Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research
The Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications (CLARA) is a test facility at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, which is capable of delivering ultra-bright electron bunches of up to 250 MeV beam energy. A new beam line has been designed to maximise the exploitation of the CLARA facility in...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1496850/full |
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| author | Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Stewart Boogert Stewart Boogert James Kevin Jones James Kevin Jones |
| author_facet | Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Stewart Boogert Stewart Boogert James Kevin Jones James Kevin Jones |
| author_sort | Deepa Angal-Kalinin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications (CLARA) is a test facility at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, which is capable of delivering ultra-bright electron bunches of up to 250 MeV beam energy. A new beam line has been designed to maximise the exploitation of the CLARA facility in a variety of scientific fields, including novel acceleration and new modalities of radiotherapy. In this paper, we present the specification and design of this beam line to explore the possibilities of pursuing R&D in very high-energy electron (VHEE) radiotherapy and VHEE with FLASH radiotherapy. We describe the beam line design, including the flexibility of the beam optics to focus the beam in a range of locations and present results from preliminary start-to-end simulations using Monte Carlo tracking codes. We highlight advantages of this beam line, including rapid access to the shielded experimental hutch and the possibilities for the installation of different experimental setups in two dedicated chambers. The beam line includes focussing magnets, extensive diagnostics, and allows in-air installation within the experimental beam line. The facility will allow an experimental programme towards addressing many outstanding issues related to this new radiotherapy modality. We also describe the available flexibility in beam parameters for both conventional dose rates and those entering into the FLASH regime. The possibility of both living cells and treatment planning studies is anticipated to be conducted at this world-class facility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd50df4b5a3e4e63883d71542f2b83ba |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd50df4b5a3e4e63883d71542f2b83ba2025-01-10T10:53:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2024-12-011210.3389/fphy.2024.14968501496850Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy researchDeepa Angal-Kalinin0Deepa Angal-Kalinin1Deepa Angal-Kalinin2Stewart Boogert3Stewart Boogert4James Kevin Jones5James Kevin Jones6ASTeC, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Warrington, United KingdomDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomThe Cockcroft Institute, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Warrington, United KingdomDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomThe Cockcroft Institute, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Warrington, United KingdomASTeC, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Warrington, United KingdomThe Cockcroft Institute, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Warrington, United KingdomThe Compact Linear Accelerator for Research and Applications (CLARA) is a test facility at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory, which is capable of delivering ultra-bright electron bunches of up to 250 MeV beam energy. A new beam line has been designed to maximise the exploitation of the CLARA facility in a variety of scientific fields, including novel acceleration and new modalities of radiotherapy. In this paper, we present the specification and design of this beam line to explore the possibilities of pursuing R&D in very high-energy electron (VHEE) radiotherapy and VHEE with FLASH radiotherapy. We describe the beam line design, including the flexibility of the beam optics to focus the beam in a range of locations and present results from preliminary start-to-end simulations using Monte Carlo tracking codes. We highlight advantages of this beam line, including rapid access to the shielded experimental hutch and the possibilities for the installation of different experimental setups in two dedicated chambers. The beam line includes focussing magnets, extensive diagnostics, and allows in-air installation within the experimental beam line. The facility will allow an experimental programme towards addressing many outstanding issues related to this new radiotherapy modality. We also describe the available flexibility in beam parameters for both conventional dose rates and those entering into the FLASH regime. The possibility of both living cells and treatment planning studies is anticipated to be conducted at this world-class facility.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1496850/fullultra-bright electron sourcebeam energybunch chargerepetition rateshielded hutchvery high-energy radiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Deepa Angal-Kalinin Stewart Boogert Stewart Boogert James Kevin Jones James Kevin Jones Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research Frontiers in Physics ultra-bright electron source beam energy bunch charge repetition rate shielded hutch very high-energy radiotherapy |
| title | Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research |
| title_full | Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research |
| title_fullStr | Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research |
| title_short | Potential of the CLARA test facility for VHEE radiotherapy research |
| title_sort | potential of the clara test facility for vhee radiotherapy research |
| topic | ultra-bright electron source beam energy bunch charge repetition rate shielded hutch very high-energy radiotherapy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2024.1496850/full |
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