Proton sound detectors rely on sensing the weak thermoacoustic signals emitted by the fast energy deposition at the end of the beam penetration path through the energy absorber. The energy of the ions/protons is first converted into heat, and then, into pressure by a thermodynamic process. The pressure signal propagates through the energy absorber, and it is read by an acoustic sensor, which, in turn, converts the pressure wave into an analog electrical voltage. Such an analog signal is digitalized by the analog front-end. Its digital representation is used for the measurement of the beam depth. This emerging technique attracts attention in both physics experiments and medical applications (hadron therapy). This article investigates the signal-to-noise-ratio performance in proton sound detectors exploring all critical steps that lead to both reduction of the power of the electrical signal and noise power increasing. Nonetheless, this article proposes specific technical solutions to mitigate such signal-to-noise-ratio degradations with particular attention to higher energy (i.e., 200 MeV) proton beams, which are crucial for medical applications, and where the maximum achievable signal-to-noise ratio can be 50/60 dB lower than 20 MeV acoustic pulses.

De Matteis, M., Baschirotto, A., Vallicelli, E. (2022). Acoustic Analog Signal Processing for 20-200 MeV Proton Sound Detectors. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON RADIATION AND PLASMA MEDICAL SCIENCES, 6(3), 325-335 [10.1109/TRPMS.2021.3073803].

Acoustic Analog Signal Processing for 20-200 MeV Proton Sound Detectors

De Matteis M.
;
Baschirotto A.;Vallicelli E.
2022

Abstract

Proton sound detectors rely on sensing the weak thermoacoustic signals emitted by the fast energy deposition at the end of the beam penetration path through the energy absorber. The energy of the ions/protons is first converted into heat, and then, into pressure by a thermodynamic process. The pressure signal propagates through the energy absorber, and it is read by an acoustic sensor, which, in turn, converts the pressure wave into an analog electrical voltage. Such an analog signal is digitalized by the analog front-end. Its digital representation is used for the measurement of the beam depth. This emerging technique attracts attention in both physics experiments and medical applications (hadron therapy). This article investigates the signal-to-noise-ratio performance in proton sound detectors exploring all critical steps that lead to both reduction of the power of the electrical signal and noise power increasing. Nonetheless, this article proposes specific technical solutions to mitigate such signal-to-noise-ratio degradations with particular attention to higher energy (i.e., 200 MeV) proton beams, which are crucial for medical applications, and where the maximum achievable signal-to-noise ratio can be 50/60 dB lower than 20 MeV acoustic pulses.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Acoustic waves; analog-integrated circuits; nuclear imaging; particle accelerator; particle beam measurements;
English
16-apr-2021
2022
6
3
325
335
reserved
De Matteis, M., Baschirotto, A., Vallicelli, E. (2022). Acoustic Analog Signal Processing for 20-200 MeV Proton Sound Detectors. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON RADIATION AND PLASMA MEDICAL SCIENCES, 6(3), 325-335 [10.1109/TRPMS.2021.3073803].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
De Matteis-2022-IEEE Transactions on Radiation and Plasma Medical Sciences-VoR.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 4.98 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.98 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/361608
Citazioni
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
Social impact