Abstract: A new method to tag the barium daughter in the double-beta decay of Xe-136 is reported. Using the technique of single molecule fluorescent imaging (SMFI), individual barium dication (Ba++) resolution at a transparent scanning surface is demonstrated. A single-step photobleach confirms the single ion interpretation. Individual ions are localized with superresolution (similar to 2 nm), and detected with a statistical significance of 12.9 sigma over backgrounds. This lays the foundation for a new and potentially background-free neutrinoless double-beta decay technology, based on SMFI coupled to high pressure xenon gas time projection chambers.

Abstract: Fluoroscopy guided interventional procedures provide remarkable benefits to patients. However, medical staff working near the scattered radiation field may be exposed to high cumulative equivalent doses, thus requiring shielding devices such as lead aprons and thyroid collars. In this situation, it remains an acceptable practice to derive equivalent doses to the eye lenses or other unprotected soft tissues with a dosimeter placed above these protective devices. Nevertheless, the radiation backscattered by the lead shield differs from that generated during dosimeter calibration with a water phantom. In this study, a passive personal thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) was modelled by means of the Monte Carlo (MC) code Penelope. The results obtained were validated against measurements performed in reference conditions in a secondary standard dosimetry laboratory. Next, the MC model was used to evaluate the backscatter correction factor needed for the case where the dosimeter is worn over a lead shield to estimate the personal equivalent dose H-p(0.07) to unprotected soft tissues. For this purpose, the TLD was irradiated over a water slab phantom with a photon beam representative of the result of a fluoroscopy beam scattered by a patient. Incident beam angles of 0 degrees and 60 degrees, and lead thicknesses between the TLD and phantom of 0.25 and 0.5 mm Pb were considered. A backscatter correction factor of 1.23 (independent of lead thickness) was calculated comparing the results with those faced in reference conditions (i.e., without lead shield and with an angular incidence of 0 degrees). The corrected dose algorithm was validated in laboratory conditions with dosi-meters irradiated over a thyroid collar and angular incidences of 0 degrees, 40 degrees and 60 degrees, as well as with dosimeters worn by interventional radiologists and cardiologists. The corrected dose algorithm provides a better approach to estimate the equivalent dose to unprotected soft tissues such as eye lenses. Dosimeters that are not shielded from backscatter radiation might underestimate personal equivalent doses when worn over a lead apron and, therefore, should be specifically characterized for this purpose.

Abstract: Hadron therapy offers the possibility of delivering a large amount of radiation dose to tumors with minimal absorption by the surrounding healthy tissue. In order to fully exploit the advantages of this technique, the use of real-time beam monitoring devices becomes mandatory. Compton imaging devices can be employed to map the distribution of prompt gamma emission during the treatment and thus assess its correct delivery. The Compton telescope prototype developed at IFIC-Valencia for this purpose is made of three layers of LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon photomultipliers. The system has been tested in a 4.44 MeV gamma field at the 3 MV Tandetron accelerator at HZDR, Dresden. Images of the target with the system in three different positions separated by 10 mm were successfully reconstructed. This indicates the ability of MACACO for imaging the prompt gamma rays emitted at such energies.

Abstract: The (33)(n , alpha)Si-30 cross section has been measured at the neutron time-of-flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN in the neutron energy range from 10 to 300 keV relative to the B-10(n, alpha)(7) Li cross-section standard. Both reactions were measured simultaneously with a set of micromegas detectors. The flight path of 185 m has allowed us to obtain the cross section with high-energy resolution. An accurate description of the resonances has been performed by means of the multilevel multichannel R-matrix code SAMMY. The results show a significantly higher area of the biggest resonance (13.45 keV) than the unique high-resolution (n , alpha) measurement. The new parametrization of the 13.45-keV resonance is similar to that of the unique transmission measurement. This resonance is a matter of research in neutron-capture therapy. The S-33(n, alpha)Si-30 cross section has been studied in previous works because of its role in the production of S-36 in stars, which is currently overproduced in stellar models compared to observations.

Abstract: Given the strong variations in the sensitivity of Compton cameras for the detection of events originating from different points in the field of view (FoV), sensitivity correction is often necessary in Compton image reconstruction. Several approaches for the calculation of the sensitivity matrix have been proposed in the literature. While most of these models are easily implemented and can be useful in many cases, they usually assume high angular coverage over the scattered photon, which is not the case for our prototype. In this work, we have derived an analytical model that allows us to calculate a detailed sensitivity matrix, which has been compared to other sensitivity models in the literature. Specifically, the proposed model describes the probability of measuring a useful event in a two-plane Compton camera, including the most relevant physical processes involved. The model has been used to obtain an expression for the system and sensitivity matrices for iterative image reconstruction. These matrices have been validated taking Monte Carlo simulations as a reference. In order to study the impact of the sensitivity, images reconstructed with our sensitivity model and with other models have been compared. Images have been reconstructed from several simulated sources, including point-like sources and extended distributions of activity, and also from experimental data measured with Na-22 sources. Results show that our sensitivity model is the best suited for our prototype. Although other models in the literature perform successfully in many scenarios, they are not applicable in all the geometrical configurations of interest for our system. In general, our model allows to effectively recover the intensity of point-like sources at different positions in the FoV and to reconstruct regions of homogeneous activity with minimal variance. Moreover, it can be employed for all Compton camera configurations, including those with low angular coverage over the scatterer.