arXiv subjects

Daniel Maneval

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Maneval.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Prompt Gamma Timing in Carbon Therapy: First Experimental Results with the TIARA Detector

In the context of range monitoring for particle therapy, this study presents the first experimental results obtained with the TIARA detector using carbon-ion beams at the CNAO clinical center in Pavia, Italy. TIARA is based on the Prompt Gamma Timing (PGT) technique, which measures the time of flight (TOF) between incident ions and prompt gamma rays (PGs) emitted during nuclear interactions in the target. While the TIARA prototype has previously been validated with protons, carbons present a more challenging scenario due to their higher linear energy transfer, nuclear fragmentation products, and the continuous beam time structure of synchrotron accelerators. Experiments were performed by irradiating PMMA targets of different thicknesses with 200 MeV/u carbon beams. A coincidence time resolution of 279$\pm$35 ps FWHM was achieved, outperforming results previously obtained with protons at the same facility. A range accuracy of 4.74$\pm$0.36 mm at a 2$\sigma$ confidence level was measured at clinical intensity, when considering 5600 detected PGs, corresponding to the grouping of four irradiation spots of 2.4$\cdot$10$^6$ ions each. Overall, the results demonstrate that PGT-based range monitoring remains viable for carbon-ion beams, although increased background from secondary protons indicates that detector configuration adaptations are required.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

A fast plastic scintillator for low intensity proton beam monitoring

In the context of particle therapy monitoring, we are developing a gamma-ray detector to determine the ion range in vivo from the measurement of particle time-of-flight. For this application, a beam monitor capable to tag in time the incident ion with a time resolution below 235 ps FWHM (100 ps rms) is required to provide a start signal for the acquisition. We have therefore developed a dedicated detector based on a fast organic scintillator (EJ-204) of 25x25x1 mm3 coupled to four SiPM strips that allow measuring the particle incident position by scintillation light sharing. The prototype was characterised with single protons of energies between 63 and 225 MeV at the MEDICYC and ProteusONE facilities of the Antoine Lacassagne proton therapy centre in Nice. We obtained a time resolution of 120 ps FWHM at 63 MeV, and a spatial resolution of ~2 mm rms for single particles. Two identical detectors also allowed to measure the MEDICYC proton energy with 0.3% accuracy.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

A high sensitivity Cherenkov detector for Prompt Gamma Timing and Time Imaging

We recently proposed a new approach for the real-time monitoring of particle therapy treatments with the goal of achieving high sensitivities on the particle range measurement already at limited counting statistics. This method extends the Prompt Gamma (PG) timing technique to obtain the PG vertex distribution from the exclusive measurement of particle Time-Of-Flight (TOF). It was previously shown, through Monte Carlo simulation, that an original data reconstruction algorithm (Prompt Gamma Time Imaging) allows to combine the response of multiple detectors placed around the target. In this work we focus on the experimental feasibility of PGTI in Single Proton Regime (SPR) through the development of a multi-channel, Cherenkov-based PG detector with a targeted time resolution of 235 ps (FWHM): the TOF Imaging ARrAy (TIARA). The PG module that we developed is composed of a small PbF$_{2}$ crystal coupled to a silicon photoMultiplier to provide the time stamp of the PG. This prototype was tested with 63 MeV protons delivered from a cyclotron: a time resolution of 276 ps (FWHM) was obtained, resulting in a proton range sensitivity of 4 mm at 2$\sigma$ with the acquisition of only 600 PGs. A second prototype was also evaluated with 148 MeV protons delivered from a synchro-cyclotron obtaining a time resolution below 167 ps (FWHM) for the gamma detector. Moreover, using two identical PG modules, it was shown that a uniform sensitivity on the PG profiles would be achievable by combining the response of gamma detectors uniformly distributed around the target. This work provides the experimental proof-of-concept for the development of a high sensitivity detector that can be used to monitor particle therapy treatments and potentially act in real-time if the irradiation does not comply to treatment plan.

physics.med-ph↗