Journal Description
Quantum Beam Science
Quantum Beam Science
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on research derived from beam line facilities and related techniques published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, Astrophysics Data System, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Nuclear and High Energy Physics)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 27.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 5.1 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
1.3 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
1.3 (2023)
Latest Articles
Stable and Tunable Erbium Ring Laser by Rayleigh Backscattering Feedback and Saturable Absorber for Single-Mode Operation
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(4), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8040025 - 2 Oct 2024
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This work demonstrates a high-quality erbium-doped fiber (EDF) ring laser in the L-band gain range by combining the Rayleigh backscattering (RB) feedback signal and unpumped EDF induced saturable absorber (SA) filter. The optical filter effect induced by the RB feedback injection and EDF
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This work demonstrates a high-quality erbium-doped fiber (EDF) ring laser in the L-band gain range by combining the Rayleigh backscattering (RB) feedback signal and unpumped EDF induced saturable absorber (SA) filter. The optical filter effect induced by the RB feedback injection and EDF SA could generate single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) behavior and shrink the linewidth to sub-kHz. The output linewidth, power, and optical-signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of the fiber ring laser were also shown within the 42 nm wavelength bandwidth of 1565.0 to 1607.0 nm. Also, the instabilities of output power and central wavelength of each lasing lightwave were analyzed with a measurement time of 45 min.
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Open AccessReview
Tracking Detectors in Low-Energy Nuclear Physics: An Overview
by
Jelena Vesić
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030024 - 3 Sep 2024
Abstract
Advances in accelerator technology have enabled the use of exotic and intense radioactive ion beams. Enhancements to tracking detectors are necessary to accommodate increased particle rates. Recent advancements in digital electronics have led to the construction or planning of next-generation detectors. To conduct
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Advances in accelerator technology have enabled the use of exotic and intense radioactive ion beams. Enhancements to tracking detectors are necessary to accommodate increased particle rates. Recent advancements in digital electronics have led to the construction or planning of next-generation detectors. To conduct kinematically complete measurements, it is essential to track and detect all particles produced as a result of the reaction. Furthermore, the need for high-precision physics experiments has led to significant developments in the detector field. In recent years, highly efficient and highly granular tracking detectors have been developed. These detectors significantly enhance the physics programme at dedicated facilities. An overview of charged-particle tracking detectors in low-energy nuclear physics will be given.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2024)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Does the Maximum Initial Beam Energy for Proton Therapy Have to Be 230 MeV?
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Chris J. Beltran, Alvaro Perales and Keith M. Furutani
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030023 - 3 Sep 2024
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Proton therapy is increasingly widespread and requires an accelerator to provide the high energy protons. Most often, the accelerators used for proton therapy are cyclotrons and the maximum initial beam energy (MIBE) is about 230 MeV or more to be able to achieve
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Proton therapy is increasingly widespread and requires an accelerator to provide the high energy protons. Most often, the accelerators used for proton therapy are cyclotrons and the maximum initial beam energy (MIBE) is about 230 MeV or more to be able to achieve a range of approximately 30 cm in water. We ask whether such a high energy is necessary for adequate dosimetry for pathologies to be treated with proton beams. Eight patients of different clinical sites (brain, prostate, and head and neck cancers) were selected to conduct this study. We analyzed the tumor dose coverage and homogeneity, as well as healthy tissue protection for MIBE values of 120, 160, 180, 200 and 230 MeV. For each patient, a proton plan was developed using the particular MIBE and then using multifield optimization (MFO). In this way, 34 plans in total were generated to fulfill the unique clinical goals. This study found that MIBE of 120 MeV for brain tumors; 160 MeV for head and neck cancer; and remarkably, for prostate cancer, only 160 MeV for one patient case and 180 MeV for the remainder satisfied the clinical goals (words: 187 < approx. 200 words or less)
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2024)
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Open AccessArticle
Multi-Technique Characterization of Cartonnage and Linen Samples of an Egyptian Mummy from the Roman Period
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Francis Sanches, Isis Franzi, Josiane Cavalcante, Roberta Borges, Anderson de Paula, Alessandra Machado, Raysa Nardes, Ramon Santos, Hamilton Gama Filho, Renato Freitas, Joaquim Assis, Marcelino Anjos, Ricardo Lopes and Davi Oliveira
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030022 - 1 Sep 2024
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The historical and cultural significance of artistic works and archaeological artifacts underscores the imperative use of non-destructive testing methods in cultural heritage objects. Analyzing pigments in artwork poses a specific analytical challenge that demands a combination of various techniques to accurately determine chemical
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The historical and cultural significance of artistic works and archaeological artifacts underscores the imperative use of non-destructive testing methods in cultural heritage objects. Analyzing pigments in artwork poses a specific analytical challenge that demands a combination of various techniques to accurately determine chemical compositions. In this context, our work focused on the multi-analytical characterization of samples derived from fragments of a Roman-era Egyptian mummy named Kherima, dating back to around 200 AD. To identify the layers and elemental composition of the pigments used in the decoration, various techniques were employed: X-ray microfluorescence (µXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution optical microscopy (OM), and X-ray computed microtomography (microCT). This multi-analytical approach facilitated the identification of the original pigments in the analyzed mummy fragments, along with insights into the materials used in the ground layer and the techniques applied in artifact manufacturing, indicating their accordance with the historical period and region to which they originally belonged.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2024)
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Open AccessCommunication
Generalized N-Dimensional Effective Temperature for Cryogenic Systems in Accelerator Physics
by
Heetae Kim and Chang-Soo Park
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030021 - 27 Aug 2024
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Investigations into the properties of generalized effective temperature are conducted across arbitrary dimensions. Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution is displayed for one, two, and three dimensions, with effective temperatures expressed for each dimension. The energy density of blackbody radiation is examined as a function of dimensionality.
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Investigations into the properties of generalized effective temperature are conducted across arbitrary dimensions. Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution is displayed for one, two, and three dimensions, with effective temperatures expressed for each dimension. The energy density of blackbody radiation is examined as a function of dimensionality. Effective temperatures for non-uniform temperature distributions in one, two, three, and higher dimensions are presented, with generalizations extended to arbitrary dimensions. Furthermore, the application of generalized effective temperature is explored not only for linearly non-uniform temperature distributions but also for scenarios involving the volume fraction of two distinct temperature distributions. The effective temperature is determined for a cryogenic system supplied with both liquid nitrogen and liquid helium. This effective temperature is applied to the Coefficient of Performance (COP) in cryogenic systems and can also be applied to high-energy accelerator physics, including high-dimensional physics.
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Open AccessArticle
Coulomb Spike Model of Radiation Damage in Wide Band-Gap Insulators
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Jean-Marc Costantini and Tatsuhiko Ogawa
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030020 - 9 Aug 2024
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A novel Coulomb spike concept is applied to the radiation damage induced in LiF and SiO2 with about the same mass density (~2.65 g cm−3) by and ions of 1.0-MeV u−1
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A novel Coulomb spike concept is applied to the radiation damage induced in LiF and SiO2 with about the same mass density (~2.65 g cm−3) by and ions of 1.0-MeV u−1 energy for about the same electronic energy loss (~10 MeV µm−1). This is an alternative concept to the already known models of the Coulomb spike and inelastic thermal spike for the damage induced by swift heavy ion irradiations. The distribution of ionizations and electrostatic energy gained in the electric field by the ionized atoms is computed with the PHITS code for both targets. Further, the atomic collision cascades induced by these low-energy hot ions of about 500 eV are simulated with the SRIM2013 code. It is found that melting is reached in a small volume for SiO2 due to the energy deposition in the subthreshold events of nuclear collisions induced by the Si and O ions. For LiF, the phonon contribution to the stopping power of the lighter Li and F ions is not sufficient to induce melting, even though the melting temperature is lower than for SiO2. The formation of amorphous domains in SiO2 is likely after fast quenching of the small molten pockets, whereas only point defects may be formed in LiF.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2024)
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Open AccessReview
Quantum Correlation Enhanced Optical Imaging
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Siddhant Vernekar and Jolly Xavier
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030019 - 2 Aug 2024
Abstract
Quantum correlations, especially time correlations, are crucial in ghost imaging for significantly reducing the background noise on the one hand while increasing the imaging resolution. Moreover, the time correlations serve as a critical reference, distinguishing between signal and noise, which in turn enable
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Quantum correlations, especially time correlations, are crucial in ghost imaging for significantly reducing the background noise on the one hand while increasing the imaging resolution. Moreover, the time correlations serve as a critical reference, distinguishing between signal and noise, which in turn enable clear visualization of biological samples. Quantum imaging also addresses the challenge involved in imaging delicate biological structures with minimal photon exposure and sample damage. Here, we explore the recent progress in quantum correlation-based imaging, notably its impact on secure imaging and remote sensing protocols as well as on biological imaging. We also exploit the quantum characteristics of heralded single-photon sources (HSPS) combined with decoy state methods for secure imaging. This method uses Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) principles to reduce measurement uncertainties and protect data integrity. It is highly effective in low-photon number regimes for producing high-quality, noise-reduced images. The versatility of decoy state methods with WCSs (WCS) is also discussed, highlighting their suitability for scenarios requiring higher photon numbers. We emphasize the dual advantages of these techniques: improving image quality through noise reduction and enhancing data security with quantum encryption, suggesting significant potential for quantum imaging in various applications, from delicate biological imaging to secure quantum imaging and communication.
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(This article belongs to the Section Medical and Biological Applications)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Comparative Evaluation of Two Analytical Functions for the Microdosimetry of Ions from 1H to 238U
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Alessio Parisi, Keith M. Furutani, Tatsuhiko Sato and Chris J. Beltran
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030018 - 10 Jul 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
The analytical microdosimetric function (AMF) implemented in the Monte Carlo code PHITS is a unique tool that bridges the gap between macro- and microscopic scales of radiation interactions, enabling accurate microdosimetric calculations over macroscopic bodies. The original AMF was published in 2006, based
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The analytical microdosimetric function (AMF) implemented in the Monte Carlo code PHITS is a unique tool that bridges the gap between macro- and microscopic scales of radiation interactions, enabling accurate microdosimetric calculations over macroscopic bodies. The original AMF was published in 2006, based on the results of track structure calculations. Recently, a newer version of the AMF was proposed, incorporating an improved description of the energy loss at the microscopic scale. This study compares the older and the newer AMFs in computing microdosimetric probability distributions, mean values, and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE). To this end, 16000 microdosimetric lineal energy probability density distributions were simulated with PHITS for ions from 1H to 238U over a broad energy range (1–1000 MeV/n). The newer AMF was found to offer superior performance, particularly for very heavy ions, producing results that align more closely with published in vitro clonogenic survival experiments. These findings suggest that the updated AMF provides a more reliable tool for microdosimetric calculations and RBE modeling, essential for ion radiation therapy and space radiation protection.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2024)
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Open AccessTechnical Note
Prototype Setup Hardware Choice for the DUCK System
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Dmitriy Beznosko, Valeriy Aseykin, Alexander Dyshkant, Alexander Iakovlev, Oleg Krivosheev, Tatiana Krivosheev, Vladimir Shiltsev and Valeriy Zhukov
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(3), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8030017 - 10 Jul 2024
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This article covers the overall design hardware choices for the prototyping activities for the DUCK (Detector system of Unusual Cosmic ray casKades). The primary goal of the DUCK system is to verify the existence of the unusual cosmic events reported by other collaborations
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This article covers the overall design hardware choices for the prototyping activities for the DUCK (Detector system of Unusual Cosmic ray casKades). The primary goal of the DUCK system is to verify the existence of the unusual cosmic events reported by other collaborations and to look at the possibilities of adding innovations to the EAS (Extensive Atmospheric Shower) analysis methods of the EAS disk measurements at the observation level. Additionally, design and construction of the system provide educational experience to the students involved in the project and are developing the research capabilities of the university campus. The prototyping process has helped to choose between various design solutions in the process of optimizing of the individual detector components.
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(This article belongs to the Section Instrumentation and Facilities)
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Open AccessArticle
High Energy Pulsed Laser Beam to Produce a Thin Layer of Crystalline Silver without Heating the Deposition Substrate and Its Catalytic Effects
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Alexandru Cocean, Georgiana Cocean, Cristina Postolachi, Silvia Garofalide, Daniela Angelica Pricop, Bogdanel Silvestru Munteanu, Georgiana Bulai, Nicanor Cimpoesu, Iuliana Motrescu, Vasile Pelin, Razvan Vasile Ababei, Dan-Gheorghe Dimitriu, Iuliana Cocean and Silviu Gurlui
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020016 - 19 Jun 2024
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Crystalline silver thin layers were obtained using high-energy pulsed laser ablation without the heating of the deposition substrate. The fluid Plateau–Rayleigh (PRI), Rayleigh–Taylor (RTI), and Richtmyer–Meshkov (RMI) instabilities, as well as the crown splash induced during the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in the
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Crystalline silver thin layers were obtained using high-energy pulsed laser ablation without the heating of the deposition substrate. The fluid Plateau–Rayleigh (PRI), Rayleigh–Taylor (RTI), and Richtmyer–Meshkov (RMI) instabilities, as well as the crown splash induced during the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in the high energy regime, resulting in ring and pearl-shaped structures, offer the benefit of an increased sorption surface. These morphological structures obtained for the silver thin layers make them of interest for catalytic applications. This study addresses both fundamental and applied issues on the morphological structures obtained for the silver thin layers and their catalytic function in organic processes. In this sense, the catalytic action of the thin silver layer was highlighted by modifications of the Reactive Blue 21 dye (C.I.) in an aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate. Specific investigations and analyses were carried out using electron microscopy and elemental analysis (SEM-EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and profilometry, mass spectrometry, ablation plasma diagnosis, diffractograms (XRD), as well as IR spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition to the experimental investigation and analyses, the simulation of the ionization energy threshold was conducted in COMSOL for complementary evaluation on the involved processes and phenomena.
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Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Avoided Level Crossing Muon Spin Resonance Spectra of Muoniated Radicals in Anisotropic Environments: Estimation of Muon Dipolar Hyperfine Parameters for Lorentzian-like Δ1 Resonances
by
Iain McKenzie, Victoria L. Karner and Robert Scheuermann
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020015 - 17 Jun 2024
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Avoided level crossing muon spin resonance (ALC- SR) is used to characterize muoniated free radicals. These radicals are used as probes of the local environment and reorientational motion of specific components in complex systems. The parameter that provides information about the anisotropic
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Avoided level crossing muon spin resonance (ALC- SR) is used to characterize muoniated free radicals. These radicals are used as probes of the local environment and reorientational motion of specific components in complex systems. The parameter that provides information about the anisotropic motion is the motionally-averaged muon dipolar-hyperfine coupling constant ( ). The ALC- SR spectra of muoniated radicals in anisotropic environments frequently have Lorentzian-like resonances, which makes it challenging to extract . In this paper, we derive a means to estimate from ALC- SR spectra with Lorentzian-like resonances by measuring the amplitude, width, and position of the resonance and the amplitude, width, and position of a resonance. Numerical simulations were used to test this relationship for radicals with a wide range of muon and proton hyperfine parameters. We use this methodology to determine for the Mu adducts of the cosurfactant 2-phenylethanol in E4 bilayers. From this we determined the amplitude of the anisotropic reorientational motion of the cosurfactant.
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Open AccessArticle
Effect of Collimation on Diffraction Signal-to-Background Ratios at a Neutron Diffractometer
by
Dunji Yu, Yan Chen, David Conner, Kevin Berry, Harley Skorpenske and Ke An
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020014 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
High diffraction signal-to-background ratios (SBRs), the ratio of diffraction peak integrated intensity over its background intensity, are desirable for a neutron diffractometer to acquire good statistics for diffraction pattern measurements and subsequent data analysis. For a given detector, while the diffraction peak signals
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High diffraction signal-to-background ratios (SBRs), the ratio of diffraction peak integrated intensity over its background intensity, are desirable for a neutron diffractometer to acquire good statistics for diffraction pattern measurements and subsequent data analysis. For a given detector, while the diffraction peak signals primarily depend on the characteristics of the neutron beam and sample coherent scattering, the background largely originates from the sample incoherent scattering and the scattering from the instrument space. In this work, we investigated the effect of collimation on neutron diffraction SBRs of Si powder measurements using one high-angle area detector bank coupled with six different collimation configurations in a large and complex instrument space at the engineering materials diffractometer VULCAN, SNS, ORNL. The results revealed that the diffraction SBRs can be significantly improved by a proper coarse collimator that leaves no gap between the detector and the collimator, and the improvement of SBRs by a fine radial collimator was remarkable with a proper coarse collimator in place but not distinguishable without one. It was also found that the diffraction SBRs were not effectively improved by adding the neutron-absorbing element boron to the fine radial collimator body, which indicates that either the absorption of secondary scattered neutrons by the added boron is insignificant or the collimator base material (resin and ABS) alone attenuates background scattering sufficiently. These findings could serve as a useful reference for diffractometer developers and/or operators to optimize their collimation to achieve higher diffraction SBRs.
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(This article belongs to the Section Instrumentation and Facilities)
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Open AccessArticle
Simulation Dosimetry Studies for FLASH Radiation Therapy (RT) with Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) Electron Beam
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Nick Gazis, Andrea Bignami, Emmanouil Trachanas, Melina Moniaki, Evangelos Gazis, Dimitrios Bandekas and Nikolaos Vordos
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020013 - 24 May 2024
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FLASH-radiotherapy (RT) presents great potential as an alternative to conventional radiotherapy methods in cancer treatment. In this paper, we focus on simulation studies for a linear particle accelerator injector design using the ASTRA code, which permits beam generation and particle tracking through electromagnetic
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FLASH-radiotherapy (RT) presents great potential as an alternative to conventional radiotherapy methods in cancer treatment. In this paper, we focus on simulation studies for a linear particle accelerator injector design using the ASTRA code, which permits beam generation and particle tracking through electromagnetic fields. Space charge-dominated beams were selected with the aim of providing an optimized generated beam profile and accelerator lattice with minimized emittance. The main results of the electron beam and ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) simulation dosimetry studies are reported for the FLASH mode radiobiological treatment. Results for the percentage depth dose (PDD) at electron beam energies of 5, 7, 15, 25, 50, 100 MeV and 1.2 GeV for Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and water phantom vs. the penetration depth are presented. Additionally, the PDD transverse profile was simulated for the above energies, delivering the beam to the phantom. The simulation dosimetry results provide an UHDR electron beam under the conditions of the FLASH-RT. The performance of the beam inside the phantom and the dose depth depends on the linear accelerator beam’s energy and stability.
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Open AccessArticle
Modification of Cu Oxide and Cu Nitride Films by Energetic Ion Impact
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Noriaki Matsunami, Masao Sataka, Satoru Okayasu and Bun Tsuchiya
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020012 - 10 Apr 2024
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We have investigated lattice disordering of cupper oxide (Cu2O) and copper nitride (Cu3N) films induced by high- and low-energy ion impact, knowing that the effects of electronic excitation and elastic collision play roles by these ions, respectively. For high-energy
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We have investigated lattice disordering of cupper oxide (Cu2O) and copper nitride (Cu3N) films induced by high- and low-energy ion impact, knowing that the effects of electronic excitation and elastic collision play roles by these ions, respectively. For high-energy ion impact, degradation of X-ray diffraction (XRD) intensity per ion fluence or lattice disordering cross-section (YXD) fits to the power-law: YXD = (BXDSe)NXD, with Se and BXD being the electronic stopping power and a constant. For Cu2O and Cu3N, NXD is obtained to be 2.42 and 1.75, and BXD is 0.223 and 0.54 (kev/nm)−1. It appears that for low-energy ion impact, YXD is nearly proportional to the nuclear stopping power (Sn). The efficiency of energy deposition, YXD/Se, as well as Ysp/Se, is compared with YXD/Sn, as well as Ysp/Sn. The efficiency ratio RXD = (YXD/Se)/(YXD/Sn) is evaluated to be ~0.1 and ~0.2 at Se = 15 keV/nm for Cu2O and Cu3N, meaning that the efficiency of electronic energy deposition is smaller than that of nuclear energy deposition. Rsp = (Ysp/Se)/(Ysp/Sn) is evaluated to be 0.46 for Cu2O and 0.7 for Cu3N at Se = 15 keV/nm.
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Open AccessArticle
Estimating Lung Volume Capacity from X-ray Images Using Deep Learning
by
Samip Ghimire and Santosh Subedi
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020011 - 28 Mar 2024
Cited by 1
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Estimating lung volume capacity is crucial in clinical medicine, especially in disease diagnostics. However, the existing estimation methods are complex and expensive, which require experts to handle and consequently are more error-prone and time-consuming. Thus, developing an automatic measurement system without a human
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Estimating lung volume capacity is crucial in clinical medicine, especially in disease diagnostics. However, the existing estimation methods are complex and expensive, which require experts to handle and consequently are more error-prone and time-consuming. Thus, developing an automatic measurement system without a human operator that is less prone to human error and, thus, more accurate has always been a prerequisite. The limitation of radiation dose and various medical conditions in technologies like computed tomography was also the primary concern in the past. Although qualitative prediction of lung volume may be a trivial task, designing clinically relevant and automated methods that effectively incorporate imaging data is a challenging problem. This paper proposes a novel multi-tasking-based automatic lung volume estimation method using deep learning that jointly learns segmentation and regression of volume estimation. The two networks, namely, segmentation and regression networks, are sequentially operated with some shared layers. The segmentation network segments the X-ray images, whose output is regressed by the regression network to determine the final lung volume. Besides, the dataset used in the proposed method is collected from three different secondary sources. The experimental results show that the proposed multi-tasking approach performs better than the individual networks. Further analysis of the multi-tasking approach with two different networks, namely, UNet and HRNet, shows that the network with HRNet performs better than the network with UNet with less volume estimation mean square error of 0.0010.
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Open AccessReview
Lithium-Ion Batteries under the X-ray Lens: Resolving Challenges and Propelling Advancements
by
Mahdieh Samimi, Mehran Saadabadi and Hassan Hosseinlaghab
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8020010 - 27 Mar 2024
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The quest for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is at the forefront of energy storage research, necessitating a profound understanding of intricate processes like phase transformations and thermal runaway events. This review paper explores the pivotal role of X-ray spectroscopies in unraveling the mysteries
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The quest for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is at the forefront of energy storage research, necessitating a profound understanding of intricate processes like phase transformations and thermal runaway events. This review paper explores the pivotal role of X-ray spectroscopies in unraveling the mysteries embedded within LIBs, focusing on the utilization of advanced techniques for comprehensive insights. This explores recent advancements in in situ characterization tools, prominently featuring X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray tomography (XRT), and transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM). Each technique contributes to a comprehensive understanding of structure, morphology, chemistry, and kinetics in LIBs, offering a selective analysis that optimizes battery electrodes and enhances overall performance. The investigation commences by highlighting the indispensability of tracking phase transformations. Existing challenges in traditional methods, like X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), become evident when faced with nanoscale inhomogeneities during the delithiation process. Recognizing this limitation, the review emphasizes the significance of advanced techniques featuring nanoscale resolution. These tools offer unprecedented insights into material structures and surface chemistry during LIB operation, empowering researchers to address the challenges posed by thermal runaway. Such insights prove critical in unraveling interfacial transport mechanisms and phase transformations, providing a roadmap for the development of safe and high-performance energy storage systems. The integration of X-ray spectroscopies not only enhances our understanding of fundamental processes within LIBs but also propels the development of safer, more efficient, and reliable energy storage solutions. In spite of those benefits, X-ray spectroscopies have some limitations in regard to studying LIBs, as referred to in this review.
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Open AccessArticle
Development of a Time-Gated Epithermal Neutron Spectrometer for Resonance Absorption Measurements Driven by a High-Intensity Laser
by
Zechen Lan, Yasunobu Arikawa, Yuki Abe, Seyed Reza Mirfayzi, Alessio Morace, Takehito Hayakawa, Tianyun Wei and Akifumi Yogo
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8010009 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
The advance of laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) has enabled neutron resonance spectroscopy to be performed with a single shot of a laser. In this study, we describe a detection system of epithermal (∼eV) neutrons especially designed for neutron resonance spectroscopy. A time-gated photomultiplier
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The advance of laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) has enabled neutron resonance spectroscopy to be performed with a single shot of a laser. In this study, we describe a detection system of epithermal (∼eV) neutrons especially designed for neutron resonance spectroscopy. A time-gated photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a high cut-off ratio was introduced for epithermal neutron detection in a high-power laser experiment at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University. We successfully reduced the PMT response to the intense hard X-ray generated as a result of the interaction between laser light and the target material. A time-gated circuit was designed to turn off the response of the PMT during the laser pulse and resume recording the signal when neutrons arrive. The time-gated PMT was coupled with a 6Li glass scintillator, serving as a time-of-flight (TOF) detector to measure the neutron resonance absorption values of 182W and 109Ag in a laser-driven epithermal neutron generation experiment. The neutron resonance peaks at eV of 182W and eV of 109Ag were detected after a single pulse of laser at a distance of 1.07 m.
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(This article belongs to the Section High-Power Laser Physics)
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Open AccessArticle
New Ballistic Neutron Guide for the Time-of-Flight Spectrometer FOCUS at PSI
by
Fanni Juranyi, Masako Yamada, Christine Klauser, Lothar Holitzner and Uwe Filges
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8010008 - 13 Feb 2024
Abstract
FOCUS is a direct-geometry cold neutron time-of-flight spectrometer at SINQ (PSI, CH). Its neutron guide was exchanged in 2019/2020 within the SINQ Upgrade project, while the rest of the instrument remained unchanged. The new guide provided a significant intensity increase across the whole
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FOCUS is a direct-geometry cold neutron time-of-flight spectrometer at SINQ (PSI, CH). Its neutron guide was exchanged in 2019/2020 within the SINQ Upgrade project, while the rest of the instrument remained unchanged. The new guide provided a significant intensity increase across the whole spectrum, especially at short wavelengths, due to the more efficient transport and extended phase space of the transported neutrons. The practically available energy transfer range (at the neutron energy loss side) was increased to about 40 meV. The main reason for the intensity benefit at short incident wavelengths was the improved guide coating, whereas at long wavelengths it was the new ballistic shape. The interesting part of the guide is the “peanut shape” of the curved part in the horizontal plane. For this, we derived the analytical restriction on the geometry to avoid a direct line of sight from the source. The guide geometry and the supermirror coating were optimized using Mcoptimize, a particle swarm optimization routine employing Mcstas. Future ballistic neutron guides may profit from the presented approaches, optimization strategy, and results.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Neutron Instrumentation, 2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Principal Preferred Orientation Evaluation of Steel Materials Using Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction
by
Pingguang Xu, Shuyan Zhang, Stefanus Harjo, Sven C. Vogel and Yo Tomota
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8010007 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Comprehensive information on in situ microstructural and crystallographic changes during the preparation/manufacturing processes of various materials is highly necessary to precisely control the microstructural morphology and the preferred orientation (or texture) characteristics for achieving an excellent strength–ductility–toughness balance in advanced engineering materials. In
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Comprehensive information on in situ microstructural and crystallographic changes during the preparation/manufacturing processes of various materials is highly necessary to precisely control the microstructural morphology and the preferred orientation (or texture) characteristics for achieving an excellent strength–ductility–toughness balance in advanced engineering materials. In this study, in situ isothermal annealing experiments with cold-rolled 17Ni-0.2C (mass%) martensitic steel sheets were carried out by using the TAKUMI and ENGIN-X time-of-flight neutron diffractometers. The inverse pole figures based on full-profile refinement were extracted to roughly evaluate the preferred orientation features along three principal sample directions of the investigated steel sheets, using the General Structure Analysis System (GSAS) software with built-in generalized spherical harmonic functions. The consistent rolling direction (RD) inverse pole figures from TAKUMI and ENGIN-X confirmed that the time-of-flight neutron diffraction has high repeatability and statistical reliability, revealing that the principal preferred orientation evaluation of steel materials can be realized through 90° TD ➜ ND (transverse direction ➜ normal direction) rotation of the investigated specimen on the sample stage during two neutron diffraction experiments. Moreover, these RD, TD, and ND inverse pole figures before and after the in situ experiments were compared with the corresponding inverse pole figures recalculated from the MUSASI-L complete pole figure measurement and the HIPPO in situ microstructure evaluation, respectively. The similar orientation distribution characteristics suggested that the principal preferred orientation evaluation method can be applied to the in situ microstructural evolution of bulk orthorhombic materials and spatially resolved principal preferred orientation mappings of large engineering structure parts.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Strain, Stress and Texture with Quantum Beams, 2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Spectral Characteristics of Polarization Radiation in the Water Window Range
by
M. V. Shevelev, A. S. Konkov, S. R. Uglov, B. A. Alekseev and Yu. M. Cherepennikov
Quantum Beam Sci. 2024, 8(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs8010006 - 15 Jan 2024
Abstract
The high-intensity and monochromatic radiation sources in the water window spectral range are desirable for many applications. One of the potential candidates of soft X-ray sources is polarization radiation produced by a charged particle passing through a thin foil. In the soft X-ray
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The high-intensity and monochromatic radiation sources in the water window spectral range are desirable for many applications. One of the potential candidates of soft X-ray sources is polarization radiation produced by a charged particle passing through a thin foil. In the soft X-ray range near the absorption edges of a target material, the real part of dielectric permittivity can exceed unity, and the Tamm–Frank criterion is fulfilled. Thus, two types of radiation are produced: transition and Cherenkov radiation. In this report, we theoretically investigated the spectral characteristics of radiation produced in both cases when the Tamm–Frank criterion is met or not met. We showed the dependences of the spectrum as a function of thickness and the incidence angle. To describe the properties of polarization radiation and the complex dielectric permittivity, the polarization current approach and Henke’s model were used, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Beam Science: Feature Papers 2023)
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