Novel Bragg peak characterization method using proton flux measurements on plastic scintillators

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Particle Therapy

Background:

• Bragg peak measurements are vital for proton therapy beam quality assurance.
• Accurate proton range data is essential for treatment planning software.
• Scintillator detectors face challenges with quenching in high ionization regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protocol for reconstructing Pristine Bragg Peaks.
• To correlate particle flux with deposited dose for accurate range determination.
• To address the quenching issue in plastic scintillator detectors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized proton flux measurements from HollandPTC and FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations.
• Developed a PMMA phantom with a moveable stepper for depth variation.
• Multiplied measured particle flux by simulated average dose at each position.

Main Results:

• Successfully reconstructed the Pristine Bragg Peak.
• Achieved an accuracy of approximately 470 µm, meeting AAPM tolerances.
• Overcame scintillator quenching in high ionization density regions.

Conclusions:

• The developed protocol enables accurate Pristine Bragg Peak reconstruction.
• This method enhances the reliability of proton range data in therapy.
• The protocol offers a solution for scintillator limitations in quality assurance.