N. Randazzo

Characterization of a Silicon Strip Detector and a YAG:Ce Calorimeter for a Proton Computed Radiography Apparatus

Today, there is a steadily growing interest in the use of proton beams for tumor therapy, as they permit to tightly shape the dose delivered to the target reducing the exposure of the surrounding healthy tissues. Nonetheless, accuracy in the determination of the dose distribution in proton-therapy is up to now limited by the uncertainty in stopping powers, which are presently calculated from the photon attenuation coefficients measured by X-ray tomography. Proton computed tomography apparatus (pCT) has been proposed to directly measure the stopping power and reduce this uncertainty. Main problem with proton imaging is the blurring effect introduced by multiple Coulomb scattering: single proton tracking is a promising technique to face this difficulty. As a first step towards a pCT system, we designed a proton radiography (pCR) prototype based on a silicon microstrip tracker (to characterize particle trajectories) and a segmented YAG:Ce calorimeter (to measure their residual energy). Aim of the system is to detect protons with a ~1 MHz particle rate of and with kinetic energy in the range 250-270 MeV, high enough to pass through human body. Design and development of the pCR prototype, as well as the characterization of its single components, are described in this paper.

Measurements of light transmission in deep sea with the AC9 trasmissometer

The NEMO Collaboration aims to construct an underwater Cherenkov detector in the Mediterranean Sea, able to act as a neutrino telescope. One of the main tasks of this project, which implies difficult technological challenges, is the selection of an adequate marine site. In this framework the knowledge of light transmission properties in deep seawater is extremely important. The collaboration has measured optical properties in several marine sites near the Italian coasts, at depths > 3000 m; using a setup based on a AC9, a commercial trasmissometer, manufactured by WETLabs. The results obtained for the two sites reported in this paper (Alicudi and Ustica), show that deep seawater optical properties are comparable to those of the clearest waters. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Monte Carlo Studies of a Proton Computed Tomography System

Proton therapy is a precise forms of radiation therapy that makes use of high energy proton compared to the conventional, more commonly used and less precise x-ray and electron beams. On the other hand, to fully exploit the proton therapy advantages, very accurate quality controls of the treatments are required. These are mainly related to the dose calculations and treatment planning. Actually dose calculations are routinely performed on the basis of X-ray computed tomography while a big improvement could be obtained with the direct use of protons as the imaging system. In this work we report the results of Monte Carlo simulations for the study of an imaging system based on the use of high energy protons: the proton computed tomography (pCT). The main limitation of the pCT and the current adopted technical solutions, based on the use of the most likely path (MLP) approximation are illustrated. Simulation results are compared with experimental data obtained with a first prototype of pCT system tested with 200 MeV proton beams available at the Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) (CA).

The Data Acquisition and Transport Design for NEMO Phase 1

The NEMO collaboration proposes to build an underwater neutrino telescope located South-East off the Sicily coast. This paper describes the concepts underlying the communication link design going over the whole data acquisition and transport from the front-end electronics to the module sending data on-shore through a fiber optic link which relies on Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing. An on-shore board, plugged into a PC, extracts and distributes data both to first-level trigger and control systems. Underwater apparatus monitoring and controls are guaranteed by oceanographic instruments and dedicated sensors, whose data are packed and sent back to shore using the same optical link. The communication is fully bidirectional, allowing transmission of timing and control commands. The architecture described here provides a complete real-time data transport layer between the onshore laboratory and the underwater detector. During winter 2006 a first prototype of the apparatus has been deployed: calibration results from the currently working system are here reported.

Prototype tracking studies for proton CT

As part of a program to investigate the feasibility of proton computed tomography, the most likely path (MLP) of protons inside an absorber was measured in a beam experiment using a silicon strip detector set-up with high position and angular resolution. The locations of 200 MeV protons were measured at three different absorber depth of PolyMethylMethAcrylate-PMMA (3.75, 6.25 and 12.5 cm) and binned in terms of the displacement and the exit angle measured behind the absorber. The observed position distributions were compared to theoretical predictions showing that the location of the protons can be predicted with an accuracy of better than 0.5 mm

A four-channel, low-power CMOS charge preamplifier for silicon detectors with medium value of capacitance

We present a low-power CMOS charge preamplifier, suitable for use with silicon detectors having a medium value of capacitance. Noise considerations and a long decay time of the output signal command the use of unusually large devices such as an input transistor having W=10000 /spl mu/m and a 7-M/spl Omega/ feedback resistor. Both of these devices were integrated inside the chip. We present and compare theoretical predictions together with the results of post-layout simulation and the measurements obtained.

A large area cosmic ray detector for the inspection of hidden high-Z materials inside containers

Traditional inspection methods are of limited use to detect the presence of fissile (U, Pu) samples inside containers. To overcome such limitations, prototypes of detection systems based on cosmic muon scattering from high-Z materials are being tested worldwide. This technique does not introduce additional radiation levels, and each event contributes to the tomographic image, since the scattering process is sensitive to the charge of the atomic nuclei being traversed. A new Project, started by the Muon Portal Collaboration, plans to build a large area muon detector able to reconstruct muon tracks with good spatial and angular resolution. Experimental tests of the individual detection modules are already in progress. The design and operational parameters of the muon portal under construction are here described, together with the preliminary simulation and test results. Due to the large acceptance of the detector for cosmic rays, coupled to the good angular reconstruction of the muon tracks, it is also planned to employ such detector for cosmic ray studies, complementing its detection capabilities with a set of trigger detectors located some distance apart, in order to measure multiple muon events associated to extensive air showers.

The design of a system for coloured digital radiology with VLSI circuits and GaAs pixel detectors

AbstractWedescribethedesignofadigitalradiologysystemwithGaAspixeldetectors,basedontheenergyselectionofthenonabsorbedX-ray spectrum.We present ageneral layout; we show that simulationand experimentaldatacorroboratetheidea for the feasibility of the system. ( 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. 1. IntroductionTheuseof GaAsasahigh-eƒciencyX-rayimag-ing detector is now well known [1].An idea for a novel digital radiology device withinherent high spatial and energy resolution hasbeen proposed [2]. It is based on a GaAs pixeldetector and two custom-made VLSI electroniccircuits which process each photon pulse and clas-sify it according to its energy.The circuits store the counting and the energyinformation, allowing the acquisition of coloured X-ray images. The artiÞcial elaboration of colourcan be performedon line in a scale proportionaltotheenergyofthedetectedphoton.Thescaleresolu-tionwillbelimitedbytheelectroniccircuitsdesign.The method,generallyapplicable,has beenillus-trated before [3]. Here we describe the design fora digital imaging system with an X-ray source,a GaAs pixel detector and the VLSI circuits. Thepaperconcentratesonthegenerallayoutinarealis-tic conÞguration. We address the compromises be-tween the performances of the system, versus thefabrication technologies risks and the costs.WehaveatpresentaÞrstversionofthedetectorswith 32 pixels and the new chip with 8 energyintervals.We show data and compare with the simulationproving that the design idea is well based.2. The basic principleIn radiology, the use of the energy and count-ing information is performed simultaneously in

Search for hidden high-Z materials inside containers with the Muon Portal Project

The Muon Portal is a recently born project that plans to build a large area muon detector for a noninvasive inspection of shipping containers in the ports, searching for the presence of potential fissile (U, Pu) threats. The technique employed by the project is the well-known muon tomography, based on cosmic muon scattering from high-Z materials. The design and operational parameters of the muon portal under construction will be described in this paper, together with preliminary simulation and test results.

Switched capacitor arrays analog memory for sparse data sampling

Abstract We present the design and the test performed on ADeLinel, a Full-Custom Analog Memory for sparse data sampling. It has been designed as an array of switched capacitors. It is only one channel of 8 cells. The control part of the ADeLine chip is custom designed for the size reduction, high speed performance and low power dissipation. The memory has been integrated in double poly, double metal AMS 0.8 μm CMOS. It has 3.5 V input and output swings, a linearity within ± 6 mV in a 2 V range and 11 bits of resolution.