Plastic scintillator-based dosimeters for ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) electron radiotherapy

• Published in: Physica medica Vol. 121; p. 103360
• Main Authors: Ciarrocchi, E., Ravera, E., Cavalieri, A., Celentano, M., Del Sarto, D., Di Martino, F., Linsalata, S., Massa, M., Masturzo, L., Moggi, A., Morrocchi, M., Pensavalle, J.H., Bisogni, M.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Dosimetry; Flash radiotherapy; Optical imaging; Plastic scintillating fiber; Ultra-high dose rate irradiation; Plastic scintillating fiber; Optical imaging; Flash radiotherapy; Dosimetry; Ultra-high dose rate irradiation
• ISSN: 1120-1797; 1724-191X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2024.103360

This paper reports the development of dosimeters based on plastic scintillating fibers imaged by a charge-coupled device camera, and their performance evaluation through irradiations with the electron Flash research accelerator located at the Centro Pisano Flash Radiotherapy. The dosimeter prototypes were composed of a piece of plastic scintillating fiber optically coupled to a clear optical fiber which transported the scintillation signal to the readout systems (an imaging system and a photodiode). The following properties were tested: linearity, capability to reconstruct the percentage depth dose curve in solid water and to sample in time the single beam pulse. The stem effect contribution was evaluated with three methods, and a proof-of-concept one-dimensional array was developed and tested for online beam profiling. Results show linearity up to 10 Gy per pulse, and good capability to reconstruct both the timing and spatial profiles of the beam, thus suggesting that plastic scintillating fibers may be good candidates for low-energy electron Flash dosimetry. •Flash radiotherapy may be groundbreaking for improving cancer treatment.•Conventional dosimeters do not function properly in the Flash regime.•Dosimeters based on plastic scintillating fibers were developed and characterized.•No quenching or energy dependence was observed in the Flash regime.•The beam time structure could be properly sampled.