Search

The release of radioactive gas into the atmosphere can diffuse into large volumes of air downwind from the point of release. The extent of radioactivity can cover thousands of cubic meters of air. For such large volumes, the weather models used to predict the down-wind distribution of the plume and the radiation transport models used to predict the radiation reaching ground-level from the plume can take tens of hours of computer time on multi-node institutional High-Performance Computing facilities. In this paper we focus on the radiation transport aspect of plume modeling. We describe a phenomenological method for approximating the amounts of radiation that reach ground level from large volumes of a static radioactive plume that can be calculated on a stand-alone personal computer in much shorter computation times than those usually needed for such large volume evaluations. We refer to this method as the Density Scaling Approximation (DSA). Its ability to approximate ground-level count rates of large plumes comes from using a small-plume volume with a scaled-up value of air density to simulate the same number of scatterings that occur during transport in larger plume volumes at normal air density. We demonstrate the DSA by using a 100 m-diameter air-filled hemispherical dome geometry with a uniform volumetric activity of 135Xe gas throughout the air-filled volume. The DSA for a larger dome diameter is obtained by evaluating the 100 m dome with an air density scaled up by the linear ratio of the larger diameter to the 100 m diameter. We find that this approximation works well for dome diameters up to 1200 m – the largest diameter studied and a size more than sufficient for accounting for all the radiation from 135Xe. Moreover, most of our DSA results can be calculated over 500 times faster than corresponding full-sized geometry with normal air density. To help evaluate the accuracy of the DSA and gain insight into how well it can reproduce different regions of the spectra, we use three, easily understood regions of interest to compare the DSA results to the full-sized geometry at normal air density results. These regions are the full-energy peak, the region of single-Compton scattering, and the region of multiple-Compton scattering. We show how the dominance of the Compton scattering mechanism determines this division and thus provides insight into how Compton scattering is manifested in spectra from photon scattering through air in general, and how well the DSA approximation works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polarimeter was constructed to measure the longitudinal polarization of a spin-polarized electron beam at 5 and 7 MeV. The polarimeter takes advantage of Compton scattering between circularly polarized bremsstrahlung photons produced by a longitudinally polarized electron beam striking a copper radiator and the spin-polarized electrons orbiting the iron atoms of an analyzing magnet. This so-called Compton transmission polarimeter is compact and relatively inexpensive compared to Mott-scattering polarimeters because no spin manipulator is required. This work presents the design of the radiator, analyzing magnet, photon detector assembly, and data acquisition system of the Compton transmission polarimeter as well as beam commissioning results performed at the Upgraded Injector Test Facility at Jefferson Lab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design of a photon–photon collider based on conventional Compton gamma sources for the observation of secondary γ γ production. Two symmetric electron beams, generated by photocathodes and accelerated in linacs, produce two primary gamma rays through Compton back scattering with two high energy lasers. Tuning the system energy to the energy of the photon–photon cross section maximum, a flux of secondary gamma photons is generated. The process is analyzed by start-to-end simulations from the photocathodes to the propagation of the QED photons towards the detector. The new Monte Carlo code ‘Rate Of Scattering Events’ (ROSE) has been developed ad hoc for the counting of the QED events. Realistic numbers of the secondary gamma yield, referring to existing or approved set-ups and a discussion of the feasibility of the experiment are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense, quasi-monochromatic, polarized γ -ray beams with high and tunable energy produced by Compton scattering of laser photons against relativistic electrons are used for fundamental studies and applications. Following a series of photoneutron cross section measurements in the Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) energy region performed at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility, we have developed the eliLaBr Monte Carlo simulation code for characterization of the scattered γ -ray photon beams. The code is implemented using Geant4 and is available on the GitHub repository (https://github.com/dan-mihai-filipescu/eliLaBr). Here we report the validation of the eliLaBr code on NewSUBARU LCS γ -ray beam flux and spectral distribution data and two applications performed with it for asymmetric transverse emittance profiles electron beams, characteristic for synchrotrons. The first application is based on a systematic investigation of transverse collimator offsets relative to the laser and electron beam axis. We show that the maximum energy of the LCS γ -ray beam is altered by vertical collimator offsets, where the edge shifts towards lower energies with the increase in the offset. Secondly, using the eliLaBr code, we investigate the effect of the laser polarization plane orientation on the properties of the LCS γ -ray beams produced with asymmetric emittance electron beams. We show that: 1. The use of vertically polarized lasers contributes to the preservation of the LCS γ -ray beam maximum energy edge by increasing the precision in the vertical collimator alignment. 2. Under identical conditions for the electron and laser beams phase-space distributions, the energy spectrum of the scattered LCS γ -ray beam changes with the laser beam polarization plane orientation. More precisely, the use of vertically polarized laser beams slightly deteriorates the LCS γ -ray beam energy resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coincident detection of Cherenkov photons from electrons in the MeV range in PMMA has been performed with the prospect of an application in medical imaging techniques like a Compton Camera or TOF-PET. Using a 8 × 8 SiPM-array a timing resolution of 242 ps has been achieved. A spatial sensitivity for an electron source location from accumulated coincident light signals could be shown. Counting the number of detected photons was enabled. The results obtained are in good agreement with theoretical calculations taking fundamental detector and set-up properties into account. These measurements constitute an important step towards the feasibility of the electron detection in a Compton Camera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compton scattering of a single-energy γ -ray results in a one-to-one relationship between the incident and scattered photon energies. This relationship is altered when the incident beam has a definite energy distribution because of the broadening occurring in the energy distribution upon Compton scattering. This broadening causes a change in the spectral density of the Compton-scattered spectra. To restore the spectral density, the energy distribution of the scattered radiation must be manifested as a function of the scattering kinematics. Here, we propose a simple analytic way to calculate the energy spread of the scattered photons in terms of the geometry of the scattering process and the energy spread of the incident photon beam. The predictions of the model agree with measurements of Compton scattering of quasi-monochromatic γ -ray beams, carried out at the High Intensity γ -ray Source (HI γ S) facility, Duke University. As a benchmark of our method, we measured the intensity profile of energy-distributed γ -ray beams by direct measurements as well as by Compton scattering. We found that only when the spectral density of the scattered radiation is restored, the measured intensity profile agrees with the actual profile of the incident beam. The proposed method can continuously measure the flux of an energy-distributed γ -ray beams in real time and on a bin-by-bin basis. Such online monitoring of γ -ray beams is indispensable for in-beam measurements and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A Compton scattering X-ray source consisting of an X-band (11.424GHz) electron linear accelerator (linac) and Q-switched Nd: YAG laser is currently under development at the University of Tokyo. Monochromatic X-rays are required for a variety of medical and biological applications. The X-ray source produces monochromatic X-rays via collision between a 35-MeV multi-bunch (104 bunches in a 1μs RF pulse) electron beam and 1.4J/10ns (532nm) Nd: YAG laser pulse. The linac uses an X-band 3.5-cell thermionic cathode RF gun and an alpha magnet as an injector. Until now, electron beam generation (2MeV, 1pC/bunch at the exit of the injector), beam acceleration, and X-ray generation have been verified. In order to increase X-ray energy and intensity, we have completed the design and construction of a new RF gun with relevant modifications in some structures. In this paper, we describe the details of the concepts of designing a new RF gun and discuss future works. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We are currently developing a compact monochromatic X-ray source based on laser–electron Compton scattering for the purpose of medical applications at the University of Tokyo. To realize remarkably compact-, high-intensity- and highly stable system, we adopt an X-band (11.424GHz) multi-bunch linear accelerator (linac) and reliable Q-switch Nd:YAG laser. The injector of the system consists of a 3.5-cell X-band thermionic cathode RF-gun and an alpha magnet. So far, we have continued high-power experiment and beam generation on X-band thermionic cathode RF-gun. However, breakdown was frequently occurred at coaxial structure around the thermionic cathode. In order to resolve the breakdown, we adopt a choke structure around the thermionic cathode. In this paper, the details of Compton scattering X-ray source the University of Tokyo, the experimental results of the X-ray generation, and upgrade of the X-band thermionic cathode RF-gun will be presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray Drug Delivery System (DDS) enhances accumulation of anti-cancer drug or contrast agent by surrounding it with polymer and Enhanced Penetration and Retention (EPR) effect. DDS uses advanced nano-scaled polymers that contain and deliver drug or contrast agent to cancers without side effects. Several X-ray DDSs pose high-Z atoms such as gold to absorb X-rays effectively and used as contrast agent for inspection. Moreover, they have radiation enhancement effect by emission of Auger electron and successive characteristic X-rays. The enhancement factor of gold is more than five. This could be used even for therapy. This new modality must be very important for inspection and therapy of deep cancers. We are making use of our X-band Compton scattering monochromatic keV X-ray source for the inspection. Numerical simulation on monochromatic X-ray CT for possible concentration of gold-colloid DDS considering the X-ray property from the source was done. Enough visibility was confirmed. Furthermore, in vitro experiment analyzed its toxic effect to cells by the Alkaline comet assay and fluorescent immunostaining method for single and double strand breaks of DNA. Availability of clear imaging for the inspection has been confirmed by the numerical simulation and the in-vitro evaluation of the therapy effect is under way. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spectral and angular information of inverse Compton sources is shown to be obtainable using only an X-ray imaging device and various foils with K-edges in keV energy range. Beam parameters can be chosen such that on-axis photons are above the K-edge for a given material, where absorption is very strong and there is relatively zero transmission. Photons observed off-axis are red-shifted and fall below the K-edge, therefore being transmitted and creating a “ring” pattern in the ideal case. Starting with photon energies below the K-edge and aperturing for small angles on-axis allows one to scan the electron beam to higher energy until all scattered photons are above the K-edge and absorbed, thus presenting a method of bandwidth measurement. Using these methods, we present experimental results of the bandwidth and double differential spectrum (DDS) for angle and energy of Compton photons generated at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Accelerator Test Facility (BNL ATF). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An overview of linear and nonlinear Compton scattering is presented, along with a comparison with Thomson scattering. Two distinct processes play important roles in the nonlinear regime: multiphoton interactions, leading to the generation of harmonics; and radiation pressure, yielding a downshift of the radiated spectral features. These mechanisms, their influence on the source brightness, and different modeling strategies are also briefly discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]