Recent Advances in Dosimetry for Ultra High Dose Rate Therapy

The development of new detector technologies for medical dosimetry applied to radiotherapy has garnered significant attention, especially in the context of innovative treatment modalities such as FLASH therapy. This research topic will cover the advancements in dosimetry technologies, focusing on several types of detectors including scintillators, gas detectors, calorimeters, and solid-state detectors. Recent research highlights the potential of FLASH therapy, which delivers ultra-high dose rate radiation sparing surrounding healthy tissue, while maintaining a tumor control probability similar to that of the conventional radiotherapy. Traditional dosimetry techniques, while effective in standard therapies, face challenges in the UHDR conditions. Thus, new detector technologies are integral in accurately measuring the dose distribution and ensuring effective treatment plans. Papers are invited across all topics relevant to dosimetry, detection and beam monitoring for Ultra High Dose Rate Therapy, specifically: - Scintillation and semiconductor detectors for ultra high dose rate- Gas detectors and ionisation chambers for high rate applications - High resolution calorimetry - Physics of dosimetry at ultra high rates - Beam monitoring techniques Scintillators have proven their utility in detecting high-energy radiation. Their fast response times and high sensitivity make them an attractive choice for dosimetry in FLASH therapy. However, their performance can vary depending on the type of scintillating material used; thus, ongoing research aims to optimize the composition for enhanced accuracy and dose resolution. Gas detectors, including ionization chambers, have long been a staple in dosimetry. They offer high precision and are particularly effective in measuring dose rates in both clinical and research settings. The utilization of gas-filled chambers can be critical in UHDR scenarios, allowing for real-time feedback during treatment. However, they saturate at UHDRs due to the high charge densities generated in their cavities and slow drift time in the medium. Calorimeters are another class of detectors that are gaining traction, particularly for their ability to directly measure the deposited energy in a medium. This direct method of energy measurement provides a reliable reference for validating other dosimetry methods. Recent advancements in calorimetry have focused on miniaturization and improved energy resolution, which are crucial to reduce uncertainty in dose measurements since the FLASH effects depend on dose thresholds. Solid-state detectors, including silicon PIN diodes and diamond detectors, have emerged as highly reliable dosimetry tools. Silicon PIN diodes are favored for their compact size and high spatial resolution, but have shown limited radiation hardness and indications of saturation at high dose rates. Diamond detectors are particularly noteworthy for their robustness and ability to operate in extreme conditions, offering promising performance in high dose rate scenarios. Silicon carbide detectors are also under investigation for their potential to withstand radiation damage while maintaining consistent cost-effective performance. This research topic invites papers describing the performance, and limitations, of these detector technologies in the context of medical dosimetry. Submissions should critically analyse performance metrics such as sensitivity, resolution, and response time, and provide insights into the practical implementation and choice of dosimeter for various therapeutic applications. The scope of the research topics will also include related subjects, including the development of readout electronics that are optimised for high rate and high dose applications. The scope will also cover detector modelling of dosimeter performance, where computational simulations can help validate experimental results and may guide future development efforts by highlighting areas for performance improvement. Modelling studies that focus on detector designs specifically for FLASH therapy and UHDR beams are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Paul Sellin, Faustino Gomez, Consuelo Guardiola, Marco Petasecca, Sophie Heinrich Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77360/recent-advances-in-dosimetry-for-ultra-high-dose-rate-therapy