H. Leeb Sept 7/8, 2007 1Workshop on European Small-Scale AcceleratorFacilities, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete PROPOSED PHYSICS PROGRAMME AT THE PLANNED MedAustron

H. LeebSept 7/8, 2007 1Workshop on European Small-Scale AcceleratorFacilities, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete

PROPOSED PHYSICS PROGRAMME AT PROPOSED PHYSICS PROGRAMME AT THE PLANNED MedAustron FACILITYTHE PLANNED MedAustron FACILITY

H. Leeb and G. BadurekAtomic Institute of the Austrian Universities


The Project MedAustronCancer is the 2nd important cause for death in EuropeIn Austria 36.000 new cases per year

18% of the primary tumors cannot be destroyed at the place of its originalthough no metastases have been formed

There is justified hope that most of these can be successfully destroyedby ion therapy

MedAustron is an Austrianinitiative for a facility for hadron therapy

55% not healed 45% healed

surgery

surgery andradiation therapy

chemotherapy

radiation therapy

primary tumor

metastases


Characteristics of the FacilityThe design project foresees irradiations with a proton and a carbon-ion beam. The accelerator is not fixed yet, but the design parameters are:

proton beam 120-400(800) MeV 1x1010s-1

carbon-ion beam 120-400 MeV 4x108s-1

The beam spot is about 1-4 mm2 andallows to scan the tumor in size anddepths. The latter is controlled via varying the energy of the beam.


Non-clinical Programme

1. radiation biology 2. pre-clinical research 3. physics research

Besides the use for cancer therapy, the accelerator facility will also serve for non-clinical research. The following research topics are envisaged at MedAustron

•Particle & High energy physics (Test of Detectors)•Nuclear physics•Atomic physics•Materials science•Dosimetry (cosmic & terrestrial)•others …

These non-clinical research activities will only take place during night time and holidays


120 – 800 MeV

Current layout of the MedAustron Facility

B?

A

10 m


N = f Ip σL0dM

N reactions/sf pulse frequency ( 1 Hz)Ip particles/pulse specific mass densityM mol massσ cross sectionL0 Loschmidt numberd target thickness

N = 6.0×105 σdA ProtonsProtons

N = 2.4×104 σd A 1212C-ionsC-ions

mbarn

atomic mass number

g cm-3

Nuclear Physics ExperimentsNuclear Physics ExperimentsAssessment of feasibility with MedAustron beam parameters

p incident flux


European Accelerators for Nuclear PhysicsEuropean Accelerators for Nuclear Physics

The incident particle flux of most European accelerators dedicated for nuclear physics is 2-3 oders of magnitude higher than the expected flux at MedAutron !

Currently a further increase of flux of stable

isotope ions by 2 orders of magnitude is under

discussion !


Expected integral reaction rate

A= 100 =10 g cm-3

p = 1010 s-1 (1H+) & 4×108 s-1 (12C6+)

1%1% statistical accuracystatistical accuracy

170 s 4250 s(71 min)

d = 1 m

ProtonsProtons 1212C-ionsC-ions


Typical setup for the measurment of angle-differential cross-sections

C = N w2

16 D2Count rate:

width of detector entrance window

target-detectordistance


Differential cross-sectionDifferential cross-sectionmeasurementsmeasurements

C = 21 s-1

Assumptionw = 10 mmD = 150 mmIp = 1010 s-1

σ= 10-1 barnd = 0.1 mA = 100 = 10 g cm-3

Measurement time for1% accuracy

8 min

ProtonsProtons

200 min

1212C-ionsC-ions


Nuclear physics Nuclear physics standardstandard experiments experiments

are are in principle feasiblein principle feasible at at MedAustron !MedAustron !

Systematic study of nuclear radii by elastic proton scattering...


Atomic Collision Processes Atomic Collision Processes with MedAustron Particle Beamswith MedAustron Particle Beams

400 MeV/u 12C6+: =1,4 → ~0,70 → v ~ 2,1×108 m/s

Atomic collision range 1 nm = 10-9 m

A possible approach to attosecond-physics ?A possible approach to attosecond-physics ?

Collision time Collision time 5 5×10×10-18-18 s s


GSI-UNILAC

15,5 MeV/u(3x1011 p/s)U75+ → Ar

ArArq+q+- recoil ions- recoil ions

Reco

il-Rate

Rec

oil

-En

erg

y/eV


Electron yields at collisions

of highly charged ions (HCI) with

surfaces


Materials Research with MedAustron Materials Research with MedAustron

single ionrandom ordered

microprobe microprobe

E.g. irradiation of various materials (e.g. polymeres) with MeV Carbon ions to produce nano-capillaries

Possible applications:Possible applications:

• Single nanopore membranes (biosensors)

• Templates to produce free standing

metal needles or carbon nanotubes etc.


Heavy Ion Heavy Ion MicroprobeMicroprobe

magneticlens

beamdeflection

targetdetector

apertureslits

objectslits

beamswitch

electronics

computer+

ions

50µm


Ionization density dependence of high-temperature ratio and relative thermoluminescent efficiency

[Adapted from M. Hajek et al., Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 120, 446 (2006)]

Simulating major aspects of galactic and solar radiation climate

→ 4He, 12C, 16O, 56Fe ion beams of a few hundred MeV/u

Characterization of detector response to heavy charged particles

→ Dose verification and radiation transport models for interplanetary space exploration

Improved dosimetric methodology for terrestrial applications

→ Aircrew dosimetry, medical dosimetry,

Cosmic Radiation EnvironmentCosmic Radiation Environment


Charge state configuration in TL phosphor after absorption of ionizing radiation

[Adapted from Y. S. Horowitz et al., Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 119, 45 (2006)]

Modelling of luminescence mechanisms

→ Charge state configuration after absorption of high-LET ionizing radiation

Ionization density dependence of radiobiological endpoints (DNA strand breaks, apoptosis, …)

→ Pathways of bystander signal transduction between neighbouring cells

Correlation of heavy ion-induced physical and radiobiological parameters

→ Quasi-biological nanodosimetry

Ce e

h

C

C

C

C

C C

RR

h

TL emiss

ion

TL emission

Hole trap

Electron trap

Recombination centre

Competitor

Solid-State NanodosimetrySolid-State Nanodosimetry


ConclusionsConclusions

•MedAustron can become a homebase for preparation of experiments at international research facilities

•MedAustron can provide a useful training ground for young scientists with up-to-date tools

•MedAustron may serve for exploration and testing of new ideas and methods

•MedAustron may serve to run routine experiments yielding important data in fields in which no beam time at dedicated large research facilities can be allocated.


For a viable longlasting developmentformal cooperation agreements withpartner laboratories are essential !

Documents

H. Leeb Sept 7/8, 2007 1Workshop on European Small-Scale AcceleratorFacilities, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete PROPOSED PHYSICS PROGRAMME AT THE PLANNED MedAustron