Prompt-gamma emission in GEANT4 revisited and confronted with experiment

Wrońska, A.; Kasper, J.; Ahmed, Arshiya Anees; Andres, A.; Bednarczyk, P.; Gazdowicz, Grzegorz; Herweg, Katrin; Hetzel, R.; Konefał, Adam; Kulessa, P.; Magiera, A.; Rusiecka, K.; Stachura, Damian; Stahl, A.; Ziębliński, M.

doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.07.018

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…The model simulations were performed using Geant4 10.5 37 together with GATE v. 8.2 38 , configured with the QGSP_BIC_EMY physics building list as suggested by Wrońska et al 39 (without the high-precision transport of neutrons below ). To reduce the simulation time, the production threshold was set to for protons and gamma rays, and to for electrons and positrons.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

Meriç

Alagoz

Hysing

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Particle therapy (PT) used for cancer treatment can spare healthy tissue and reduce treatment toxicity. However, full exploitation of the dosimetric advantages of PT is not yet possible due to range uncertainties, warranting development of range-monitoring techniques. This study proposes a novel range-monitoring technique introducing the yet unexplored concept of simultaneous detection and imaging of fast neutrons and prompt-gamma rays produced in beam-tissue interactions. A quasi-monolithic organic detector array is proposed, and its feasibility for detecting range shifts in the context of proton therapy is explored through Monte Carlo simulations of realistic patient models and detector resolution effects. The results indicate that range shifts of $${1}\,\hbox {mm}$$ 1 mm can be detected at relatively low proton intensities ($$22.30(13)\times 10^{7}$$ 22.30 ( 13 ) × 10 7 protons/spot) when spatial information obtained through imaging of both particle species are used simultaneously. This study lays the foundation for multi-particle detection and imaging systems in the context of range verification in PT.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

Meriç

Alagoz

Hysing

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…A Geant4 35 simulation (version 10.4.p02) of the optical properties of the TIARA module, based on the UNIFIED model and the QGSP-BIC-EMY physics list 17 , was performed to establish the module intrinsic detection efficiency as a function of the incident PG energy. The efficiency was computed as the fraction of PGs depositing more than 100 keV in the crystal and resulting in more than N p.e.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thanks to the prompt nature of these emissions, it is in principle possible to accomplish a statistically significant measurement of the proton range from the first irradiation spot. However, PG emission being a rare phenomenon (PG yield is 10 PGs/proton/cm, with significant variations among models 17 ), the development of high sensitivity PG detectors is crucial to obtain a real-time information. The required sensitivity can only be achieved by concurrently improving the intrinsic resolution of the measurement at a single event scale, and increasing the system detection efficiency to boost the measurement statistics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A high sensitivity Cherenkov detector for prompt gamma timing and time imaging

Jacquet

Ansari

Gallin-Martel

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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We recently proposed a new approach for the real-time monitoring of particle therapy treatments with the goal of achieving high sensitivities on the particle range measurement already at limited counting statistics. This method extends the Prompt Gamma (PG) timing technique to obtain the PG vertex distribution from the exclusive measurement of particle Time-Of-Flight (TOF). It was previously shown, through Monte Carlo simulation, that an original data reconstruction algorithm (Prompt Gamma Time Imaging) allows to combine the response of multiple detectors placed around the target. The sensitivity of this technique depends on both the system time resolution and the beam intensity. At reduced intensities (Single Proton Regime—SPR), a millimetric proton range sensitivity can be achieved, provided the overall PG plus proton TOF can be measured with a 235 ps (FWHM) time resolution. At nominal beam intensities, a sensitivity of a few mm can still be obtained by increasing the number of incident protons included in the monitoring procedure. In this work we focus on the experimental feasibility of PGTI in SPR through the development of a multi-channel, Cherenkov-based PG detector with a targeted time resolution of 235 ps (FWHM): the TOF Imaging ARrAy (TIARA). Since PG emission is a rare phenomenon, TIARA design is led by the concomitant optimisation of its detection efficiency and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The PG module that we developed is composed of a small PbF$$_{2}$$ 2 crystal coupled to a silicon photoMultiplier to provide the time stamp of the PG. This module is currently read in time coincidence with a diamond-based beam monitor placed upstream the target/patient to measure the proton time of arrival. TIARA will be eventually composed of 30 identical modules uniformly arranged around the target. The absence of a collimation system and the use of Cherenkov radiators are both crucial to increase the detection efficiency and the SNR, respectively. A first prototype of the TIARA block detector was tested with 63 MeV protons delivered from a cyclotron: a time resolution of 276 ps (FWHM) was obtained, resulting in a proton range sensitivity of 4 mm at 2$$\sigma$$ σ with the acquisition of only 600 PGs. A second prototype was also evaluated with 148 MeV protons delivered from a synchro-cyclotron obtaining a time resolution below 167 ps (FWHM) for the gamma detector. Moreover, using two identical PG modules, it was shown that a uniform sensitivity on the PG profiles would be achievable by combining the response of gamma detectors uniformly distributed around the target. This work provides the experimental proof-of-concept for the development of a high sensitivity detector that can be used to monitor particle therapy treatments and potentially act in real-time if the irradiation does not comply to treatment plan.

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“…8.2 [38], configured with the QGSP BIC EMY physics building list as suggested by Wrońska et al [39] (without the high-precision transport of neutrons below 20 MeV). To reduce the simulation time, the production threshold was set to 1 cm for protons and gamma rays, and to 1 m for electrons and positrons.…”

Section: Monte Carlo Simulation Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

Meriç

Alagoz

Hysing

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Particle therapy (PT) used for cancer treatment can spare healthy tissue and reduce treatment toxicity. However, full exploitation of the dosimetric advantages of PT is not yet possible due to range uncertainties, warranting development of range-monitoring techniques. This study proposes a novel range-monitoring technique introducing the yet unexplored concept of simultaneous detection and imaging of fast neutrons and prompt-gamma rays produced in beam-tissue interactions. A quasi-monolithic organic detector array is proposed, and its feasibility for detecting range shifts in the context of proton therapy is explored through Monte Carlo simulations of realistic patient models. The results indicate that range shifts of 1 mm can be detected at relatively low proton intensities (6 million/spot) when spatial information obtained through imaging of both particle species are used simultaneously. This study lays the foundation for multi-particle detection and imaging systems in the context range verification in PT.

show abstract

Prompt-gamma emission in GEANT4 revisited and confronted with experiment

Cited by 17 publications

References 32 publications

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

A high sensitivity Cherenkov detector for prompt gamma timing and time imaging

A hybrid multi-particle approach to range assessment-based treatment verification in particle therapy

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