• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2022

In proton therapy, a highly conformal proton dose can be delivered to the tumor by means of the steep distal dose penumbra at the end of the beam range. The proton beam range, however, is highly sensitive to range uncertainty, which makes accurately locating the proton range in the patient difficult. In-vivo range verification is a method to manage range uncertainty, one of the promising techniques being prompt gamma imaging (PGI). In earlier studies, we proposed gamma electron vertex imaging (GEVI), and constructed a proof-of-principle system. The system successfully demonstrated the GEVI imaging principle for therapeutic proton pencil beams without scanning, but showed some limitations under clinical conditions, particularly for pencil beam scanning proton therapy. In the present study, we upgraded the GEVI system in several aspects and tested the performance improvements such as for range-shift verification in the context of line scanning proton treatment. Specifically, the system showed better performance in obtaining accurate prompt gamma (PG) distributions in the clinical environment. Furthermore, high shift-detection sensitivity and accuracy were shown under various range-shift conditions using line scanning proton beams.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.533-538
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• 2019

The mechanical-collimation imaging is the most mature technology in prompt gamma (PG) imaging which is considered the most promising technology for beam range verification in proton therapy. The purpose of the present study is to compare the performances of two mechanical-collimation PG cameras, knife-edge (KE) camera and multi-slit (MS) camera. For this, the PG cameras were modeled by Geant4 Monte Carlo code, and the performances of the cameras were compared for imaginary point and line sources and for proton beams incident on a cylindrical PMMA phantom. From the simulation results, the KE camera was found to show higher counting efficiency than the MS camera, being able to estimate the beam range even for $10^7$ protons. Our results, however, confirmed that in order to estimate the beam range correctly, the KE camera should be aligned, at least approximately, to the location of the proton beam range. The MS camera was found to show lower efficiency, being able to estimate the beam range correctly only when the number of the protons is at least $10^8$. For enough number of protons, however, the MS camera estimated the beam range correctly, errors being less than 1.2 mm, regardless of the location of the camera.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.2213-2220
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• 2022

The maximum dose delivery at the end of the beam range provides the main advantage of using proton therapy. The range of the proton beam, however, is subject to uncertainties, which limit the clinical benefits of proton therapy and, therefore, accurate in vivo verification of the beam range is desirable. For the beam range verification in spot scanning proton therapy, a prompt gamma detection system, called as gamma electron vertex imaging (GEVI) system, is under development and, in the present study, the performance of the GEVI system in spot scanning proton therapy was predicted with Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations in terms of shift detection sensitivity, accuracy and precision. The simulation results indicated that the GEVI system can detect the interfractional range shifts down to 1 mm shift for the cases considered in the present study. The results also showed that both the evaluated accuracy and precision were less than 1-2 mm, except for the scenarios where we consider all spots in the energy layer for a local shifting. It was very encouraging results that the accuracy and precision satisfied the smallest distal safety margin of the investigated beam energy (i.e., 4.88 mm for 134.9 MeV).

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Background: To monitor proton beam in proton therapy, prompt gamma imaging systems are being developed by several research groups, and these systems are expected to improve the quality of the treatment and the patient safety. To apply the prompt gamma imaging systems into spot scanning proton therapy, the systems should be able to monitor the proton beam range of a spot with a small number of protons ( <$10^8$ protons), which is quite often not the case due to insufficient prompt gamma statistics. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we propose to improve prompt gamma statistics by merging the prompt gamma distributions of several individual spots into a new distribution. This proposal was tested by Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations for a multi-slit prompt gamma camera which has been developed to measure the proton beam range in the patient. Results and Discussion: The results show that the proposed method clearly enhance the statistical precision of beam range measurement. The accuracy of beam range verification is improved, within ~1.4 mm error, which is not achievable before applying the developed method. Conclusion: In this study, we tried to improve the statistics of the prompt gamma statistics by merging the prompt gamma distributions of multiple spots, and it was found that the merged distribution provided sufficient prompt gamma statistics and the proton beam range was determined accurately.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권10호
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• pp.3700-3708
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• 2023

The stochastic origin ensembles method with resolution recovery (SOE-RR) has been proposed to reconstruct proton-induced prompt gammas (PGs), and the reconstructed PG image was used for range verification. However, due to low detection efficiency, the number of valid events is low. Such a low-count condition can degrade the accuracy of the SOE-RR method for proton range verification. In this study, we proposed two strategies to improve the reconstruction of the SOE-RR algorithm for low-count PG imaging. We also studied the number of iterations and repetitions required to achieve reliable range verification. We simulated a proton beam (10⁸ protons) irradiated on a water phantom and used a two-layer Compton camera to detect 4.44-MeV PGs. Our simulated results show that combining the SOE-RR algorithm with restricted volume (SOE-RR-RV) can reduce the error of the estimation of the Bragg peak position from 5.0 mm to 2.5 mm. We also found that the SOE-RR-RV algorithm initialized using a back-projection image could improve the convergence rate while maintaining accurate range verification. Finally, we observed that the improved SOE-RR algorithm set for 60,000 iterations and 25 repetitions could provide reliable PG images. Based on the proposed reconstruction strategies, the SOE-RR algorithm has the potential to achieve a positioning error of 2.5 mm for low-count PG imaging.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권9호
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• pp.3140-3149
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• 2023

In theory, the sharp dose falloff at the distal end of a proton beam allows for high conformal dose to the target. However, conformity has not been fully achieved in practice, primarily due to beam range uncertainty, which is approximately 4% and varies slightly across institutions. To address this issue, we developed a new range verification system prototype: a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera (MSPGC). This system features high prompt-gamma detection sensitivity, an advanced range estimation algorithm, and a precise camera positioning system. We evaluated the range measurement precision of the prototype for single spot beams with varying energies, proton quantities, and positions, as well as for spot-scanning proton beams in a simulated SSPT treatment using a phantom. Our results demonstrated high accuracy (<0.4 mm) in range measurement for the tested beam energies and positions. Measurement precision increased significantly with the number of protons, achieving 1% precision with 5 × 10⁸ protons. For spot-scanning proton beams, the prototype ensured more than 5 × 10⁸ protons per spot with a 7 mm or larger spot aggregation, achieving 1% range measurement precision. Based on these findings, we anticipate that the clinical application of the new prototype will reduce range uncertainty (currently approximately 4%) to 1% or less.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.50-57
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• 1990

A new technique for the measurement of surface roughness based on the intensity fluctuations of laser light backscattered from a moving surface has been introduced. This paper reports a method of measuring surface roughness using coherent optics and interferometry. Included are both the theory of the technique and experimental verification. The range of surface roughness which can be accurately measured by this method is also reported.

• 대한방사선치료학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2013

목 적: 호흡동조 시스템을 이용한 양성자치료 시 생성되는 양성자빔을 측정하고 분석함으로써 호흡동조 양성자치료의 정확성을 검증하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 호흡동조 양성자치료를 실시한 환자 세 명의 치료계획을 이용하여 양성자 치료 시스템에서 양성자빔을 생성했다. 이때 자체 제작한 구동 팬톰을 사용하여 호흡동조 시스템을 적용해 분할 조사되는 양성자빔을 재현하였다. 양성자빔의 중요특성인 Range, Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP), Output factor를 각 5회씩 측정하였으며 호흡동조 시스템을 적용하지 않은 연속 양성자빔에서도 동일한 항목들을 측정했다. Range와 SOBP 측정에는 Multi-Layer Ionization Chamber, Output factor 측정에는 Scanditronix Wellhofer와 Farmer chamber를 사용했다. 결 과: 호흡동조 시스템을 적용한 경우 세 환자의 평균 Range는 7.226, 12.216, 19.918 $g/cm^2$, SOBP는 4.950, 6.496, 8.486 $g/cm^2$, Output factor는 0.985, 1.026, 1.138 cGy/MU였으며, 적용하지 않은 경우 평균 Range는 7.230, 12.220, 19.920 $g/cm^2$, SOBP는 4.940, 6.512, 8.490 $g/cm^2$, Output factor는 0.984, 1.027, 1.136 cGy/MU로 측정됐다. 평균 Range의 차는 -0.004, -0.004, -0.002 $g/cm^2$, SOBP는 0.010, -0.016, -0.004 $g/cm^2$, Output factor는 0.001, -0.001, 0.002 cGy/MU로 나타났다. 결 론: 호흡동조 양성자치료 시 분할 조사된 양성자빔과 연속 조사된 양성자빔의 Range, SOBP 및 Output factor 모두 차이가 미미했다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 호흡동조 시 발생된 양성자빔의 선질을 검증하였고 이를 이용한 양성자치료의 정확성 또한 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국전자파학회논문지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.160-168
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• 2019

본 논문에서는 근전계 빔 집속(near-field beam focusing: NFBF) 시험을 활용한 평면위상배열레이다 시스템의 성능 검증 방안을 제시하고 결과의 유효성을 확인하였다. 제시한 시험 기법은 안테나 개구면 크기 두 배 거리의 근전계 영역에서 레이다 시스템을 검증하는 방안으로 야외가 아닌 전자파 무반향실 내에서 원전계 성능 시험과 동일하게 레이다 시스템을 검증할 수 있었다. 이를 위해 근전계 에너지를 사용한 빔 집속 시험의 시험 구성도 및 검증 절차에 대하여 기술하였다. 또한 빔 조향된 근전계 빔 집속 시험에 대한 수학적인 검증을 통해 개별채널의 추가적인 위상 보상값을 수치화하였다. 이론적인 검증에 기반하여 실제 근전계 빔 집속 시험을 수행하였고 이상적인 결과와의 비교를 통해 시험 방법의 유효성을 확인하였다.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한방사선방어학회 2011년도 추계 학술발표회 및 심포지엄
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• pp.120-121
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• 2011