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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,621 records · Page 90
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-662: Quick and Efficient Daily QA for Compact PBS Proton Therapy Machine

Purpose: As proton therapy machines become widespread the need for a quick simple routine daily QA like that for linear accelerators becomes more important. Willis-Knighton has developed an accurate and efficient daily QA that can be performed in 15 minutes. Methods: A holder for a 2D ionization chamber array (MatriXX PT) was created that is indexed to the couch to allow for quick setup, lasers accuracy with respect to beam isocenter, and couch reproducibility. Image position/reposition was performed to check Isocentricity accuracy by placing BBs on the MatriXX. The couch coordinates are compared to that of commissioning. Laser positions were confirmed with the MatriXX isocenter. After IGRT, three beams were separately delivered according to setup. For the first beam, range shifter was inserted and dose at R90, field size, flatness and symmetry in X and Y direction was measured. R90 was used so any minor changes in the range shifter can be detected. For the open beam, dose at center of SOBP, flatness and symmetry in X and Y direction was measured. Field size was measured in ±X and ±Y direction at FWHM. This is measured so any variation in spot size will be detected. For the third beam additional solid water was added and dose at R50 was measured so that any variation in beam energy will be detected. Basic mechanical and safety checks were also performed. Results: Medical physicists were able to complete the daily QA and reduce the time by half to two-third from initial daily QA procedure. All the values measured were within tolerance of that of the baseline which was established from water tank and initial MatriXX measurements. Conclusion: The change in daily QA procedure resulted in quick and easy setup and was able to measure all the basic functionality of the proton therapy PBS.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-137: Out-Of-Beam Dose for a Compact Double-Scattering Proton Beam Therapy System

Purpose: The out-of-beam dose is important for understanding the peripheral dose in radiation therapy. In proton radiotherapy, the study of out-of-beam dose is scarce and the treatment planning system (TPS) based on pencil beam algorithm cannot accurately predict the out-of-beam dose. This study investigates the out-of-beam dose for the single-room Mevion S250 double scattering proton therapy system using experimentally measured and treatment planning software generated data. The results are compared with those reported for conventional photon beam therapy. However, this study does not incorporate the neutron contribution in the scattered dose. Methods: A total of seven proton treatment plans were generated using Varian Eclipse TPS for three different sites (brain, lung, and pelvis) in an anthropomorphic phantom. Three field sizes of 5×5, 10×10, and 20×20 cm{sup 2} (lung only) with typical clinical range (13.3–22.8 g/cm{sup 2}) and modulation widths (5.3–14.0 g/cm{sup 2}) were used. A single beam was employed in each treatment plan to deliver a dose of 181.8 cGy (200.0 cGy (RBE)) to the selected target. The out-of-beam dose was measured at 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 cm from the beam edge in the phantom using a thimble chamber (PTW TN31010). Results: The out-of-beam dose generally increased with field size, range, and volume irradiated. For all the plans, the scattered dose sharply fell off with distance. At 2.0 cm, the out-of-beam dose ranged from 0.35% to 2.16% of the delivered dose; however, the dose was clinically negligible (<0.3%) at a distance of 5.0 cm and greater. In photon therapy, the slightly greater out-of-beam dose was reported (TG36; 4%, 2%, and 1% for 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 cm, respectively, using 6 MV beam). Conclusion: The measured out-of-beam dose in proton therapy excluding neutron contribution was observed higher than the TPS calculated dose and comparable to that of photon beam therapy.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-183: Design of a Beam Shaping Assembly of a Compact DD-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy System

Purpose: To design a beam shaping assembly (BSA) to shape the 2.45-MeV neutrons produced by a deuterium-deuterium (DD) neutron generator and to optimize the beam output for boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors Methods: MCNP is used for this simulation study. The simulation model consists of a neutron surface source that resembles an actual DD source and is surrounded by a BSA. The neutron source emits 2.45-MeV neutrons isotropically. The BSA is composed of a moderator, reflector, collimator and filter. Various types of materials and geometries are tested for each component to optimize the neutron output. Neutron characteristics are measured with an 2×2×2-cm{sup 3} air-equivalent cylinder at the beam exit. The ideal BSA is determined by evaluating the in-air parameters, which include epithermal neutron per source neutron, fast neutron dose per epithermal neutron, and photon dose per epithermal neutron. The parameter values are compared to those recommended by the IAEA. Results: The ideal materials for reflector and thermal neutron filter were lead and cadmium, respectively. The thickness for reflector was 43 cm and for filter was 0.5 mm. At present, the best-performing moderator has 25 cm of AlF{sub 3} and 5 cm of MgF{sub 2}. This layout creates a neutron spectrum that has a peak at approximately 10 keV and produces 1.35E-4 epithermal neutrons per source neutron per cm{sup 2}. Additional neutron characteristics, fast neutrons per epithermal neutron and photon per epithermal neutron, are still under investigation. Conclusion: Working is ongoing to optimize the final layout of the BSA. The neutron spectrum at the beam exit window of the final configuration will have the maximum number of epithermal neutrons and limited photon and fast neutron contaminations within the recommended values by IAEA. Future studies will also include phantom experiments to validate the simulation results.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

TU-H-BRA-08: The Design and Characteristics of a Novel Compact Linac-Based MRI Guided Radiation Therapy (MR-IGRT) System

Purpose: To describe the design and characteristics of a novel linac-based MRI guided radiation therapy system that addresses RF and magnetic field interference and that can be housed in conventional radiotherapy vaults. Methods: The MR-IGRT system will provide simultaneous MR imaging combined with both simple (3D) and complex (IMRT, SBRT, SRS) techniques. The system is a combination of a) double-donut split solenoidal superconducting 0.345T MRI; and b) a 90 cm isocenter ring-gantry mounted 6MV, flattening filter-free linac coupled with a stacked doubly-focused multileaf collimator with 4 mm resolution. A novel RF shielding and absorption technology was developed to isolate the beam generating RF emissions from the MR, while a novel magnetic shielding sleeve system was developed to place the magnetic field-sensitive components in low-magnetic field regions. The system design produces high spatial resolution radiation beams with state-of-the art radiation dose characteristics and simultaneous MR imaging. Results: Prototype testing with a spectrum analyzer has demonstrated complete elimination of linac RF inside the treatment room. The magnetic field inside of the magnetic shielding was well below the specification, allowing the linear accelerator to operate normally. A novel on-gantry shimming system maintained < 25 ppm magnetic field homogeneity over a 45 cm spherical field of view for all gantry angles. Conclusion: The system design demonstrates the feasibility coupling a state-of-the art linac system with a 0.345T MRI, enabling highly conformal radiation therapy with simultaneous MR image guidance. S. Mutic’s employer (Washington University) has grant with ViewRay; D. Low is former ViewRay scientific advisory board member (ended October 2015); T. Chmielewski, G. Fought, M. Hernandez, I. Kawrakow, A. Sharma, S. Shvartsman, J. Dempsey are employees of ViewRay with stock options (Dempsey has leadership role and Dempsey/Kawrakow have stock).

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Neural Network Astronomy as a New Tool for Observing Bright and Compact Objects

We propose a new method for solving an important problem of astronomy that arises in observations with ultrahigh-angular-resolution interferometers. This method is based on the application of the theory of artificial neural networks. We propose and compute a multiparameter model for a celestial object like Sgr A*. For this model we have numerically constructed a number of probable images for neural network training. After neural network training on these images, the quality of its operation has been tested on another series of images from the same model. We have proven that a neural network can recognize and classify celestial objects (also obtained from interferometers) virtually no worse than can be done by a human.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Hyperon puzzle in compact stars

The objective of this paper is to solve the problem of the existence of hyperons in the interior of massive neutron stars. Using the more sophisticated equation of state with the extended sector of vector mesons the model of a massive neutron star that includes hyperons was constructed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Phase transitions in compact stars. Problem of micro and macro stability

Problem of microscopic stability of dense matter in the case of a phase transition to the new, dense phase (for example quark matter) is discussed. An analysis of the constraints resulting from the observations of 2M{sub ⊙} pulsars and the consequences for a stiffness of a dense phase are presented. This may lead to the instability with respect to reconversion to the basic nuclear phase before reaching maximum mass. Macroscopic stability is defined as a dynamical stability with respect to radial oscillations (in the case of rotating star—axi-symmetric pulsations). The conditions for the stability of the star with a small, dense core of new phase are discussed and the universality of the stability properties of the families of rotating neutron stars is presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ultrahigh charging of dust grains by the beam−plasma method for creating a compact neutron source

Generation of high-voltage high-current electron beams in a low-pressure (P = 0.1–1 Torr) gas discharge is studied experimentally as a function of the discharge voltage and the sort and pressure of the plasma-forming gas. The density of the plasma formed by a high-current electron beam is measured. Experiments on ultrahigh charging of targets exposed to a pulsed electron beam with an energy of up to 25 keV, an electron current density of higher than 1 A/cm{sup 2}, a pulse duration of up to 1 μs, and a repetition rate of up to 1 kHz are described. A numerical model of ultrahigh charging of dust grains exposed to a high-energy electron beam is developed. The formation of high-energy positive ions in the field of negatively charged plane and spherical targets is calculated. The calculations performed for a pulse-periodic mode demonstrate the possibility of achieving neutron yields of higher than 10{sup 6} s{sup –1} cm{sup –2} in the case of a plane target and about 10{sup 9} s{sup –1} in the case of 10{sup 3} spherical targets, each with a radius of 250 μm.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Generation of Soft X-Ray Radiation in a Compact Free-Electron Laser with Harmonic Multiplication

Single-pass free-electron lasers (FELs) with harmonic multiplication in the X-ray range are studied theoretically with the objective of producing intense radiation with the minimum possible FEL length, beam energy, and seed laser frequency. A cascade FEL with a two-frequency undulator for electron bunching at wavelengths of higher harmonics is proposed. The dynamics of radiation power in a FEL with harmonic multiplication cascades is investigated based on a well-proven phenomenological FEL model that covers all major losses for each harmonic in each FEL cascade. The effect of the beam quality on X-ray generation in a FEL is examined. It is demonstrated that electron beams with energy spread σ{sub e} ≤ 0.0002 are required for efficient use of harmonics in a cascade X-ray FEL. The evolution of power of harmonics in several cascade FELs at wavelengths of ~2–3 nm with multiplication of seed harmonics at a wavelength of 13.51 nm (Mo/Si reflection peak) and 11.43 nm (MoRu/Be reflection peak) is studied. It is demonstrated that the power increases to ~1 GW at a FEL length up to 40 m. In addition, the operation of multicascade FELs with a seed F{sub 2} excimer 157-nm UV laser and harmonics of lasers with CO{sub 2} and C{sub 2}H{sub 2} at 30 nm with a beam of electrons with an energy of ~0.6 GeV and a current of ~1 kА is studied. The power of the modeled X-ray radiation of these FELs at λ = 2.5 and 3.3 nm increases to ~0.5 GW at ~30 m.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

COMPACT

The code extrapolates the nearest neighbor particle spacing and sizing from collected X-ray images. The profiles are directly interpretable for non-destructive imaging of large imaging datasets that span the micron to millimeter size scale.

Aguiar, Jeff↗
DOE OSTI2019

Compact millimeter-wavelength Fourier-transform spectrometer

Here, we have constructed a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) operating between 50 GHz and 330 GHz with minimum volume (355×260×64 mm) and weight (5.9 kg) while maximizing optical throughput (100 mm 2 sr) and optimizing the spectral resolution (4 GHz). This FTS is designed as a polarizing Martin–Puplett interferometer with unobstructed input and output in which both input polarizations undergo interference. The instrument construction is simple with mirrors milled on the box walls and one motorized stage as the single moving element. We characterize the performance of the FTS, compare the measurements to an optical simulation, and discuss features that relate to details of the FTS design. The simulation is also used to determine the tolerance of optical alignments for the required specifications. We detail the FTS mechanical design and provide the control software as well as the analysis code online.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗