two times. Additionally, the responsivities at 1.55 and 2.0 μm are improved by 4.15 and 3.78 folds, respectively, compared to those of the as-grown sample. Here, the results can be an insightful guidance for the development of high-performance short-wave infrared photonic devices based on Sn-containing group-IV low-dimensional structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spatial heterodyne spectroscopy for fast local magnetic field measurements of magnetized fusion plasmas

A novel spectroscopy diagnostic for measuring internal magnetic fields in high temperature magnetized plasmas has been developed. It involves spectrally resolving the Balmer- α (656 nm) neutral beam radiation split by the motional Stark effect with a spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS). The unique combination of high optical throughput (3.7 mm 2 sr) and spectral resolution (δλ ~ 0.1 nm) allows these measurements to be made with time resolution $\ll$1 ms. The high throughput is effectively utilized by incorporating a novel geometric Doppler broadening compensation technique in the spectrometer. The technique significantly reduces the spectral resolution penalty inherent to using large area, high-throughput optics while still collecting the large photon flux provided by such optics. In this work, fluxes of order 10 10 s –1 support the measurement of deviations of <5 mT (Δ λ Stark ~ 10 –4 nm) in the local magnetic field with 50 µs time resolution. Example high time resolution measurements of the pedestal magnetic field throughout the ELM cycle of a DIII-D tokamak plasma are presented. Local magnetic field measurements give access to the dynamics of the edge current density, which is essential to understanding stability limits, edge localized mode generation and suppression, and predicting performance of H-mode tokamaks.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Molecular beam epitaxy of superconducting zirconium nitride on GaN substrates

Epitaxial integration of metals and semiconductors can enable enhanced performance and novel functionality. Achieving such pristine interfaces with superconducting materials is of increasing interest for quantum devices and detectors, but the experimental demonstration remains challenging, given the very limited studies on single crystalline systems. To expand the potential materials for these systems, this work explores the deposition of zirconium nitride superconducting thin films on GaN substrates at various temperatures using molecular beam epitaxy. A general trend of decreasing superconducting critical temperature is observed as the deposition temperature is reduced. The optical properties reveal a transition from metallic to dielectric behavior with colder deposition. The plasma frequency of the metallic films is also observed to be a function of growth temperature. These results pave the way for the integration of a highly tunable metal nitride with a well-established semiconductor system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Variable Bragg x-ray beam splitters

Beam splitters are utilized in a variety of advanced x-ray instruments and are essential for extending quantum optics techniques to x rays. A new fabrication method has produced thinned Bragg diffracting silicon devices with variable reflectivity and transmission coefficients and negligible absorption losses. Diffraction measurements confirm that silicon continues to exhibit perfect crystal diffraction even for thicknesses below two microns. Devices are machined from standard wafers, with the thinned regions contained within the robust frame of an unperturbed crystal for ease of handling.

Powers, L. T. (ORCID:000900047481248X)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Broadband Ultra-Sensitive Adiabatic Magnetometer

We introduce a new ultra-sensitive adiabatic magnetometer that has a broad bandwidth and can operate in the presence of magnetic fields and gradients. It follows conceptually typical implementations of atomic magnetometers based on alkali-metal vapor cells and lasers for optical pumping and optical Faraday effect detection, while its unique feature is a measurement of an oscillating magnetic field along the probe beam direction at frequencies lower than the resonant frequency, proportional to a static magnetic field along the pump beam direction. The bandwidth of the adiabatic magnetometer scales as the strength of the field along the pump beam. From our theoretical studies it is expected that the adiabatic magnetometer can reach 1 fT sensitivity with a bandwidth of 10 kHz, which any type of atomic magnetometers cannot achieve. Among anticipated various applications of this adiabatic magnetometer are biomagnetic sensing, nuclear magnetic resonance detection, and alkali-metal density measurements. In conclusion, we experimentally conducted alkali-metal density measurements, as an example of applications.

adiabatic magnetometer↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fluid Flow Observations of The Spray Near-Field Using High-Speed X-Ray Imaging

Sprays are important to may industrial processes, but the near-field region where spray formation takes place is difficult to visualize and characterize through visible light imaging because this region is typically optically dense. X-ray imaging is one technique that can penetrate this optically dense region and provide unique observations of the spray formation process. This study uses high-speed white beam X-ray imaging conducted at the Advanced Photon Source to capture spray formation dynamics from a canonical airblast atomizer. In this work, a range of momentum flux ratios are visualized by varying the gas flow rate while the liquid flow rate is held constant. The use of X-rays show overlapping flow structures including bags, ligaments, mushrooms, and webs. Air bubbles are captured within the liquid regions, and a very dynamic crown forms at the liquid needle exit at higher momentum flux ratios. Finally, at the highest momentum flux ratios, air bubbles and liquid droplets are observed migrating upstream in the center of the crown, and this motion is attributed to a toroidal recirculation cell at the nozzle exit.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Manufacturing Supply Chain Development for Modular Solar-Thermochemical Conversion Platform [Abstract]

We will develop a tunable pulsed electron source capable of generating variable intensity highly-focused electron pulses at high repetition rates. Specifically, we need to demonstrate a high-speed variable electron gun capable of generating a variable intensity electron pulse containing between 102 and 105 electrons with an accelerating voltage of 1kV focused into a spot size <100nm in diameter at with a pulse rate >10MHz (with path to 300MHz). This combined performance cannot be achieved by commercially available electron sources. The primary technology path selected for this work will be to use a photocathode approach, where an easily modulated UV laser is used to stimulate electron emission. The approach utilizes the advances made in the development of the Dynamic TEM (DTEM), though this project will be simpler in that the pulse intensity is lower and there is no requirement for coherency. Alternate paths, including using a traditional electron beam modulated using a v-shaped slit and electrostatically deflecting the beam to adjust intensity; will also be considered for future capabilities. The electron source will then be used generate optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) in lithium fluoride (LiF) substrates to demonstrate the potential for OSL to serve as a basis technology for next generation data storage systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dissimilar metal joining of Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 625

The dissimilar joining of Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 625 by using a suitable interlayer shows potential design flexibility by avoiding the brittle intermetallic phases from direct welding. These phases include NiTi , NiTi 2 , and Ni 3 Ti . The objective of this work is to facilitate laser welding of Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 625 through a vanadium interlayer to form an intermetallic free, strong, and corrosion resistant joint. Vanadium was chosen based on binary phase diagram solubilities, literature, and theoretical CalPhaD calculations in PanDat. Laser welding was systematically explored from based on beam mode, offset, power, and scan speed. Varied parameters include laser power from 325 to 650 watts, laser scan speed from 80 to 160 in/min, and beam offset up to a ¼ of the beam diameter. Parameters were chosen based on previous dissimilar joining research and those found in the literature. Metallography, including optical and scanning electron microscopy, was used to analyze the weld chemical composition, grain structure, and defects through both the fusion and heat affected zones. The results and discussion will examine the relationship between process parameters, microstructure, and observed weld defects. Our findings will not only assess the weldability of vanadium and Inconel 625 but also establish a transferable framework for studying other dissimilar material combinations, providing valuable insights for future research in this field.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Accuracy and Resolution Evaluation of the E-Beam Profile Scanner at the Fermilab Main Injector

The objective of this work is to assess the accuracy of measurements made by the Electron Beam Profile Scanner (EBPS), which captures the trajectory of an electron beam with and without a proton beam present. The proton beam induces deflection in the electron beam, which is influenced by proton charges. For high-resolution images, the probe beam needs to be of high intensity, small diameter, and small divergence, evaluated using a phosphor screen and an optical transition radiation (OTR) screen. The capabilities of the Kimball Physics electron gun (eGun) will be considered for accuracy. Additionally, the Zemax software will be utilized to characterize the optical elements.

Mwaniki, M. W. [IIT, Chicago] (ORCID:0000000169057↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ultrabright Electron Bunch Injection in a Plasma Wakefield Driven by a Superluminal Flying Focus Electron Beam

Here, we propose a new method for self-injection of high-quality electron bunches in the plasma wakefield structure in the blowout regime utilizing a “flying focus” produced by a drive beam with an energy chirp. In a flying focus the speed of the density centroid of the drive bunch can be superluminal or subluminal by utilizing the chromatic dependence of the focusing optics. We first derive the focal velocity and the characteristic length of the focal spot in terms of the focal length and an energy chirp. We then demonstrate using multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations that a wake driven by a superluminally propagating flying focus of an electron beam can generate GeV-level electron bunches with ultralow normalized slice emittance (~30 nm rad), high current (~17 kA), low slice energy spread (~0.1%), and therefore high normalized brightness (> 10 19 A/ m 2 /rad 2 ) in a plasma of density ~10 19 cm –3 . The injection process is highly controllable and tunable by changing the focal velocity and shaping the drive beam current. Nearterm experiments at FACET II where the capabilities to generate tens of kA, < 10 fs drivers are planned, could potentially produce beams with brightness near 10 20 A / m 2 / rad 2 .

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laser beam pointing stabilization using analog position-sensitive diodes

Laser wire scanners have been used for ion beam profile and emittance measurements at the Spallation Neutron Source linear accelerator. Due to propagation distances exceeding 100 m, reliable measurements require laser beam stabilization, previously accomplished with a feedback control loop using a digital camera as a position sensor [Hardin et al., Opt. Express 19, 2874 (2011)]. Here, this paper presents an upgraded pointing stabilization system utilizing analog position-sensitive diodes (PSDs) as the position detector, optimized with an optical diffuser. The new system significantly surpasses the previous system by offering an order-of-magnitude improvement in radiation tolerance and a bandwidth limited only by the burst repetition rate of the laser beam. Operating with a 60-Hz burst mode laser, the new system effectively suppresses laser beam drifts up to 30 Hz, compared to the previous system’s 4 Hz limit. In addition, the amplitude of spectral components below 0.1 Hz was reduced by a factor of more than 100, which is over seven times greater than was achieved by the previous system.

Data acquisition↗
DOE OSTI2023

Status of CEBAF Upgrades

Extending CEBAF energy reach by increasing the number of recirculations, while using the existing SRF system is being explored. Proposed energy upgrade is based on a new approach to multi-pass acceleration of electrons in a single Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (FFA) beam line, configured with Halbach-style permanent magnets. Encouraged by recent success of CBETA, a proposal was formulated to nearly ?double? CEBAF energy by replacing the highest energy arcs with a pair of FFA arcs. The new non-scaling FFA arcs would support simultaneous transport of additional 6 passes with energies spanning a factor of two. One of the challenges of the multi-pass (11) linac optics is to assure uniform focusing in a vast range of energies, in a fixed field lattice. Here, we propose a triplet lattice that would provide a stable periodic solution covering energy ratio of 1:33. The current CEBAF injection at 123 MeV, makes optical matching in the first linac virtually impossible due to extremely high energy span ratio (1:175). Replacement of the current injector with a 650 MeV recirculating injector will alleviate that problem. Orbital and optical matching from the FFA arcs to the linacs is implemented as a compact non-adiabatic insert. Presented scheme would promise to deliver a 22 GeV beam with normalized emittance of 76 mm·mrad and with a relative energy spread of 1×10-3. Further recirculation beyond 22 GeV is limited by large, 974 MeV per electron, energy loss due to synchrotron radiation

Bogacz, Alex↗
DOE OSTI2023

Half‐Integer Topological Charge Polarization of Quasi‐Dirac Bound States in the Continuum

Abstract The non‐trivial polarization topology of bound states in the continuum (BICs) provides new strategies in nanophotonics. The polarization topology depends on the geometric parameters and energy‐momentum dispersion of the system and can be engineered to add specific functionalities for light molding. Herein, such a possibility is investigated by studying the topology of the polarization states associated with the optical field radiated by BICs when Dirac‐cone‐degeneracy is lifted. The opening of a pseudogap in the Dirac cone dispersion of square‐lattice dielectric photonic crystal slabs is achieved by tuning the slab thickness. First, the emergence of half‐integer topological charges without the requirement of BIC annihilation is theoretically shown, which instead occurs when in‐plane inversion symmetry is broken. Then, using spin‐to‐orbital angular momentum conversion, the theory of half‐integer topological charges mediated by BICs is demonstrated and experimentally proved. The same device is able to give rise to vortices with different orbital angular momentum depending on the way it is illuminated, thus improving the potential of optical multiplexing. In addition, the additive character of the topology‐induced phase‐vortex generation is finally demonstrated for both integer and half‐integer charges using also vortex states as input beams, which is of relevance for information delivery.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Strongly Coupled Plasmon and Phonon Polaritons as Seen by Photon and Electron Probes

The ability to control and modify infrared excitations in condensed matter is of both fundamental and applied interest. Here we explore a system supporting low-energy excitations, in particular, mid-infrared localized plasmon modes and phonon polaritons that are tuned to be strongly coupled. We study the coupled modes by using far-field infrared spectroscopy, state-of-the-art monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy, numerical simulations, and analytical modeling. Here we demonstrate that the electron probe facilitates a precise characterization of polaritons constituting the coupled system, and enables an active control over the coupling and the resulting sample response both in frequency and space. Although far-field optical spectra can be substantially different from near-field electron energy-loss spectra, we show that a direct comparison is possible via postprocessing and right positioning of the electron beam. The resulting spectra allow us to evaluate the key parameters of the coupled system, such as the coupling strength, which we demonstrate to be probe independent. Our work establishes a rigorous description of the spectral features observed in light- and localized electron-based spectroscopies, which can be extended to the analysis of analogous optical systems with applications in heat management and electromagnetic field concentration or nanofocusing.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Diffuse back-illumination temperature imaging (DBI-TI), a novel soot thermometry technique

To meet stringent emissions regulations on soot emissions, it is critical to further advance the fundamental understanding of in-cylinder soot formation and oxidation processes. Among several optical techniques for soot quantification, diffuse back-illumination extinction imaging (DBI-EI) has recently gained traction mainly due to its ability to compensate for beam steering, which if not addressed, can cause unacceptably high measurement uncertainty. Until now, DBI-EI has only been used to measure the amount of soot along the line of sight, and here, we extend the capabilities of a DBI-EI setup to also measure in-cylinder soot temperature. This proof of concept of diffuse back-illumination temperature imaging (DBI-TI) as a soot thermometry technique is presented by implementing DBI-TI in a single cylinder, heavy-duty, optical diesel engine to provide 2-D line-of-sight integrated soot temperature maps. The potential of DBI-TI to be an accurate thermometry technique for use in optical engines is analyzed. The achievable accuracy is due in part to simultaneous measurement of the soot extinction, which circumvents the uncertainty in dispersion coefficients that depend on the optical properties of soot and the wavelength of light utilized. Analysis shows that DBI-TI provides temperature estimates that are closer to the mass-averaged soot temperature when compared to other thermometry techniques that are more sensitive to soot temperature closer to the detector. Furthermore, uncertainty analysis and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations provide estimates of the temperature measurement errors associated with this technique. The MC simulations reveal that for the light intensities and optical densities encountered in these experiments, the accuracy of the DBI-TI technique is comparable or even better than other established optical thermometry techniques. Thus, DBI-TI promises to be an easily implementable extension to the existing DBI-EI technique, thereby extending its ability to provide comprehensive line-of-sight integrated information on soot.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗