arXiv subjects

Antonio M. Lallena

Publications and source records attributed to Antonio M. Lallena.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

On the improved performances of FLUKA v4-4.0 in out-of-field proton dosimetry

A new model for the nuclear elastic scattering of protons below 250 MeV has been recently included in FLUKA v4-4.0, motivated by the evaluation of radiation effects in electronics. Nonetheless, proton nuclear elastic scattering plays a significant role also in proton dosimetry applications, for which the new model necessitated an explicit validation. Therefore, in this work a benchmark has been carried out against a recent measurement of radial-depth maps of absorbed dose in a water phantom under irradiation with protons of 100 MeV, 160 MeV, and 225 MeV. Two FLUKA versions have been employed to simulate these dose maps: v4-3.4, relying on a legacy model for proton nuclear elastic scattering, and v4-4.0, relying on the new model. The enhanced agreement with experimental absorbed doses obtained with FLUKA v4-4.0 is discussed, and the role played by proton nuclear elastic scattering, among other interaction mechanisms, in various regions of the radial-depth dose map is elucidated. Finally, the benchmark reported in this work is sensitive enough to showcase the importance of accurately characterizing beam parameters and the scattering geometry for Monte Carlo simulation purposes.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2018

Impact of cardio-synchronous brain pulsations on Monte Carlo calculated doses for synchrotron micro- and mini-beam radiation therapy

Purpose: To assess the effects of brain movements induced by heartbeat on dose distributions in synchrotron micro- and mini-beam radiaton therapy and to develop a model to help guide decisions and planning for future clinical trials. Methods: The Monte Carlo code PENELOPE was used to simulate the irradiation of a human head phantom with a variety of micro- and mini-beam arrays, with beams narrower than 100mum and above 500mum, respectively, and with radiation fields of 1cmx2cm and 2cmx2cm. The dose in the phantom due to these beams was calculated by superposing the dose profiles obtained for a single beam of 1mumx2cm. A parameter delta, accounting for the total displacement of the brain during the irradiation and due to the cardio-synchronous pulsation, was used to quantify the impact on peak-to-valley dose ratios and the full-width at half-maximum. Results: The difference between the maximum (at the phantom entrance) and the minimum (at the phantom exit) values of the peak-to-valley dose ratio reduces when the parameter $δ$ increases. The full-width at half-maximum remains almost constant with depth for any $δ$ value. Sudden changes in the two quantities are observed at the interfaces between the various tissues (brain, skull and skin) present in the head phantom. The peak-to-valley dose ratio at the center of the head phantom reduces when delta increases, remaining above 70% of the static value only for mini-beams and delta smaller than ~200mum. Conclusions: Optimal setups for brain treatments with synchrotron radiation micro- and mini-beam combs depend on the brain displacement due to cardio-synchronous pulsation. Peak-to-valley dose ratios larger than 90% of the maximum values obtained in the static case occur only for mini-beams and relatively large dose rates.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2012

Tensor and tensor-isospin terms in the effective Gogny interaction

We discuss the need of including tensor terms in the effective Gogny interaction used in mean-field calculations. We show in one illustrative case that, with the usual tensor term that is employed in the Skyrme interaction (and that allows us to separate the like-nucleon and the neutron-proton tensor contributions), we can describe the evolution of the N=28 neutron gap in calcium isotopes. We propose to include a tensor and a tensor-isospin term in finite-range interactions of Gogny type. The parameters of the two tensor terms allow us to treat separately the like-nucleon and the neutron-proton contributions. Two parameterizations of the tensor terms have been chosen to reproduce different neutron single-particle properties in the 48Ca nucleus and the energy of the first 0- state in the 16O nucleus. By employing these two parameterizations we analyze the evolution of the N=14, 28, and 90 neutron energy gaps in oxygen, calcium and tin isotopes, respectively. We show that the combination of the parameters governing the like-nucleon contribution is crucial to correctly reproduce the experimental (where available) or shell-model trends for the evolution of the three neutron gaps under study.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2005

Effects of bone- and air-tissue inhomogeneities on the dose distributions of the Leksell Gamma Knife$^{\circledR}$ calculated with PENELOPE

Monte Carlo simulation with PENELOPE (v.~2003) is applied to calculate Leksell Gamma Knife$^{\circledR}$ dose distributions for heterogeneous phantoms. The usual spherical water phantom is modified with a spherical bone shell simulating the skull and an air-filled cube simulating the frontal or maxillary sinuses. Different simulations of the 201 source configuration of the Gamma Knife have been carried out with a simplified model of the geometry of the source channel of the Gamma Knife recently tested for both single source and multisource configurations. The dose distributions determined for heterogeneous phantoms including the bone- and/or air-tissue interfaces show non negligible differences with respect to those calculated for a homogeneous one, mainly when the Gamma Knife isocenter approaches the separation surfaces. Our findings confirm an important underdosage ($\sim$10%) nearby the air-tissue interface, in accordance with previous results obtained with PENELOPE code with a procedure different to ours. On the other hand, the presence of the spherical shell simulating the skull produces a few percent underdosage at the isocenter wherever it is situated.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2004

Photo-emission of two protons from nuclei

The photo-emission of two protons from the $^{12}$C, $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca nuclei is investigated. Aim of the work is the study of the possibilities offered by this probe to obtain information about the characteristics of the short-range correlations. We have also evaluated the effects of the two-body $Δ$-currents which, in this processes, compete with those produced by the short-range correlations. Our results show that ($γ$,pp) processes could be more useful than (e,e'pp) for the study of the short-range correlations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2004

Short-range nucleon-nucleon correlation effects in photon- and electron-nucleus reactions

The role played by nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations in photon- and electron-nucleus reactions is analyzed with a model which includes all the diagrams containing a single correlation function. The excitation of low-lying high-spin states, the reactions (e,e'), (e,e'N) and ($γ$,N) and the two-proton emission by both electrons and real photons are investigated. The results obtained for doubly-closed shell nuclei show that ($γ$,pp) appears to be the most adequate process to identify short-range correlations in the clearer way.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2004

A simplified model of the source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife$^(R)$: testing multisource configurations with PENELOPE

A simplification of the source channel geometry of the Leksell Gamma Knife$^{\circledR}$, recently proposed by the authors and checked for a single source configuration (Al-Dweri et al 2004), has been used to calculate the dose distributions along the $x$, $y$ and $z$ axes in a water phantom with a diameter of 160~mm, for different configurations of the Gamma Knife including 201, 150 and 102 unplugged sources. The code PENELOPE (v. 2001) has been used to perform the Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, the output factors for the 14, 8 and 4~mm helmets have been calculated. The results found for the dose profiles show a qualitatively good agreement with previous ones obtained with EGS4 and PENELOPE (v. 2000) codes and with the predictions of GammaPlan$^{\circledR}$. The output factors obtained with our model agree within the statistical uncertainties with those calculated with the same Monte Carlo codes and with those measured with different techniques. Owing to the accuracy of the results obtained and to the reduction in the computational time with respect to full geometry simulations (larger than a factor 15), this simplified model opens the possibility to use Monte Carlo tools for planning purposes in the Gamma Knife$^{\circledR}$.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2004

A simplified model of the source channel of the Leksell GammaKnife tested with PENELOPE

Monte Carlo simulations using the code PENELOPE have been performed to test a simplified model of the source channel geometry of the Leksell GammaKnife$^{\circledR}$. The characteristics of the radiation passing through the treatment helmets are analysed in detail. We have found that only primary particles emitted from the source with polar angles smaller than 3$^{\rm o}$ with respect to the beam axis are relevant for the dosimetry of the Gamma Knife. The photons trajectories reaching the output helmet collimators at $(x,y,z=236 {\rm mm})$, show strong correlations between $ρ=(x^2+y^2)^{1/2}$ and their polar angle $θ$, on one side, and between $\tan^{-1}(y/x)$ and their azimuthal angle $ϕ$, on the other. This enables us to propose a simplified model which treats the full source channel as a mathematical collimator. This simplified model produces doses in excellent agreement with those found for the full geometry. In the region of maximal dose, the relative differences between both calculations are within 3%, for the 18 and 14 mm helmets, and 10%, for the 8 and 4 mm ones. Besides, the simplified model permits a strong reduction (larger than a factor 15) in the computational time.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2003

Dosimetry characterization of $^{32}$P intravascular brachytherapy source wires using Monte Carlo codes PENELOPE and GEANT4

Monte Carlo calculations using the codes PENELOPE and GEANT4 have been performed to characterize the dosimetric parameters of the new 20 mm long catheter based $^{32}$P beta source manufactured by Guidant Corporation. The dose distribution along the transverse axis and the two dimensional dose rate table have been calculated. Also, the dose rate at the reference point, the radial dose function and the anisotropy function were evaluated according to the adapted TG-60 formalism for cylindrical sources. PENELOPE and GEANT4 codes were first verified against previous results corresponding to the old 27 mm Guidant $^{32}$P beta source. The dose rate at the reference point for the unsheathed 27 mm source in water was calculated to be $0.215 \pm 0.001$ cGy s$^{-1}$ mCi$^{-1}$, for PENELOPE, and $0.2312 \pm 0.0008$ cGy s$^{-1}$ mCi$^{-1}$, for GEANT4. For the unsheathed 20 mm source these values were $0.2908 \pm 0.0009$ cGy s$^{-1}$ mCi$^{-1}$ and $0.311 \pm 0.001$ cGy s$^{-1}$ mCi$^{-1}$, respectively. Also, a comparison with the limited data available on this new source is shown. We found non negligible differences between the results obtained with PENELOPE and GEANT4.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2003

Dosimetry for radiocolloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas

The dosimetry for radiocolloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas is investigated. Analytical calculations based on the Loevinger and the Berger formulae for electrons and photons, respectively, are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The role of the material of which the colloid introduced inside the craniopharyngioma is made of as well as that forming the cyst wall is analyzed. It is found that the analytical approaches provide a very good description of the simulated data in the conditions where they can be applied (i.e., in the case of a uniform and infinite homogeneous medium). However, the consideration of the different materials and interfaces produces a strong reduction of the dose delivered to the cyst wall in relation to that predicted by the Loevinger and the Berger formulae.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2003

Two Proton Emission with Electromagnetic Probes

A model to study two-proton emission from nuclei induced by electromagnetic probes is developed. The process is due to one-body electromagnetic operators, acting together with short-range correlations, and two-body $Δ$ currents. The model includes all the diagrams containing a single correlation function. The sensitivity of the cross section to the details of the correlation function is studied by using realistic and schematic correlations. Results for the $^{16}$O nucleus are presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2002

Two-proton emission induced by electron scattering

We present a model to describe the emission of two protons in electron scattering experiments. The process is induced by one-body electromagnetic operators acting together with short-range correlations, and by two-body Delta currents. The model includes all the diagrams containing a single correlation function. The sensitivity of the cross section to the details of the correlation function is studied by using realistic and schematic correlations. Results for the 16O nucleus are presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2002

A model for two-proton emission induced by electron scattering

A model to study two-proton emission processes induced by electron scattering is developed. The process is induced by one-body electromagnetic operators acting together with short-range correlations, and by two-body $Δ$ currents. The model includes all the diagrams containing a single correlation function. A test of the sensitivity of the model to the various theoretical inputs is done. An investigation of the relevance of the $Δ$ currents is done by changing the final state angular momentum, excitation energy and momentum transfer. The sensitivity of the cross section to the details of the correlation function is studied by using realistic and schematic correlations. Results for $^{12}$C, $^{16}$O and $^{40}$Ca nuclei are presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2000

Short-range correlations in low-lying nuclear excited states

The electromagnetic transitions to various low-lying excited states of 16O, 48Ca and 208Pb are calculated within a model which considers the short-range correlations. In general the effects of the correlations are small and do not explain the required quenching to describe the data.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2000

Correlated model for quasi-elastic responses in finite nuclear systems

A model to calculate nuclear responses considering short-range correlation effects is presented. The model is applied to the study of electromagnetic responses induced by one-body operators. We calculate one- and two-nucleon emission responses and cross sections of the 16O and 40Ca nuclei in the quasi-elastic region, and we compare them with experimental data.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2000

Spin-orbit interaction in Hartree-Fock calculations

The contribution of the spin-orbit interaction in Hartree-Fock calculations for closed shell nuclei is studied. We obtain explicit expressions for the finite range spin-orbit force. New terms with respect to the traditional spin-orbit expressions are found. The importance of the finite-range is analyzed. Results obtained with spin-orbit terms taken from realistic interactions are presented. The effect of the spin-orbit isospin dependent terms is evaluated.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1999

Quasielastic Electron Scattering from Nuclei: Random-Phase vs. Ring Approximations

We investigate the extent to which the nuclear transverse response to electron scattering in the quasielastic region, evaluated in the random-phase approximation can be described by ring approximation calculations. Different effective interactions based on a standard model of the type g'+V_pi+V_rho are employed. For each momentum transfer, we have obtained the value of g'_0 permitting the ring response to match the position of the peak and/or the non-energy weighted sum rule provided by the random-phase approach has been obtained. It is found that, in general, it is not possible to reproduce both magnitudes simultaneously for a given g'_0 value.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1998

Tensor interaction in Hartree--Fock calculations

The contribution of the tensor interaction in Hartree-Fock calculations for closed shell nuclei is studied. The investigation is done neglecting the spin-orbit component of the force. As expected from nuclear matter estimates we find that the effect of the tensor interaction is negligible in the case of spin-isospin saturated nuclei and also for medium and heavy nuclei with closed shells. In light nuclei with only one of the two spin- orbit partners filled, such as 12C and 14C, the tensor interaction plays an important role.

nucl-th↗