Sci-Thurs PM: Delivery-08: Investigation of the source of RF noise from a modulator for an MR-linac project

The next significant step in the advancement of IGRT is the integration of an MRI with a linac. The MRI-linac will provide images with exquisite soft tissue contrast in real-time during treatment. A possible problem associated with the proposed integration is the RF noise generated by the linac. This noise could interfere with the received signals of the MRI producing deleterious effects in the image quality. The work herein is concerned with understanding the processes involved in the RF noise production and the magnitude and frequency of this RF noise in the modulator of a linac.

A software programming environment, MultiSIM, was used to model the electronic components of a modulator. Several Current and Voltage waveforms from the modulator were measured with an oscilloscope and compared with the corresponding results from the modulator model for validation. Finally, RF noise generated by the modulator was measured using field probes, which permits the frequency components of the measured and simulated modulator waveforms to be compared with the measured RF noise.

The modeled PFN charging current and voltage, and klystron current show good agreement with measurements, with the exception of the tail of the klystron voltage signal. Once the model has been validated in both the time and frequency domains, future work will entail predicting pulse shape changes when, and if, modifications to the modulator are made. Specifically, modifications will be made which shift and/or reduce the RF noise in the frequency range of interest for a 0.2T MRI.