Focusing of high energy electron beam using crystal lenses for applications in radiotherapy

TL;DR

This paper investigates using bent silicon crystal lenses to focus high-energy electron beams for radiotherapy, aiming to simplify beam delivery systems compared to traditional magnet-based methods.

Contribution

It explores the feasibility of crystal lenses as a lightweight, simpler alternative to quadrupole magnets for focusing electron beams in radiotherapy.

Findings

Simulation confirms focusing ability of profiled silicon crystal

Focusing strength is currently insufficient

Proposes alternative solutions for improved focusing

Abstract

The two dominant radiotherapy methods are either simplified in terms of beam generation and handling, which compromises the energy deposition curve in tissues (photon therapy), or require extensive accelerator facilities and complex beam delivery systems to provide a favorable shape of the energy deposition curve (hadron therapy). The advantages of both of these methods, such as the low cost of the apparatus, ease of beam generation, and a suitable shape of the energy deposition curve in tissues, can potentially be achieved by using a very high-energy electron beam (beam energy in the order of a few hundreds of MeV) focused on the area of the tumor lesion. However, focusing of the beam is usually done with the use of quadrupole magnets which makes the beam delivery system complex and challenging from the engineering point of view. In this thesis, the feasibility of an alternative solution is explored, where focusing is performed by a bent silicon crystal with an appropriate shape of its exit face. Such a crystal lens can be a very light object (mass in the order of grams), allowing for much simpler beam delivery systems of radiotherapy facilities. As a result of this feasibility study, a simulation of a bent silicon crystal with profiled exit was prepared in Geant4. The outcome obtained from the simulation proved the focusing ability of such profiled crystal. However, the focusing strength of the crystal is not strong enough. Technical requirements needed to enable an improvement in focusing efficiency were identified and understood. Moreover, alternative solutions providing stronger focusing while using profiled crystals were proposed.