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Suzuki, K

Publications and source records attributed to Suzuki, K.

SU-E-T-794: Validation of the MCNPX Monte Carlo Model of the Ocular Beam Line at the Proton Therapy Center Houston

Purpose: The PTCH is preparing the ocular proton beam nozzle for clinical use. Currently commissioning measurements are being performed using films, diodes and ionization chambers. In parallel, a Monte Carlo model of the beam line was created for integration into the automated Monte Carlo treatment plan computation system, MC{sup 2}. This work aims to compare Monte Carlo predictions to measured proton doses in order to validate the Monte Carlo model. Methods: A complete model of the double scattering ocular beam line has been created and is capable of simulating proton beams with a comprehensive set of beam modifying devices, including eleven different range modulator wheels. Simulations of doses in water were scored and compare to ion chamber measurements of depth doses, lateral dose profiles extracted from half beam block exposures of films, and diode measurements of lateral penumbrae at various depths. Results: All comparison resulted in an average relative entrance dose difference of less than 3% and peak dose difference of less than 2%. All range differences were smaller than 0.2 mm. The differences in the lateral beam profiles were smaller than 0.2 mm, and the differences in the penumbrae were all smaller than 0.4%. Conclusion: All available data shows excellent agreement of simulations and measurements. More measurements will have to be performed in order to completely and systematically validate the model. Besides simulating and measuring PDDs and lateral profiles of all remaining range modulator wheels, the absolute dosimetry factors in terms of number of source protons per monitor unit have to be determined.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

MO-F-16A-05: Spot-Scanning Proton Therapy Patient-Specific Quality Assurance: Our Methodology and Results From 295 Treatment Plans

Purpose: To report on the patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) results for 295 spot-scanning proton therapy treatment plans from the MD Anderson PTC-Houston. We show how the results differed by treatment site and how they were affected by the treatment plan optimization method and by a range shifter in the treatment field. We also discuss some causes of PSQA problems. Methods: The PSQA procedure, which is designed to verify both the accuracy of the treatment planning system's (Eclipse™ v8.9) dose calculations and the dose delivery of the Hitachi PROBEAT synchrotron, consists of (1) an end-to-end test in which the beam is delivered and measured at the prescribed gantry angle, and (2) additional dose plane measurements made from gantry angle 270°. HPlusQA™ software automatically performs the gamma analysis with criteria 3% (dose tolerance), 3 mm (distance-to-agreement, DTA) and 2%, 2 mm. Passing is defined as at least 90% of the pixels having a gamma score less than 1. Results: The PSQA gamma passing rate was 96.2% for 3%, 3 mm, and 85.3% for 2%, 2 mm. The rate depended on the treatment site. For example, the 3%, 3 mm passing rate was 95% for head and neck plans, vs 100% for prostate plans. The passing rates of multi- vs. single-field optimization plans did not significantly differ. However, the rate for fields with range shifters was 94.8±0.6%, vs 99.0±0.6% for those without (p = 0.002). Longitudinal dose gradients caused most of the low scores. Overestimation of the calculated dose proximal to the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) caused many of the others. Conclusion: The planned and delivered doses consistently agreed within tolerance levels. Minor dose modeling deficiencies remain proximal to the SOBP. The 3% dose tolerance, 3 mm DTA, with 90% pixel passing rate is a reasonable action level for 2D gamma comparisons.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Selected Topics on Hadronic B Decays From BaBar

Recent measurements of branching fractions and decay-rate asymmetries in charmless hadronic B decays at the BaBar experiment are presented. The selected topics include Dalitz plot analyses of B {yields} K{sup +} {pi}{sup -}{pi} and signal searches in B {yields} PP and PV, where isoscalar mesons are involved, and in B {yields} b{sub 1}P, P and V denote a pseudoscalar and vector meson, respectively. Several measurements in charmless hadronic B decays have indicated possible deviations from the theoretical predictions within the Standard Model. The measurements presented would contribute to searching for and resolving such puzzles.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The performance of the LHCf detector

The LHCf experiment is designed to measure energies and transverse momenta of neutral particles emitted in the forward region of {radical}(s) = 14 TeV p-p collision at {+-}140 m away from the interaction point1 (IP1) of LHC. The energy resolution is confirm to be within 5% and the position resolution is better than 0.2 mm for gamma-rays with energies from 100 GeV to 200 GeV by the test beam results at the CERN-SPS. LHCf has taken data at 2009 and 2010 at {radical}(s) = 900 GeV and 7 TeV collision. A brief summary of LHCf operation at LHC is also reported here.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Study of GSO scintillator for the LHCf upgrade

The GSO scintillator has a very excellent radiation resistance, fast decay time and large amounts of light yield. Because of these features, GSO will be used to upgrade the current LHCf detector. We examined the features of GSO by using heavy ion beam at Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) Japan. The linearity of PMT R7400 for the large light yield of GSO with a {sup 132}Xe beam and the radiation hardness with a {sup 12}C beam were measured. As a result, GSO scintillator showed a good linearity up to the signal corresponding to 6 TeV EM-shower maximum in the LHCf detector, and a good radiation hardness up to 7x10{sup 5} Gy. For the LHCf Arm1 detector, small scaled GSO crystals (GSO bars), have been fabricated for the position determination detector. 5 GSO bars have been manufactured and its performance have been evaluated using {sup 12}C beam. Its light yield and position dependency have been evaluated.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Net sputtering rate due to hot ions in a Ne-Xe discharge gas bombarding an MgO layer

An analytical method is developed for determining net sputtering rate for an MgO layer under hot ions with low energy (<100 eV) in a neon-xenon discharge gas at near-atmospheric pressure. The primary sputtering rate is analyzed according to spatial and energy distributions of the hot ions with average energy, E{sup h}{sub i}, above a threshold energy of sputtering, E{sub th,i}, multiplied by a yield coefficient. The threshold energy of sputtering is determined from dissociation energy required to remove an atom from MgO surface multiplied by an energy-transfer coefficient. The re-deposition rate of the sputtered atoms is calculated by a diffusion simulation using a hybridized probabilistic and analytical method. These calculation methods are combined to analyze the net sputtering rate. Maximum net sputtering rate due to the hot neon ions increases above the partial pressure of 4% xenon as E{sup h}{sub Ne} becomes higher and decreases near the partial pressure of 20% xenon as ion flux of neon decreases. The dependence due to the hot neon ions on partial pressure and applied voltage agrees well with experimental results, but the dependence due to the hot xenon ions deviates considerably. This result shows that the net sputtering rate is dominated by the hot neon ions. Maximum E{sup h}{sub Ne} (E{sup h}{sub Ne,max} = 5.3 - 10.3 eV) is lower than E{sub th,Ne} (19.5 eV) for the MgO layer; therefore, weak sputtering due to the hot neon ions takes place. One hot neon ion sputters each magnesium and each oxygen atom on the surface and distorts around a vacancy. The ratio of the maximum net sputtering rate is approximately determined by number of the ions at E{sup h}{sub i,max} multiplied by an exponential factor of -E{sub th,i}/E{sup h}{sub i,max}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Graphical method for deriving an effective interaction with a new vertex function

Introducing a new vertex function, Z(E), of an energy variable E, we derive a new equation for the effective interaction. The equation is obtained by replacing the Q box in the Krenciglowa-Kuo (KK) method with Z(E). This new approach can be viewed as an extension of the KK method. We show that this equation can be solved both in iterative and noniterative ways. We observe that the iteration procedure with Z(E) brings about fast convergence compared to the usual KK method. It is shown that, as in the KK approach, the procedure of calculating the effective interaction can be reduced to determining the true eigenvalues of the original Hamiltonian H and they can be obtained as the positions of intersections of graphs generated from Z(E). We find that this graphical method yields always precise results and reproduces any of the true eigenvalues of H. The calculation in the present approach can be made regardless of overlaps with the model space and energy differences between unperturbed energies and the eigenvalues of H. We find also that Z(E) is a well-behaved function of E and has no singularity. These characteristics of the present approach ensure stability in actual calculations and would be helpful to resolve some difficulties due to the presence of poles in the Q box. Performing test calculations, we verify numerically theoretical predictions made in the present approach.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗