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Barrientos, L., Borja-Lloret, M., Casaña, J. V., Dendooven, P., Garcia Lopez, J. G., Hueso-Gonzalez, F., et al. (2024). Gamma-ray sources imaging and test-beam results with MACACO III Compton camera. Phys. Medica, 117, 103199–10pp.
Abstract: Hadron therapy is a radiotherapy modality which offers a precise energy deposition to the tumors and a dose reduction to healthy tissue as compared to conventional methods. However, methods for real-time monitoring are required to ensure that the radiation dose is deposited on the target. The IRIS group of IFIC-Valencia developed a Compton camera prototype for this purpose, intending to image the Prompt Gammas emitted by the tissue during irradiation. The system detectors are composed of Lanthanum (III) bromide scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers. After an initial characterization in the laboratory, in order to assess the system capabilities for future experiments in proton therapy centers, different tests were carried out in two facilities: PARTREC (Groningen, The Netherlands) and the CNA cyclotron (Sevilla, Spain). Characterization studies performed at PARTREC indicated that the detectors linearity was improved with respect to the previous version and an energy resolution of 5.2 % FWHM at 511 keV was achieved. Moreover, the imaging capabilities of the system were evaluated with a line source of 68Ge and a point-like source of 241Am-9Be. Images at 4.439 MeV were obtained from irradiation of a graphite target with an 18 MeV proton beam at CNA, to perform a study of the system potential to detect shifts at different intensities. In this sense, the system was able to distinguish 1 mm variations in the target position at different beam current intensities for measurement times of 1800 and 600 s.
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Babiano, V., Caballero, L., Calvo, D., Ladarescu, I., Olleros, P., & Domingo-Pardo, C. (2019). gamma-Ray position reconstruction in large monolithic LaCl3(Ce) crystals with SiPM readout. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 931, 1–22.
Abstract: We report on the spatial response characterization of large LaCl3(Ce) monolithic crystals optically coupled to 8 x 8 pixel silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors. A systematic study has been carried out for 511 keV gamma-rays using three different crystal thicknesses of 10 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm, all of them with planar geometry and a base size of 50 x 50 mm(2). In this work we investigate and compare two different approaches for the determination of the main gamma-ray hit location. On one hand, methods based on the fit of an analytical model for the scintillation light distribution provide the best results in terms of linearity and field of view, with spatial resolutions close to similar to 1 mm FWHM. On the other hand, position reconstruction techniques based on neural networks provide similar linearity and field-of-view, becoming the attainable spatial resolution similar to 3 mm FWHM. For the third space coordinate z or depth-of-interaction we have implemented an inverse linear calibration approach based on the cross-section of the measured scintillation-light distribution at a certain height. The detectors characterized in this work are intended for the development of so-called Total Energy Detectors with Compton imaging capability (i-TED), aimed at enhanced sensitivity and selectivity measurements of neutron capture cross sections via the time-of-flight (TOF) technique.
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Balibrea-Correa, J., Lerendegui-Marco, J., Babiano-Suarez, V., Caballero, L., Calvo, D., Ladarescu, I., et al. (2021). Machine Learning aided 3D-position reconstruction in large LaCl3 crystals. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1001, 165249–17pp.
Abstract: We investigate five different models to reconstruct the 3D gamma-ray hit coordinates in five large LaCl3(Ce) monolithic crystals optically coupled to pixelated silicon photomultipliers. These scintillators have a base surface of 50 x 50 mm(2) and five different thicknesses, from 10 mm to 30 mm. Four of these models are analytical prescriptions and one is based on a Convolutional Neural Network. Average resolutions close to 1-2 mm fwhm are obtained in the transverse crystal plane for crystal thicknesses between 10 mm and 20 mm using analytical models. For thicker crystals average resolutions of about 3-5 mm fwhm are obtained. Depth of interaction resolutions between 1 mm and 4 mm are achieved depending on the distance of the interaction point to the photosensor surface. We propose a Machine Learning algorithm to correct for linearity distortions and pin-cushion effects. The latter allows one to keep a large field of view of about 70%-80% of the crystal surface, regardless of crystal thickness. This work is aimed at optimizing the performance of the so-called Total Energy Detector with Compton imaging capability (i-TED) for time-of-flight neutron capture cross-section measurements.
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Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2015). The quantum, the geon and the crystal. Int. J. Mod. Phys. D, 24(9), 1542013–15pp.
Abstract: Effective geometries arising from a hypothetical discrete structure of spacetime can play an important role in the understanding of the gravitational physics beyond General Relativity (GR). To discuss this question, we make use of lessons from crystalline systems within solid state physics, where the presence of defects in the discrete microstructure of the crystal determine the kind of effective geometry needed to properly describe the system in the macroscopic continuum limit. In this work, we study metric-affine theories with nonmetricity and torsion, which are the gravitational analog of crystalline structures with point defects and dislocations. We consider a crystal-motivated gravitational action and show the presence of topologically nontrivial structures (wormholes) supported by an electromagnetic field. Their existence has important implications for the quantum foam picture and the effective gravitational geometries. We discuss how the dialogue between solid state physics systems and modified gravitational theories can provide useful insights on both sides.
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Cabanelas, P. et al, & Nacher, E. (2020). Performance recovery of long CsI(Tl) scintillator crystals with APD-based readout. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 965, 163845–6pp.
Abstract: CALIFA is the high efficiency and energy resolution calorimeter for the (RB)-B-3 experiment at FAIR, intended for detecting high energy light charged particles and gamma rays in scattering experiments, and is being commissioned during the Phase-0 experiments at FAIR, between 2018 and 2020. It surrounds the reaction target in a segmented configuration with 2432 detection units made of long CsI(Tl) finger-shaped scintillator crystals. CALIFA has a 10 year intended operational lifetime as the (RB)-B-3 calorimeter, necessitating measures to be taken to ensure enduring performance. In this paper we present a systematic study of two groups of 6 different detection units of the CALIFA detector after more than four years of operation. The energy resolution and light output yield are evaluated under different conditions. Tests cover the aging of the first detector units assembled and investigates recovery procedures for degraded detection units. A possible reason for the observed degradation is given, pointing to the crystal-APD coupling.
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