Silicon carbide dosimetry detector

The invention refers to a charged particle detector made of silicon carbide and capable of performing dosimetric measurements as part of quality controls of the beam lines at proton therapy centres. With such a detector it is also possible to take measurements on beams of high-intensity charged particles and produced by laser-matter interaction.

How does it work?

The invention consists of a charged particle detector comprising a plurality of detection units placed in series along the x-axis corresponding to the direction of propagation of a charged particle beam. The charged particle detector of the invention is capable of operating with mono-energetic beams of charged particles with energy of 5 MeV or more.

The detector comprises a main body having a main dimension, and containing a multiplicity of detector units made of silicon carbide placed in series with each other. These detection units are then electrically connected to a signal reading and processing system.

Applications

• Radiology and nuclear medicine: to monitor the exposure of staff (technicians, doctors, nurses);
• Radiotherapy: to check the doses administered to patients;
• In nuclear power plants, research laboratories or waste treatment plants: to monitor the dose received by workers;
• In nuclear physics, biology, chemistry or environmental laboratories where radioactive sources are used;
• To assess environmental exposure in contaminated areas or near nuclear power plants.

Advantages

• Response speed of a few nanoseconds;
• Spatial resolution in the order of tens of micrometres;
• Energy resolution equal to 0.5% for 5 MeV alpha particles.