Dependence of the Radical Dynamics on the Beam Temporal Profile in FLASH Radiotherapy

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sun, Jianhan, Kong, Xianghui, Lv, Jianfeng, Liu, Xiaodong, Wang, Jinghui, Lin, Chen, Li, Tian, Zhang, Yibao, Huang, Senlin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sun, Jianhan
Kong, Xianghui
Lv, Jianfeng
Liu, Xiaodong
Wang, Jinghui
Lin, Chen
Li, Tian
Zhang, Yibao
Huang, Senlin
author_facet Sun, Jianhan
Kong, Xianghui
Lv, Jianfeng
Liu, Xiaodong
Wang, Jinghui
Lin, Chen
Li, Tian
Zhang, Yibao
Huang, Senlin
contents Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of the beam temporal profile on the radical dynamics and inter-track interactions of FLASH radiotherapy, supporting parameter optimization for the equipment development and clinical implementation. Methods: MonteCarlo simulations based on the IRT method were performed to analyze the dynamics after irradiation, including single-pulse or multi-pulses irradiation, pulse repetition rate, width and dose. The physicochemical experiments were performed to measure the eaq-lifetimes for validation. The generation and recombination of OH and eaq-radicals were recorded under 6 MeV electron irradiation with varying beam temporal profiles. The radial distributions of the radicals were statistically analyzed, and the corresponding LETd and LETt were calculated. The inter-track interactions were assessed through a mathematical model. Results: The spatial distribution and temporal evolution of radicals were significantly affected by the beam time profiles. Compared with multi-pulses irradiation, single-pulse mode with a width less than 1/10 of the radical lifetime, a repetition interval longer than the radical lifetime, and a dose exceeding 1 Gy/pulse can lead to radicals rapid consumption, reducing the residual content. Instantaneous high dose rates induced radical tracks overlaps. When the single-pulse dose exceeded 1 Gy, the overlap probability approached 100%, aligning with the threshold for radical instantaneous combination. Conclusion: Under a low-duty cycle and high instantaneous dose-rate time profile, the radicals were rapidly consumed through track overlap hence reduced damage to normal tissues, inducing FLASH effect. The optimized time profile can be used to guide the development of equipment and parameter settings in clinical practice to maximize the FLASH effect, such as the laser accelerators and superconducting photocathode guns.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_19927
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dependence of the Radical Dynamics on the Beam Temporal Profile in FLASH Radiotherapy
Sun, Jianhan
Kong, Xianghui
Lv, Jianfeng
Liu, Xiaodong
Wang, Jinghui
Lin, Chen
Li, Tian
Zhang, Yibao
Huang, Senlin
Medical Physics
Accelerator Physics
Applied Physics
Biological Physics
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of the beam temporal profile on the radical dynamics and inter-track interactions of FLASH radiotherapy, supporting parameter optimization for the equipment development and clinical implementation. Methods: MonteCarlo simulations based on the IRT method were performed to analyze the dynamics after irradiation, including single-pulse or multi-pulses irradiation, pulse repetition rate, width and dose. The physicochemical experiments were performed to measure the eaq-lifetimes for validation. The generation and recombination of OH and eaq-radicals were recorded under 6 MeV electron irradiation with varying beam temporal profiles. The radial distributions of the radicals were statistically analyzed, and the corresponding LETd and LETt were calculated. The inter-track interactions were assessed through a mathematical model. Results: The spatial distribution and temporal evolution of radicals were significantly affected by the beam time profiles. Compared with multi-pulses irradiation, single-pulse mode with a width less than 1/10 of the radical lifetime, a repetition interval longer than the radical lifetime, and a dose exceeding 1 Gy/pulse can lead to radicals rapid consumption, reducing the residual content. Instantaneous high dose rates induced radical tracks overlaps. When the single-pulse dose exceeded 1 Gy, the overlap probability approached 100%, aligning with the threshold for radical instantaneous combination. Conclusion: Under a low-duty cycle and high instantaneous dose-rate time profile, the radicals were rapidly consumed through track overlap hence reduced damage to normal tissues, inducing FLASH effect. The optimized time profile can be used to guide the development of equipment and parameter settings in clinical practice to maximize the FLASH effect, such as the laser accelerators and superconducting photocathode guns.
title Dependence of the Radical Dynamics on the Beam Temporal Profile in FLASH Radiotherapy
topic Medical Physics
Accelerator Physics
Applied Physics
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.19927