Fiber-Optic Based Laser Wakefield Accelerated Electron Beams and Potential Applications in Radiotherapy Cancer Treatments

Abstract

Ultra-compact electron beam technology based on laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) could have a significant impact on radiotherapy treatments. Recent developments in LWFA high-density regime (HD-LWFA) and low-intensity fiber optically transmitted laser beams could allow for cancer treatments with electron beams from a miniature electronic source. Moreover, an electron beam emitted from a tip of a fiber optic channel could lead to new endoscopy-based radiotherapy, which is not currently available. Low-energy (10 keV–1 MeV) LWFA electron beams can be produced by irradiating high-density nano-materials with a low-intensity laser in the range of ~1014 W/cm2. This energy range could be useful in radiotherapy and, specifically, brachytherapy for treating superficial, interstitial, intravascular, and intracavitary tumors. Furthermore, it could unveil the next generation of high-dose-rate brachytherapy systems that are not dependent on radioactive sources, do not require specially designed radiation-shielded rooms for treatment, could be portable, could provide a selection of treatment energies, and would significantly reduce operating costs to a radiation oncology clinic.

Experimental realization of near-critical-density laser wakefield acceleration: Efficient pointing 100-keV-class electron beam generation by microcapillary targets

“…26 This finding indicates that the realization of a compact electron accelerator inside the body could markedly expand the possibilities of radiotherapy, and a treatment scheme based on LWFA using an optical fiber has been proposed. 27 On the other hand, relatively high-energy electron beam generation of a few MeV order by using a gaseous target has already been performed. 2,[10][11][12]14 In particular, 1-MeV-order electron beam generation has been performed at high plasma densities.…”

Ultrafast Fiber Technologies for Compact Laser Wake Field in Medical Application

“…Perspectives of LWFA applications to brachytherapy are discussed in detail medically and technologically [3,5]. In endoscopic approach, LWFA adopts the use of solid-state carbon nanotubes (CNTs) excited by the laser pulses [6,7].…”

“…The inherent advantage of LWFA, exemplified in the reduction factor above, has the potential to reduce the footprint of lower-energy accelerator proportionally or even more [3]. One promising avenue of cancer treatment is brachytherapy, in which a source of radiation is brought inside the body close to the tissues requiring treatment [4,5]. For endoscopic and intraoperative brachytherapy at the local treatment site electron radiation from few tens to few hundreds of keV are sufficient as treatment radiation needs not to traverse healthy tissues.…”

The role of laser chirp in relativistic electron acceleration using multi-electron gas targets

“…Currently, the daily basis controlled operation of a LWFA relativistic electron beam source, considering its maximum energy, energy spread, total charge and divergence is still an ongoing task. Additionally, the reproducibility of the electron beam should always be considered vital for certain applications [26], especially for radiotherapy [27].…”