Thesis

Scintillating array for real-time high-resolution ion therapy dosimetry

• Call:

  PT-CERN call 2020/1

• Academic Year:

  2020/2021

• Domain:

  Astrophysics

• Supervisor:

  Jorge Sampaio

• Co-Supervisor:

  Luis Peralta

• Institution:

  FCUL (Universidade de Lisboa)

• Host Institution:

  Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas

• Abstract:

  Radiobiological effects depend strongly on the track-structure of particles crossing the tissues. The clustering of energy deposition determines the degree of cell damage and the ability of cells to repair. Thus, an important component of radiobiology experiments is the measurement of doses with high spatial resolution and as close as possible to the irradiation conditions of the irradiated tissues. The objective of the project is to develop a detector prototype that combines tissue-equivalence, the unique capability to support cell growth, real-time dose measurements with high spatial resolution, and cost-effectiveness. The detector will be constructed of juxtaposed thin plastic scintillating fibers coupled with a system for reading and converting the optical signal into deposited energy. The project involves tasks of design and construction of the detector and associated electronics, simulations of the detector's response to proton and heavy-ion radiation fields, tests, and calibrations of the detector with radioactive sources and particle beams. The Ph.D. student will be integrated into a team with extensive experience in the development of detectors based on scintillating fibers and in Monte Carlo simulations. The work will be carried out in national and international collaborations with biology research laboratories and particle accelerator facilities.