Passive SOBP generation from a static proton pencil beam using 3D-printed range modulators for FLASH experiments

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Felix Horst - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Elke Beyreuther - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • Elisabeth Bodenstein - , OncoRay ZIC - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (Partners: UKD, HZDR), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Sebastian Gantz - , OncoRay ZIC - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (Partners: UKD, HZDR), University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Diego Misseroni - , University of Trento (Author)
  • Nicola M. Pugno - , University of Trento, Queen Mary University of London (Author)
  • Christoph Schuy - , GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research (Author)
  • Francesco Tommasino - , University of Trento (Author)
  • Uli Weber - , GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research (Author)
  • Jörg Pawelke - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)

Abstract

The University Proton Therapy facility in Dresden (UPTD), Germany, is equipped with an experimental room with a beamline providing a static pencil beam. High proton beam currents can be achieved at this beamline which makes it suitable for FLASH experiments. However, the established experimental setup uses only the entrance channel of the proton Bragg curve. In this work, a set of 3D-printed range modulators designed to generate spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) for radiobiological experiments at ultra-high dose rate at this beamline is described. A new method to optimize range modulators specifically for the case of a static pencil beam based on the central depth dose profile is introduced. Modulators for two different irradiation setups were produced and characterized experimentally by measurements of lateral and depth dose distributions using different detectors. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess profiles of the dose averaged linear energy transfer (LETD) in water. These newly produced range modulators will allow future proton FLASH experiments in the SOBP at UPTD with two different experimental setups.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1213779
JournalFrontiers in physics
Volume11
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • 3D-printing, FLASH effect, proton therapy, range modulator, spread out Bragg peak, ultra-high dose rate