CHARACTERIZATION OF 27 MEV PROTON BEAM GENERATED BY TOP-IMPLART LINEAR ACCELERATOR

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Particle Accelerator Technology
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Development of advanced particle accelerators is crucial for precise cancer treatment.
• Proton therapy offers advantages over traditional radiation due to its Bragg peak phenomenon.
• The TOP-IMPLART project aims to create a cutting-edge proton therapy system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the beam properties of a new proton linear accelerator for tumor therapy.
• To assess beam homogeneity and reproducibility at energies relevant for radiobiological studies.
• To validate the performance of the actively scanned beam system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2D ionization chamber, EBT3 films, silicon diodes, MOSFETs, LiF crystals, and alanine dosimetry.
• Conducted measurements at approximately 1 meter from the beam line exit window.
• Evaluated beam characteristics up to a maximum energy of 24.1 MeV.

Main Results:

• Achieved beam reproducibility within 5%.
• Demonstrated beam homogeneity within 4% over a 16 mm diameter circular area.
• Confirmed suitability of the beam energy (up to 24.1 MeV) for radiobiological research.

Conclusions:

• The developed proton linear accelerator shows promising beam characteristics for clinical applications.
• The system's homogeneity and reproducibility meet essential criteria for effective proton therapy.
• Further development will focus on reaching the full 150 MeV energy target for advanced tumor treatments.