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Objective. Spatially-fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) delivered with a very-high-energy electron (VHEE) beam and a mini-GRID collimator was investigated to achieve synergistic normal tissue-sparing through spatial fractionation and the FLASH effect. Approach. A tungsten mini-GRID collimator for delivering VHEE SFRT was optimized using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Peak-to-valley dose ratios (PVDRs), depths of convergence (DoCs, PVDR ≤ 1.1), and peak and valley doses in a water phantom from a simulated 150 MeV VHEE source were evaluated. Collimator thickness, hole width, and septal width were varied to determine an optimal value for each parameter that maximized PVDR and DoC. The optimized collimator (20 mm thick rectangular prism with a 15 mm × 15 mm face with a 7 × 7 array of 0.5 mm holes separated by 1.1 mm septa) was 3D-printed and used for VHEE irradiations with the CERN linear electron accelerator for research beam. Open beam and mini-GRID irradiations were performed at 140, 175, and 200 MeV and dose was recorded with radiochromic films in a water tank. PVDR, central-axis (CAX) and valley dose rates and DoCs were evaluated. Main results. Films demonstrated peak and valley dose rates on the order of 100 s of MGy/s, which could promote FLASH-sparing effects. Across the three energies, PVDRs of 2–4 at 13 mm depth and DoCs between 39 and 47 mm were achieved. Open beam and mini-GRID MC simulations were run to replicate the film results at 200 MeV. For the mini-GRID irradiations, the film CAX dose was on average 15% higher, the film valley dose was 28% higher, and the film PVDR was 15% lower than calculated by MC. Significance. Ultimately, the PVDRs and DoCs were determined to be too low for a significant potential for SFRT tissue-sparing effects to be present, particularly at depth. Further beam delivery optimization and investigations of new means of spatial fractionation are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the radiation environment near the terahertz (THz) dump of the CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research (CLEAR) electron accelerator at CERN, using FLUktuierende KAskade in German (FLUKA) simulations and single-event upset (SEU) measurements taken with 32-Mbit Integrated Silicon Solution Inc. (ISSI) static random access memories (SRAMs). The main focus is on the characterization of the neutron field to evaluate its suitability for radiation tests of electronics in comparison with other irradiation facilities. Neutrons at CLEAR are produced via photonuclear reactions, mostly initiated by photons from the electromagnetic cascades that occur when the beam is absorbed by the dump structure. Good agreement is generally found between the measured single-event upset (SEU) rates and the expected values obtained from FLUKA simulations and the known SEU response of the ISSI SRAMs to neutrons, while one position is found to be potentially affected by photon-driven SEUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to monitor the length of a particle bunch, based on the combination of a Radio Frequency Deflector (RFD) with magnetic focusing elements, is presented. With respect to state-of-the-art bunch length measurement, the additional focusing element allows to measure also the correlations between the longitudinal and transverse planes in terms of both position and divergence. Furthermore, the quadrupole-based focusing increases the input dynamic range of the measurement system (i.e. allows for a larger range of beam Twiss parameters at the entrance of the RFD). Thus, measurement resolution and precision are enhanced, by simultaneously preserving the accuracy. In this paper, the method is first introduced analytically, and then validated in simulation, by the reference tool ELEctron Generation ANd Tracking, ELEGANT. Finally, a preliminary experimental validation at CLEAR (CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research) is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we perform an in-depth analysis of the single-event effects observed during testing at medical electron linacs and an experimental high-energy electron linac. For electron irradiations, the medical linacs are most commonly used due to their availability and flexibility. Whereas previous efforts were made to characterize the cross sections at higher energies, where the nuclear interaction cross section is higher, the focus of this paper is on the complete overview of relevant electron energies. Irradiations at an electron linac were made with two different devices, with a large difference in feature size. The irradiations at an experimental linac were performed with varying energies and intensities to omit other possible effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]