Characterization of a Modified Clinical Linear Accelerator for Ultra-High Dose Rate Beam Delivery
Source abstract
Abstract
Irradiations at Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) regimes, exceeding 40 Gy/s in single fractions lasting less than 200 ms, have shown an equivalent antitumor effect compared to conventional radiotherapy with reduced harm to normal tissues. This work details the hardware and software modifications implemented to deliver 10 MeV UHDR electron beams with a linear accelerator Elekta SL 18 MV and the beam characteristics obtained. GafChromic EBT XD films and an Advanced Markus chamber were used for dosimetry characterization, while a silicon sensor assessed the machine’s beam pulses stability and repeatability. The dose per pulse, average dose rate and instantaneous dose rate in the pulse were evaluated for four experimental settings, varying the source-to-surface distance and the beam collimation, i.e., with and without the use of a cylindrical applicator. The results showed a dose per pulse from 0.6 Gy to a few tens of Gy and an average dose rate up to 300 Gy/s. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility to perform in vitro radiobiology experiments and test new technologies for beam monitoring and dosimetry at the upgraded LINAC, thus contributing to the electron UHDR research field.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry · Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques · Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Physics, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Section of Turin, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), 10125 Turin, Italy
Elekta S.p.A., 20864 Agrate Brianza, Italy
Center for Sensors and Devices, Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), 38122 Trento, Italy
Department of Exact and Technological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, Brazil
Funding
National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) · National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), CSN5 Call 2021, project “FRIDA” · Compagnia di San Paolo · CRT Foundationgrant
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