Perspectives in linear accelerator for FLASH VHEE: Study of a compact C-band system

L Faillace; D Alesini; G Bisogni; F Bosco; M Carillo; P Cirrone; G Cuttone; D De Arcangelis; A De Gregorio; F Di Martino; V Favaudon; L Ficcadenti; D Francescone; G Franciosini; A Gallo; S Heinrich; M Migliorati; A Mostacci; L Palumbo; V Patera; A Patriarca; J Pensavalle; F Perondi; R Remetti; A Sarti; B Spataro; G Torrisi; A Vannozzi; L Giuliano

doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2022.10.018

Perspectives in linear accelerator for FLASH VHEE: Study of a compact C-band system

Phys Med. 2022 Dec:104:149-159. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2022.10.018. Epub 2022 Nov 23.

Authors

L Faillace¹, D Alesini², G Bisogni³, F Bosco⁴, M Carillo⁴, P Cirrone⁵, G Cuttone⁵, D De Arcangelis⁴, A De Gregorio⁶, F Di Martino⁷, V Favaudon⁸, L Ficcadenti⁴, D Francescone⁴, G Franciosini⁶, A Gallo², S Heinrich⁸, M Migliorati⁴, A Mostacci⁴, L Palumbo⁴, V Patera⁴, A Patriarca⁹, J Pensavalle³, F Perondi¹⁰, R Remetti¹⁰, A Sarti⁴, B Spataro², G Torrisi⁵, A Vannozzi², L Giuliano⁴

Affiliations

¹ INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.faillace@lnf.infn.it.
² INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Italy.
³ INFN Sezione di Pisa, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
⁴ SBAI Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; INFN Sezione di Roma, Italy.
⁵ INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania, Italy.
⁶ INFN Sezione di Roma, Italy; Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy.
⁷ U.O. Fisica Sanitaria, Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
⁸ Institut Curie, Paris-Saclay University, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021/UMR3347, Orsay, France.
⁹ Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Proton Therapy Centre, Centre Universitaire, Orsay, France.
¹⁰ SBAI Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

PMID: 36427487
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2022.10.018

Abstract

Purpose: In order to translate the FLASH effect in clinical use and to treat deep tumors, Very High Electron Energy irradiations could represent a valid technique. Here, we address the main issues in the design of a VHEE FLASH machine. We present preliminary results for a compact C-band system aiming to reach a high accelerating gradient and high current necessary to deliver a Ultra High Dose Rate with a beam pulse duration of 3μs.

Methods: The proposed system is composed by low energy high current injector linac followed by a high acceleration gradient structure able to reach 60-160 MeV energy range. To obtain the maximum energy, an energy pulse compressor options is considered. CST code was used to define the specifications RF parameters of the linac. To optimize the accelerated current and therefore the delivered dose, beam dynamics simulations was performed using TSTEP and ASTRA codes.

Results: The VHEE parameters Linac suitable to satisfy FLASH criteria were simulated. Preliminary results allow to obtain a maximum energy of 160 MeV, with a peak current of 200 mA, which corresponds to a charge of 600 nC.

Conclusions: A promising preliminary design of VHEE linac for FLASH RT has been performed. Supplementary studies are on going to complete the characterization of the machine and to manufacture and test the RF prototypes.

Keywords: Dosimetry; FLASH effect; High electron-beam current linear accelerators; Radioprotection; Very-high electron energy beams for radiotherapy.

MeSH terms

Particle Accelerators*