Author: Nielsen, B.R.
Paper Title Page
TUPC066 Charged Particle Beam Profile Detector based on Yb-doped Optical Fibers 1150
 
  • C.S. Søndergaard
    Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
  • A. Baurichter, B.R. Nielsen
    Danfysik A/S, Jyllinge, Denmark
  • G. Boudreault
    Rigshospitalet Copenhagen, PET and Cyclotron Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • K. Hansen, D.V. Madsen, J. Rasmussen, B.F. Skipper
    Aarhus School of Engineering, Aarhus, Denmark
  • M. Kristensen
    Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
  • S.P. Møller
    ISA, Aarhus, Denmark
  • A. Peters
    HIT, Heidelberg, Germany
 
  Funding: The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, contract # 002-2005-1
A radiation robust, high dynamic range beam profile detector based on scintillating fibers will be presented. The beam profile detector has been developed for particle therapy type ion beams of multiple hundreds MeV/n in the intensity range from 105 to 109 ions/s as a simple and less expensive replacement for MWPC based detectors. Scintillating fibers are typically based on doped polymers, which are sensitive to radiation damage. Here we report on the advantage of using silica optical fibers doped with rare-earth elements for the purpose of detecting ionizing radiation. Specifically, we find that ytterbium doped fibers generate a strong emission signal in the near-infrared from the Yb3+ state when penetrated by ionizing radiation, and that the emission has a high resistance against the accumulated dose in the fiber. We demonstrate the use of such fibers in a beam profile detector for charged particle beams in medical applications (radionuclide production and hadron therapy); more generally they are a promising alternative for prolonged used in ionizing radiation, such as accelerator diagnostics equipment or space applications.