Multidisciplinary irradiation beam lines The CATANA proton therapy line The “0 degree” line The CATANA proton therapy line The “0 degree” line LNS Users meeting, June 2011 G.A.P. Cirrone, INFN-LNS LNS Users meeting, June 2011 G.A.P. Cirrone, INFN-LNS

Outline Description of the two irradiation points Most common Users’ application Most common Users’ needs Most common Users’ problems Possible future improvements

The ‘CATANA’ beam line Mainly dedicated to proton irradiation Mainly dosimetric and radiobiology experiments In-air only Fast and easy positioning systems but.... Fixed elements limiting some applications Fluence not maximised Not point-like spot size The room need to return clean and (radiation) safe at the 6:00 a.m. of each day

The ‘0 degree’ room Proton, carbon and other beams Relative and absolute dosimetry Certified beam line for NASA experiment by the MAPRAD Group. Mainly dosimetric and radiobiology in-air irradiation but space to use vacuum chamber Fast and easy positioning systems Not particular constrain from fixed elements but.... Experiment MUST be carefully scheduled to ensure the quality of alignment and dosimetric systems One day of stop is, in fact, needed if alignment and dosimetric system are removed The NASA certification oblige us to minimise changes at the MAPRAD irradiation point

The Radiobiology laboratory Fully equipped with the basic system for a biological analysis Extractor fan Centrifuge Incubators Steriliser Microscope A limited set of chemicals can be also provided under direct request of the User Group Mainly dedicated to the external Users preparing the experiments Open to any LNS researcher

Experiment runs during 2010/2011 (approx. BTUs and a 6 months stop) Radiobiology 54 Detectors for absolute/relative dosimetry 13 Detectors for imaging 12 Implantation 8 MAPRAD 34 Test of nuclear physics detectors/damage 15 Test of new techniques for dating 5 Effects of radiation on biological systems 4 Around 51 Groups (cycling)

Most commons Users needs Dosimetry accuracy (in terms of Gray) assured only for proton and carbon beams Beams lateral homogeneity (of the order of 5% in 20 mm minimum) Fluence measurements We are working for but we have not still an absolute system Transmission chamber often used for relative measures Energy modulation of the beam to obtain more flat dose distribution A system to accurately position samples at a given depth Larger spaces for radiobiology and a free-room for experiments preparation Cabling connection outside/inside the exp. room (OK in CATANA, partially at the 0-degree)

Work in progress for future improvements Easy to use/mount system for the measure of the beam lateral distribution (only for the 0-degree room) Designed, realised, tested but not optimised Detector for the absolute measure of particle fluence (primary beam) and beam contamination (secondary produced in the beam transport elements) First tests of a fast plastic scintillator coupled with a two-stage in- air telescope. We agreed to decouple the beam line in two serial parts One for the experiments do not need particular alignment/collimation/dosimetric systems The other (to be maintained fixed) for the typical radio- biologic/dosimetric experiments New faster, programmable, computer-controlled device for samples irradiation

Beam spot size evaluation Plastic Scintillator Mirror CCD camera Plastic Scintillator Mirror CCD camera

Telescope detector for particle counting and secondaries detection Plastic Scintillator Si-Scintillator telescope Plastic Scintillator Si-Scintillator telescope

Transmission chamber for fluence evaluation and absolute dosimetry

Samples irradiation device: Precision (100 um), fast (interfaced with the beam control system) Samples irradiation device: Precision (100 um), fast (interfaced with the beam control system)

Beam in air Samples

Radiobiological side ‘general’ side free of any device

Funds we used for the latest improvements and regular maintenance The LNS Apparatus and maintenance of the radiobiology lab The “Users’ service” of LNS Gafchromic films for detectors centring and beam verifications Chemicals for radiobiology Maintenance and improvement of the two beam-lines Users’ contribute Chemicals not used Laboratory equipments One of the fridge One incubator Gafchromics, others Contribute to the sampler positioning system