Radiation measurements using Timepix3 with silicon sensor and bare chip in proton beams for FLASH radiotherapy

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • C. Oancea - , ADVACAM s.r.o. (Author)
  • J. Šolc - , Czech Metrology Institute (Author)
  • C. Granja - , ADVACAM s.r.o., VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (Author)
  • E. Bodenstein - , OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • F. Horst - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), OncoRay - National Centre for Radiation Research in Oncology (Author)
  • J. Pawelke - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), OncoRay - National Centre for Radiation Research in Oncology (Author)
  • J. Jakubek - , ADVACAM s.r.o. (Author)

Abstract

This study investigates the response of Timepix3 semiconductor pixel detectors in proton beams of varying intensities, with a focus on FLASH proton therapy. Using the Timepix3 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, we measured the spatial and spectral characteristics of 220 MeV proton beams delivered in short pulses. The experimental setup involved Minipix readout electronics integrated with a Timepix3 chipboard in a flexible architecture, and an Advapix Timepix3 with a silicon sensor. Measurements were carried out with Timepix3 detectors equipped with experimental gallium arsenide (GaAs) and silicon (Si) sensors. We also investigated the response of a bare Timepix3 ASIC chip (without sensor). The detectors were placed within a waterproof holder attached to the positioning system of the IBA Blue water phantom, with additional measurements performed in air behind a 2 cm-thick polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom. The results demonstrated the capability of the Timepix3 detectors to measure time-over-threshold (ToT, deposited energy) and event counts (number of events in a pixel) in both conventional and ultra-high-dose-rates (UHDR) proton beams. The bare ASIC chip configuration sustained up to a dose rate (DR) of 270 Gy/s, the maximum tested intensity, although it exhibited limited spatial resolution due to low detection efficiency. In contrast, Minipix Timepix3 with experimental GaAs sensors showed saturation at low DR∼5 Gy/s. Furthermore, the Advapix Timepix3 detector was used in both standard and customized configurations. In the standard configuration (Ikrum = 5), the detector showed saturation at DR∼5 Gy/s. But, in the customized configuration when the per-pixel discharging signal (called “Ikrum”) was increased (Ikrum = 80), the detector demonstrated enhanced performance by reducing the duration of the ToT signal, allowing beam spot imaging up to DR=∼28 Gy/s in the plateau region of the Bragg curve. For such DR or higher, the frame acquisition time was reduced to the order of microseconds, meaning only a fraction of the pulse (with pulse lengths on the order of milliseconds) was captured.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberC04030
JournalJournal of instrumentation
Volume20
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Accelerator Applications, Instrumentation for particle-beam therapy