Design optimization of a pixel-based range telescope for proton computed tomography

Helge Egil Seime Pettersen*, Johan Alme, Gergely Gábor Barnaföldi, Rene Barthel, Anthony van den Brink, Mamdouh Chaar, Viljar Eikeland, Alba García-Santos, Georgi Genov, Silje Grimstad, Ola Grøttvik, Håvard Helstrup, Kristin Fanebust Hetland, Shruti Mehendale, Ilker Meric, Odd Harald Odland, Gábor Papp, Thomas Peitzmann, Pierluigi Piersimoni, Attiq Ur RehmanMatthias Richter, Andreas Tefre Samnøy, Joao Seco, Hesam Shafiee, Eivind Vågslid Skjæveland, Jarle Rambo Sølie, Ganesh Tambave, Kjetil Ullaland, Monika Varga-Kofarago, Lennart Volz, Boris Wagner, Shiming Yang, Dieter Röhrich

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose:
A pixel-based range telescope for tracking particles during proton imaging is described. The detector applies a 3D matrix of stacked Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors with fast readout speeds. This study evaluates different design alternatives of the range telescope on basis of the protons’ range accuracy and the track reconstruction efficiency. 

Method:
Detector designs with different thicknesses of the energy-absorbing plates between each sensor layer are simulated using the GATE/Geant4 Monte Carlo software. Proton tracks traversing the detector layers are individually reconstructed, and a Bragg curve fitting procedure is applied for the calculation of each proton's range. 

Results: 
Simulations show that the setups with 4 mm and thinner absorber layers of aluminum have a low range uncertainty compared to the physical range straggling, systematic errors below 0.3 mm water equivalent thickness and a track reconstruction capability exceeding ten million protons per second. 

Conclusions:
In order to restrict the total number of layers and to yield the required tracking and range resolution properties, a design recommendation is reached where the proposed range telescope applies 3.5 mm thick aluminum absorber slabs between each sensor layer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)87-97
Number of pages11
JournalPhysica Medica
Volume63
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2019

Funding

An earlier version of this text is included in the first author’s PhD dissertation [7] , a project which was supported by Helse Vest (Western Norway Regional Health Authority, Stavanger, Norway) grant [911933].

Keywords

  • Detector optimization
  • Monte Carlo simulation
  • Proton computed tomography
  • Track reconstruction

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