Demonstration of ultra-high dose rate electron irradiation at FLASH@PITZ.

The photo injector test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ) is building up an R&D platform, known as FLASH@PITZ, for systematically studying the FLASH effect in cancer treatment with its high-brightness electron beams, which can provide a uniquely large dose parameter range for radiation experiments. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities by experiments with a reduced parameter range on a startup beamline and study the potential performance of the full beamline by simulations.To measure the dose, Gafchromic films are installed both in front of and after the samples; Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to predict the dose distribution during beam preparation and help understand the dose distribution inside the sample.

FLASHlab@PITZ: New R&D platform with unique capabilities for electron FLASH and VHEE radiation therapy and radiation biology under preparation at PITZ.

At the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ), an R&D platform for electron FLASH and very high energy electron radiation therapy and radiation biology is being prepared (FLASHlab@PITZ). The beam parameters available at PITZ are worldwide unique. They are based on experiences from 20 + years of developing high brightness beam sources and an ultra-intensive THz light source demonstrator for ps scale electron bunches with up to 5 nC bunch charge at MHz repetition rate in bunch trains of up to 1 ms length, currently 22 MeV (upgrade to 250 MeV planned).

The LD50 for Low-Energy Ultrashort-Pulsed Laser Driven Electron Beam Whole-Body Irradiation of Wistar Rats.

Recently, a new technology of low-energy ultrashort-pulsed electron beam (UPEB) accelerators has been developed opening new directions for radiobiology and biomedical research. The purpose of this study was to reveal the lethal dose, LD50 (lethal dose, 50%) delivered by low-energy UPEB whole-body exposure on an organismal level. Wistar rats were exposed to low-energy UPEB whole-body irradiation with different doses and pulse repetition rates to find the LD50 and in silico computer simulations were performed to conduct numerical dose calculations.

Absolute refinement of crystal structures by X-ray phase measurements.

A pair of enantiomer crystals is used to demonstrate how X-ray phase measurements provide reliable information for absolute identification and improvement of atomic model structures. Reliable phase measurements are possible thanks to the existence of intervals of phase values that are clearly distinguishable beyond instrumental effects. Because of the high susceptibility of phase values to structural details, accurate model structures were necessary for succeeding with this demonstration.