Comprehensive characterization and validation of a fast‐resolving (1000 Hz) plastic scintillator for ultra‐high dose rate electron dosimetry

作者：Lixiang Guo, Banghao Zhou, Yi‐Chun Tsai, Kai Jiang, Viktor Iakovenko, Ken Kang‐Hsin Wang · 发表于：Medical Physics · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1002/mp.70006 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques、Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry、Effects of Radiation Exposure

Abstract Background The normal tissue sparing effect of ultra‐high dose rate irradiation (≥40 Gy/s, UHDR), as compared to conventional dose rate (CONV), has attracted significant research interest for FLASH radiotherapy (RT). Accurate, dose rate independent, fast‐responding dosimeters capable of resolving the spatiotemporal characteristics of UHDR beams are urgently needed to facilitate FLASH research and support its clinical translation. Tissue‐equivalent scintillators, with millimeter‐level spatial resolution and millisecond‐level temporal resolution, possess these required characteristics and show strong potential for use in UHDR dosimetry. Purpose We investigated the performance of the HYPERSCINT RP‐FLASH scintillator system at up to 1000 Hz sampling frequency ( f s ) for UHDR electron beam dosimetry. Methods The scintillator was exposed to CONV and UHDR electron irradiation using a LINAC‐based FLASH platform. Its spectral characteristics were delineated with a four‐component calibration, followed by a signal‐to‐dose calibration using 18 MeV CONV electron beam. The dose linearity and dosimetric accuracy in response to CONV and UHDR irradiation at 1 and 1000 Hz f s were quantified against ion chamber and EBT‐XD film measurements. The response of the scintillator system was investigated as a function of beam energy (6 and 18 MeV), field size (2 × 2 to 25 × 25 cm 2 ), dose per pulse (DPP, 0.8–2.3 Gy/pulse), and pulse repetition frequency (PRF, 30–180 Hz). Relative signal sen...