The exploration of new acceleration mechanisms for compactly delivering high-energy particle beams has gained great attention in recent years. One alternative that has attracted particular interest is the plasma-based wakefield accelerator, which is capable of sustaining accelerating fields that are more than three orders of magnitude larger than those of conventional radio-frequency accelerators. In this device, acceleration is generated by plasma waves that propagate at nearly light speed, driven by intense lasers or charged particle beams. Here, we report on the direct visualization of the entire plasma wake dynamics by probing it with a femtosecond relativistic electron bunch. This includes the excitation of the laser wakefield, the increase of its amplitude, the electron injection, and the transition to the beam-driven plasma wakefield. These experimental observations provide first-hand valuable insights into the complex physics of laser beam-plasma interaction and demonstrate a powerful tool that can largely advance the development of plasma accelerators for real-time operation.
The introduction of next-generation extremely energetic particle accelerator facilities, such as the High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC) or the proposed future circular collider (FCC), will dramatically increase the energy stored in the circulating particle beams. This will critically affect the thermo-physical and mechanical properties of the materials adopted, possibly compromising their reliability during the operating lifetime. In this scenario, it is paramount to assess the dynamic thermo-mechanical response of materials presently used, or being developed for future use, in beam intercepting devices exposed to potentially destructive events caused by the impact of energetic particle beams.
Purpose: We aim to assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-to-CT deformable image registration (DIR) quality of our treatment planning system in the pelvic region as the first step of an online MRI-guided particle therapy clinical workflow.
Materials And Methods: Using 2 different DIR algorithms, ANAtomically CONstrained Deformation Algorithm (ANACONDA), the DIR algorithm incorporated in RayStation, and Elastix, an open-source registration software, we retrospectively assessed the quality of the deformed CT (dCT) generation in the pelvic region for 5 patients. T1- and T2-weighted daily control MRI acquired prior to treatment delivery were used for the DIR.
Harnessing chiral optical forces facilitates numerous applications in enantioselective sorting and sensing. To date, significant challenges persist in substantiating the holistic complex theorem of these forces as experimental demonstrations employ common light waves (e.g.
The SIDDHARTA-2 collaboration has developed a novel X-ray detection system based on cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT, CdZnTe), marking the first application of this technology at the DAΦNE electron-positron collider at INFN-LNF. This work aims to demonstrate the stability of the detectors' performance in terms of linearity and resolution over short and long periods, thereby establishing their suitability for precise spectroscopic measurements within a collider environment. A reference calibration spectrum is presented in association with findings from assessments of linearity and resolution stability.
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a range of shielding strategies on the rate of false positive detections by a simulated detector for application in Neutron Capture Enhanced Particle Therapy (NCEPT).
Methods: In this work, we extend a previously published method for neutron capture detection and discrimination. A Geant4 Monte Carlo model was designed, with the simulated irradiation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) phantom and cubic B insert with carbon and helium ion beams and various shielding configurations.
