Fast silicon detectors as proton therapy beam monitors

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Particle Detectors
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Proton therapy requires precise beam monitoring for accurate dose delivery.
• Fast silicon sensors like LGADs are being explored for advanced diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of LGADs for high-resolution proton beam monitoring.
• To assess the suitability of LGADs in the context of proton therapy beam diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from LGADs exposed to a 60 MeV proton beam.
• Utilizing the AIC-144 cyclotron for controlled proton beam experiments.

Main Results:

• Observed novel features in the pulse structure of the cyclotron.
• Achieved accurate flux measurements up to an instantaneous dose rate of 7.5 Gy/s.
• Identified efficiency loss at higher dose rates due to multiple proton events.

Conclusions:

• LGADs demonstrate potential as a viable diagnostic tool for proton therapy.
• Sensor and electronics redesign may overcome limitations at high dose rates.