• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.226-232
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• 2007

We studied a Monte Carlo simulation of the proton beam delivery system at the National Cancer Center (NCC) using the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit and tested its feasibility as a dose verification framework. The Monte Carlo technique for dose calculation methodology has been recognized as the most accurate way for understanding the dose distribution in given materials. In order to take advantage of this methodology for application to external-beam radiotherapy, a precise modeling of the nozzle elements along with the beam delivery path and correct initial beam characteristics are mandatory. Among three different treatment modes, double/single-scattering, uniform scanning and pencil beam scanning, we have modeled and simulated the double-scattering mode for the nozzle elements, including all components and varying the time and space with the Geant4.8.2 Monte Carlo code. We have obtained simulation data that showed an excellent correlation to the measured dose distributions at a specific treatment depth. We successfully set up the Monte Carlo simulation platform for the NCC proton therapy facility. It can be adapted to the precise dosimetry for therapeutic proton beam use at the NCC. Additional Monte Carlo work for the full proton beam energy range can be performed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2008

The main benefit of proton therapy over photon beam radiotherapy is the absence of exit dose, which offers the opportunity for highly conformal dose distributions to target volume while simultaneously irradiating less normal tissue. For proton beam therapy two patient specific beam modifying devices are used. The aperture is used to shape the transverse extension of the proton beam to the shape of the tumor target and a patient-specific compensator attached to the block aperture when required and used to modify the beam range as required by the treatment plan for the patient. A block of range shifting material, shaped on one face in such a way that the distal end of the proton field in the patient takes the shape of the distal end of the target volume. The mechanical quality assurance of range compensator is an essential procedure to confirm the 3 dimensional patient-specific dose distributions. We proposed a new quality assurance method for range compensator based on image processing using X-ray tube of proton therapy treatment room. The depth information, boundaries of each depth of plan compensatorfile and x-ray image of compensator were analyzed and presented over 80% matching results with proposed QA program.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.3422-3428
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• 2022

The prompt gamma imaging (PGI) technique is considered as one of the most promising approaches to estimate the range of proton beam in the patient and unlock the full potential of proton therapy. In the PGI technique, a dedicated algorithm is required to estimate the range of the proton beam from the prompt gamma (PG) distribution acquired by a PGI system. In the present study, a new range estimation algorithm was developed for a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera, one of PGI systems, to estimate the range of proton beam with high accuracy. The performance of the developed algorithm was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations for various beam/phantom combinations. Our results generally show that the developed algorithm is very robust, showing very high accuracy and precision for all the cases considered in the present study. The range estimation accuracy of the developed algorithm was 0.5-1.7 mm, which is approximately 1% of beam range, for 1×10⁹ protons. Even for the typical number of protons for a spot (1×10⁸), the range estimation accuracy of the developed algorithm was 2.1-4.6 mm and smaller than the range uncertainties and typical safety margin, while that of the existing algorithm was 2.5-9.6 mm.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.433-446
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• 2005

The development of accelerator science and technology has been accommodating ever increasing demand from scientific community of the beam energy and intensity of proton beams. The use of high-powered proton beams has extended from the traditional application of nuclear and high-energy physics to other applications, including spallation neutron source replacing nuclear reactor, nuclear actinide transmutation, energy amplification reactors. This article attempts to review development of proton accelerator, both linear and circular, and issues related to the proton beam energy, intensity as well as its output power. For related accelerator physics and technical review, one should refer to the recent article in the Reviews of Modem Physics [1]

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2010

For decades, traditional mutation breeding technologies using spontaneous mutation, chemicals, or conventional radiation sources have contributed greatly to the improvement of crops and microorganisms of agricultural and industrial importance. However, new mutagens that can generate more diverse mutation spectra with minimal damage to the original organism are always in need. In this regard, ion beam irradiation, including proton-, helium-, and heavier-charged particle irradiation, is considered to be superior to traditional radiation mutagenesis. In particular, it has been suggested that ion beams predominantly produce strand breaks that often lead to mutations, which is not a situation frequently observed in mutagenesis induced by gamma-ray exposure. In this review, we briefly describe the general principles and history of particle accelerators, and then introduce their successful application in ion beam technology for the improvement of crops and microbes. In particular, a 100-MeV proton beam accelerator currently under construction by the Proton Engineering Frontier Project (PEFP) is discussed. The PEFP accelerator will hopefully prompt the utilization of ion beam technology for strain improvement, as well as for use in nuclear physics, medical science, biology, space technology, radiation technology and basic sciences.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2013

Purpose: To verify accuracy of respiratory gated proton therapy by measuring and analyzing proton beam delivered when respiratory gated proton therapy is being performed in our institute. Materials and Methods: The plan data of 3 patients who took respiratory gated proton therapy were used to deliver proton beam from proton therapy system. The manufactured moving phantom was used to apply respiratory gating system to reproduce proton beam which was partially irradiated. The key characteristics of proton beam, range, spreat-out Bragg peak (SOBP) and output factor were measured 5 times and the same categories were measured in the continuous proton beam which was not performed with respiratory gating system. Multi-layer ionization chamber was used to measure range and SOBP, and Scanditronix Wellhofer and farmer chamber was used to measure output factor. Results: The average ranges of 3 patients (A, B, C), who had taken respiratory gated proton therapy or not, were (A) 7.226, 7.230, (B) 12.216, 12.220 and (C) 19.918, 19.920 $g/cm^2$ and average SOBP were (A) 4.950, 4.940, (B) 6.496, 6.512 and (C) 8.486, 8.490 $g/cm^2$. And average output factor were (A) 0.985, 0.984 (B) 1.026, 1.027 and (C) 1.138, 1.136 cGy/MU. The differences of average range were -0.004, -0.004, -0.002 $g/cm^2$, that of SOBP were 0.010, -0.016, -0.004 $g/cm^2$ and that of output factor were 0.001, -0.001, 0.002 cGy/MU. Conclusion: It is observed that the range, SOBP and output factor of proton beam delivered when respiratory gated proton therapy is being performed have the same beam quality with no significant difference compared to the proton beam which was continuously irradiated. Therefore, this study verified the quality of proton beam delivered when respiratory gated proton therapy and confirmed the accuracy of proton therapy using this.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2064-2071
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• 2020

For proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) technology, the accuracy of the dose distribution in a patient is sensitive to the properties of the incident beam. However, mechanical deformation of the proton therapy facility may occur, and this could be an important factor affecting the proton dose distribution in patients. In this paper, we investigated the effect of deformation on an SC200 proton facility's beam isocenter properties. First, mechanical deformation of the PBS nozzle, L-shape plate, and gantry were simulated using a Finite Element code, ANSYS. Then, the impact of the mechanical deformation on the beam's isocenter properties was evaluated using empirical formulas. In addition, we considered the simplest case that could affect the properties of the incident beam (i.e. if only the bending magnet (BG3) has an error in its mounting alignment), and the effect of the beam optics offset on the isocenter characteristics was evaluated. The results showed that the deformation of the beam position in the X and Y direction was less than 0.27 mm, which meets the structural design requirements. Compared to the mechanical deformation of the L-shape plate, the deformation of the gantry had more influence on the beam's isocenter properties. When the error in the mounting alignment of the BG3 is equal to or more than 0.3 mm, the beam deformation at the isocenter exceeds the maximum accepted deformation limits. Generally speaking, for the current design of the SC200 scanning beam delivery system, the effects of mechanical deformation meet the maximum accepted beam deformation limits. In order to further study the effect of the incident beam optics on the isocenter properties, a fine-scale Monte Carlo model including factors relating to the PBS nozzle and the BG3 should be developed in future research.

• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Carbon micropatterns (CMs) were fabricated from a negative-type SU-8 photoresist by proton ion beam lithography and pyrolysis. Well-defined negative-type SU-8 micropatterns were formed by proton ion beam lithography at the optimized fluence of $1{\times}10^{15}ions\;cm^{-2}$ and then pyrolyzed to form CMs. The crosslinked network structures formed by proton irradiation were converted to pseudo-graphitic structures by pyrolysis. The fabricated CMs showed a good electrical conductivity of $1.58{\times}10^2S\;cm^{-1}$ and a very low surface roughness.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.250-254
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• 2011

The study was carried out to evaluate the affect of proton beam radiation on production of bulbil and tuber including change of endogenous gibberellins, of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. The yield of bulbils and tubers from non- and irradiated D. opposita Thunb at doses of 5, 10, 15 and 20 Gy were determined. Endogenous gibberellins were also quantified by GC/MS analysis. D. opposita tubers irradiated at 15 Gy produced higher bulbil production than non-irradiated plants. Enlarged bulbil (above size diameter 4 mm) was significantly increased at 15 Gy. Bioactive endogenous $GA_4$ was dominant in bulbils and tubers irradiated with proton beam rather than $GA_1$. Major gibberellins biosynthetic pathways in bulbils and tubers of D. opposita plants were non C-13 hydroxylation route. From the results of this study, 15 Gy proton beam radiation was suggested as an optimal dose that can produce high amounts of bulbil for mass production of D. opposita plant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.180-182
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• 2002

A Proton Therapy Center was established this year in National Cancer Center, Korea. We chose IBA of Belgium as the vendor of the equipment package. A 230 MeV fixed-energy cyclotron will deliver proton beams into two gantry rooms, one horizontal beam room, and one experimental station. The building for the equipment is currently under design with a special emphasis on radiation shielding. Installation of equipments is expected to begin in September next year starting with the first gantry, and the acceptance test will be performed about a year later. To generate therapeutic radiation fields the wobbling method will be a main treatment mode for the first gantry. A pencil beam scanning system on the other hand will be equipped for the second gantry relying on the availability at the time of installation. The beam scanning with intensity modulation adapted will be a most advanced form in radiation therapy known as IMPT. Some details on the project progress, scope of the system, and design of building are described.