Heidelberg Ion Therapy (HIT) GmbH

Development of Diagnostics Based on Scintillating Screens for Ion Beam Characterization

ESR:  Marion Ripert (marion.ripert@med.uni-heidelberg.de)
Supervisor:  Andreas Peters (andeas.peters@med.uni-heidelberg.de)

HIT is a 100% daughter company of the university clinics in Heidelberg, responsible for the operation of the HIT accelerator facility and the irradiation systems. The treatment of cancer with beams from an accelerator has proven to be extremely successful and a state-of-the-art and reliable diagnostic system is an essential part of such a facility.

This project covers R&D work into the enhancement of a beam measurement system that detects the transverse 2D-beam profile as well as the beam emittance in an accelerator-based cancer therapy centre with a focus at low beam energies. The work includes investigations into adequate screen materials in terms of screen life time and linearity of the signal output, followed by beam tests and evaluation of the experimental data. A particular challenge is to identify a material that can withstand the comparably high ion beam currents of up to 20 mA, resulting in a high heat load on the screen.

In a second step, a pepper-pot type emittance meter will be developed that fits in the existing beam line. This device will then be used to optimize the output emittance of the ion source.