Comprehensive characterization and validation of a fast-resolving (1000 Hz) plastic scintillator for ultra-high dose rate electron dosimetry

TL;DR

This study evaluates a fast-resolving plastic scintillator's performance at up to 1000 Hz for ultra-high dose rate electron beam dosimetry, demonstrating its potential for accurate, real-time FLASH radiotherapy dose measurements.

Contribution

We demonstrated the HYPERSCINT RP-FLASH scintillator's high-speed response and validated its dosimetric accuracy for UHDR electron beams at up to 1000 Hz sampling frequency.

Findings

Accurate dose measurements at UHDR with 1000 Hz sampling.

Good linearity and stability across different beam parameters.

Validated pulse-resolved dose measurements with scintillator and PMT detector.

Abstract

Background: The normal tissue sparing effect of ultra-high dose rate irradiation (>40 Gy/s, UHDR), as compared to conventional dose rate (CONV), has attracted significant research interest for FLASH radiotherapy (RT). Accurate, dose rate independent, fast-responding dosimeters capable of resolving the spatiotemporal characteristics of UHDR beams are urgently needed to facilitate FLASH research and support its clinical translation. Tissue-equivalent scintillators, with millimeter-level spatial resolution and millisecond-level temporal resolution, possess these required characteristics and show strong potential for use in UHDR dosimetry. Purpose: We investigated the performance of the HYPERSCINT RP-FLASH scintillator system at up to 1000 Hz sampling frequency (fs) for UHDR electron beam dosimetry. Methods: The scintillator was exposed to CONV and UHDR electron irradiation using a LINAC-based FLASH platform. Its spectral characteristics were delineated with a four-component calibration, followed by a signal-to-dose calibration using 18 MeV CONV electron beam. The dose linearity and dosimetric accuracy in response to CONV and UHDR irradiation at 1 and 1000 Hz fs were quantified against ion chamber and EBT-XD film measurements. The response of the scintillator system was investigated as a function of beam energy (6 and 18 MeV), field size (2x2 to 25x25 cm2), dose per pulse (DPP, 0.8 to 2.3 Gy/pulse), and pulse repetition frequency (PRF, 30 to 180 Hz). Relative signal sensitivity was quantified against accumulated dose to account for the scintillator's radiation degradation. Pulse-resolved dose measurements at 18 MeV UHDR, obtained using the scintillator with 1000 Hz fs for a train of 10 pulses at 180 Hz PRF, were validated with a PMT-fiber optic scattered radiation detector.