CERN-based experiments and Monte-Carlo studies on focused dose delivery with very high energy electron (VHEE) beams for radiotherapy applications

Journal article

Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) beams are a promising alternative to conventional radiotherapy due to their highly penetrating nature and their applicability as a modality for FLASH (ultra-high dose-rate) radiotherapy. The dose distributions due to VHEE need to be optimised; one option is through the use of quadrupole magnets to focus the beam, reducing the dose to healthy tissue and allowing for targeted dose delivery at conventional or FLASH dose-rates. This paper presents an in depth exploration of the focusing achievable at the current CLEAR (CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research) facility, for beam energies >200 MeV. A shorter, more optimal quadrupole setup was also investigated using the TOPAS code in Monte Carlo simulations, with dimensions and beam parameters more appropriate to a clinical situation. This work provides insight into how a focused VHEE radiotherapy beam delivery system might be achieved.

Authors: Whitmore, L; Mackay, RI; van Herk, M; Korysko, P; Farabolini, W

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 11120-11120
• Article number: 11120
• Publication date: 2024-05-15
• Acceptance date: 2024-04-30
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60997-5
• EISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• Language: English
• Keywords: Monte Carlo method; Large Hadron Collider; Quadrupole magnet; Beam (structure); Physics; Linear particle accelerator; Radiation; Quadrupole; Cathode ray; Nuclear engineering; Radiation therapy; Electron; Particle accelerator; Flash (photography); Computational physics; Computer science; Nuclear physics; Medical physics; Optics; Medicine; Atomic physics; Mathematics; Radiology; Engineering