Pulsed RF knock-out extraction: a potential enabler for FLASH hadrontherapy in the Bragg peak.

One challenge on the path to delivering FLASH-compatible beams with a synchrotron is facilitating an accurate dose control for the required ultra-high dose rates. We propose the use of pulsed RFKO extraction instead of continuous beam delivery as a way to control the dose delivered per Voxel. In a first feasibility test, dose rates in pulses of up to 600 Gy swere observed, while the granularity at which the dose was delivered is expected to be well below 0.

Technical Design Report for a Carbon-11 Treatment Facility.

Particle therapy relies on the advantageous dose deposition which permits to highly conform the dose to the target and better spare the surrounding healthy tissues and organs at risk with respect to conventional radiotherapy. In the case of treatments with heavier ions (like carbon ions already clinically used), another advantage is the enhanced radiobiological effectiveness due to high linear energy transfer radiation. These particle therapy advantages are unfortunately not thoroughly exploited due to particle range uncertainties.

Optimization of synchrotron based ion beam therapy facilities for treatment time reduction, options and the MedAustron development roadmap.

A faster treatment reduces the risk of intra-fraction movement of organs, offers a more comfortable treatment to the patient, allows to treat lesion of larger volumes in a reasonable time and most of all expands the capacity of the facility. This work presents possible machine upgrades for synchrotron based ion beam therapy centers to shorten the irradiation time. The expected delivery times for each scenario are simulated for the study case of proton beams of MedAustron.

The European Joint Research Project UHDpulse - Metrology for advanced radiotherapy using particle beams with ultra-high pulse dose rates.

UHDpulse - Metrology for advanced radiotherapy using particle beams with ultra-high pulse dose rates is a recently started European Joint Research Project with the aim to develop and improve dosimetry standards for FLASH radiotherapy, very high energy electron (VHEE) radiotherapy and laser-driven medical accelerators. This paper gives a short overview about the current state of developments of radiotherapy with FLASH electrons and protons, very high energy electrons as well as laser-driven particles and the related challenges in dosimetry due to the ultra-high dose rate during the short radiation pulses. We summarize the objectives and plans of the UHDpulse project and present the 16 participating partners.

A new extraction system for the Linac4 H- ion source.

As part of the CERN accelerator complex upgrade, a new linear accelerator for H(-) (Linac4) is under construction. The ion source design is based on the non-caesiated DESY RF-driven ion source, with the goal of producing an H(-) beam of 80 mA beam current, 45 keV beam energy, 0.4 ms pulse length, and 2 Hz repetition rate.

Optical emission spectroscopy of the Linac4 and superconducting proton Linac plasma generators.

CERN's superconducting proton Linac (SPL) study investigates a 50 Hz high-energy, high-power Linac for H(-) ions. The SPL plasma generator is an evolution of the DESY ion source plasma generator currently operated at CERN's Linac4 test stand. The plasma generator is a step towards a particle source for the SPL, it is designed to handle 100 kW peak RF-power at a 6% duty factor.

Plasma characterization of the superconducting proton linear accelerator plasma generator using a 2 MHz compensated Langmuir probe.

The CERN study for a superconducting proton Linac (SPL) investigates the design of a pulsed 5 GeV Linac operating at 50 Hz. As a first step towards a future SPL H(-) volume ion source, a plasma generator capable of operating at Linac4 or nominal SPL settings has been developed and operated at a dedicated test stand. The hydrogen plasma is heated by an inductively coupled RF discharge e(-) and ions are confined by a magnetic multipole cusp field similar to the currently commissioned Linac4 H(-) ion source.

Status of the plasma generator of the superconducting proton linac.

In the framework of the superconducting proton linac (SPL) study at CERN, a new non-cesiated H(-) plasma generator driven by an external 2 MHz RF antenna has been developed and successfully operated at repetition rates of 50 Hz, pulse lengths of up to 3 ms, and average RF powers of up to 3 kW. The coupling efficiency of RF power into the plasma was determined by the cooling water temperatures and the analysis of the RF forward and reflected power and the antenna current and amounts to 50%-60%. The plasma resistance increases between 10 kW and 40 kW RF power from about 0.

Individual and workplace monitoring measurements made after a 240Pu incident and during the clean-up operations.

On 3 August 2008, five glass vials containing around 7 GBq of (240)Pu in nitric acid solution burst in a laboratory operated by the IAEA in Seibersdorf, Austria. The vials were located in a fire-proof safe in the IAEA Safeguards Analytical Laboratory, and the release of the (240)Pu caused an air contamination in the room and in adjoining rooms. Immediate emergency work was carried out, which was then followed by a long period of clean-up operations.

High duty factor plasma generator for CERN's Superconducting Proton Linac.

CERN's Linac4 is a 160 MeV linear accelerator currently under construction. It will inject negatively charged hydrogen ions into CERN's PS-Booster. Its ion source is a noncesiated rf driven H(-) volume source directly inspired from the one of DESY and is aimed to deliver pulses of 80 mA of H(-) during 0.

Experimental test of quantum contextuality in neutron interferometry.

We performed an experimental test of the Kochen-Specker theorem based on an inequality derived from the Peres-Mermin proof, using spin-path (momentum) entanglement in a single neutron system. Following the strategy proposed by Cabello et al. [Phys.

Improvements in routine internal monitoring--an overview of the IDEA project.

The IDEA project aimed to improve the assessment of incorporated radionuclides through developments of advanced in vivo and bioassay monitoring techniques and making use of such enhancements for improvements in routine monitoring. Many of these findings are not new in the sense that they are being already employed in advanced laboratories or for specialised applications. The primary goal was to categorise those new developments regarding their potential and eligibility for the routine monitoring community.

Practical implications of procedures developed in IDEA project--comparison with traditional methods.

The idea of the IDEA project aimed to improve assessment of incorporated radionuclides through developments of more reliable and possibly faster in vivo and bioassay monitoring techniques and making use of such enhancements for improvements in routine monitoring. In direct in vivo monitoring technique the optimum choice of the detectors to be applied for different monitoring tasks has been investigated in terms of material, size and background in order to improve conditions namely to increase counting efficiency and reduce background. Detailed studies have been performed to investigate the manifold advantageous applications and capabilities of numerical simulation method for the calibration and optimisation of in vivo counting systems.

Implementation of bioassay methods to improve assessment of incorporated radionuclides.

The present work which was carried out in the framework of an EU project (IDEA: Internal Dosimetry-Enhancements in Application; Contract Number: FIKR CT2001 00164) shall provide commonly acceptable guidelines for optimum performance of ICP-MS measurements with focus on urinary measurements of uranium, thorium and actinides. From the results of this work it is recommended that, whenever feasible, 24 h urine sampling should be conducted to avoid large uncertainties in the quantitation of daily urinary excretion values. For storage, urine samples should be acidified and kept frozen before analysis.

Internal dosimetry: enhancements in application, update on the IDEA project.

Efforts in many internal dosimetry laboratories to increase the accuracy and speed of measurements, to improve detection limits and to reduce uncertainties have resulted in improved or new internal monitoring techniques, both in in vivo measurement and in bioassay analysis. The EC-funded IDEA project (internal dosimetry--enhancements in application) aims to investigate why most of these techniques have not yet entered routine monitoring programmes (a summary of these new techniques is given here, showing their potential improvements compared with the currently employed monitoring routines). The project further aims at a comprehensive assessment of these techniques and the enhancements necessary to bring them to broader acceptance with those performing routine monitoring.

Developments in internal monitoring techniques.

In an effort to increase accuracy and speed, improve detection limits and reduce uncertainties in internal dosimetry, laboratories have developed improved or new internal monitoring techniques in both in vivo measurements and bioassay analyses. Most of these techniques have not yet entered routine monitoring programmes. This paper intends to summarise these new techniques, show their potential improvements compared to the currently employed monitoring routines and discuss the main aspects of the EC-funded IDEA project, which aims at a comprehensive assessment of these techniques and the enhancements necessary to bring them to broader acceptance in the routine monitoring community.

A ultra low level laboratory for nuclear test ban measurements.

The radionuclide laboratory at the Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf (ATL03) was installed to support the international monitoring system for verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT and Text of the establishment of a Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Test-Ban-Treaty Organization, 1996). Therefore, the background of a high-purity germanium detection system has been reduced by developing a high sophisticated active and passive detector shielding. The entire system is encapsulated in an iron-castle and placed into a fall-out shelter.