Project Description – Emmy Noether Programme

Miriam Katharina Brosi, [city]

[Project title]

Project Description
Sections 1-3 must not exceed 17 pages in total.

1	Starting Point

State of the art and preliminary work

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- radio therapy is an important tool in cancer therapy
- continuous development towards improved tolerability and increase of the therapeutic
window
- two promising developments in recent years:
- encouraging results with very short, high dose beams (FLASH RT)
- recent further development of spatially fractionated RT towards Microbeam Radiation
Therapy (MRT)
- both show improved sparing of healthy tissue and reduction of secondary cancer also
increasingly important due to increase in overall life expectancy
- both are dependent on the use of particle accelerator facilities
- for FLASH: to achieve the required intensity in short pulses, e.g. linear accelerators for
electron FLASH RT
- for MRT: in case of x-ray beams, a high brilliant synchrotron light sources are required to
provide sufficiently parallel propagating Microbeams
- very high requirements on stability and metrology of the used beams

not sure if here? 
Me:
- experience in longitudinal as well as transverse collective effects and instabilities
influencing the electron bunch shape in all dimensions
- in general, investigating phenomena occurring under extreme operation modes, e.g. high
charge, small transverse bunch-size, short bunch-length, sub-structures, ...
- on rings but focused on single bunch effects transferrable to linacs
- simulations of non-linear optics and beam dynamics, collective effects
- extensive experimental studies and measurements
- used diagnostics: electron-beam based as well as synchrotron-radiation based
as well as improved and further-developed diagnostic methods
- data analysis of complex, big datasets with, amongst others, Python and HPC (high
performance computing

2	Objectives and work programme

2.1	Anticipated total duration of the project

[Text] 6 years

2.2	Objectives

[Text]Motivation:
The present advances in accelerator based RT, like FLASH RT or Microbeam RT, lead to
operation parameters of the used accelerators that can not anymore be described by simple
linear optics and beam dynamics. Instead, due to the development towards higher intensity
combined with shorter pulse lengths and transverse modulations, the consideration of
non-linear and complex optics as well as beam dynamics influenced by collective effects
becomes necessary for accelerator RT sources.
Further closing the gap between accelerator science and medical physics from the accelerator
side is an important step and will help in paving the way towards accurate predictability,
diagnostic and metrology of advanced RT with particle accelerators.

Goals:
- improve predictability of RT beam properties on target by improving understanding of
dynamic in short and/or spatially structured RT beams
- study from accelerator point of view the beam dynamics effects relevant in the generation
of such beams as well as the diagnostic to reliably deliver the requested conditions
- provide start-to-end simulations of the dynamic of RT beams, from inside the accelerator
through the air into the target by combining beam dynamics, beam-matter interaction and
collective effects simulations
- predicting the temporal and spatial shape of each individual RT pulse at any point on the
way up to the target inside the patient

The goal is, by extending the calculation of these effects beyond the accelerator as a first step,
to make the prediction of the resulting spatial distribution on target possible. And as a second
step, it might allow to consider effects of the beam transport already during the generation of
the beam.
Aiming towards the generation of a spatial distribution which preemptively compensates for the
expected changes, possibly allowing arbitrary user-definable final distributions.

2.3	Work programme incl. proposed research methods

Theoretical work:
- literature research of models and methods to propagate structured radiation beams though air and matter, starting from e.g. GEANT4, BDSIM, EGSnrc (with BEAMnrc), ...
- investigate evolution of different temporally and spatially structured radiation beams passing through matter, quantify deterioration of initial structuring based on path length in different materials and initial dimensions and size of structuring (based on requirements in FLASH and microbeam RT)

Simulations:
- evaluate the different operation modes of FLUTE (varying pulse length and charge) with respect towards dose rate of final electron beam, with e.g. FLUKA
- simulate the 6D particle distribution expected at the exit of the linear
accelerator, employing e.g. ASTRA (gun to start compressor with Space charge) and OCELOT (through compressor with CSR)
- followed by simulation of the beam dynamics for this particle distribution on its trajectory
to the target, based on existing simulation tools and models, e.g. transport/covariance matrices combined with average scattering angles based on existing beam-matter interaction descriptions
- study deformation of the temporal and spatial distribution on the way through the accelerator and outside on the way to the target under the influence of collective effects, e.g. space charge and the influence of impedances
- Investigate link between starting distribution and output beam structure exists
- develop calculation to define starting distributions in order to achieve specific output distributions (which could be based on requested beam structures defined by the results in RT developments)

Experimental:
- survey of required vs available diagnostics to measure/determine 6D particle distribution at different positions in the linac, e.g. virtual diagnostic available
- measurements of 6D particle distribution at accelerator exit and investigate dependence on accelerator parameters, e.g. pulse length, charge, starting distribution

- set up necessary diagnostic/detectors/targets for dose rate measurement in air and in a water target (including market survey and acquisition)
- investigate dependence of measured dose on accelerator parameters such as pulse length, charge, ...
- expand setup to allow for detection of spatial distribution, (could be film Kodak XV-2 silver halide radiographic film and thermoluminescent dosimeter TLD-100 as in (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-3947(02)00086-9))
- experimental studies of the propagation of 6D particle distribution through air and/or
water, structuring done by mask at accelerator exit as well as structured by gun 

- extend studies to X-ray(/THz?) at synchrotron light source (KARA)????????
for micro beams, normally used mask, probably no way to get electrons per-structured???
for FLASH, problem high reprate? 

Periodical cross-checks between experimental results and simulations to iteratively improve both

starting point: 
me (year 1): review of existing simulation tools and methods on accelerator side as well as on beam matter interaction side….starting point electron beam from FLUTE 

phd1 (year 1&2&3): experimental setup and diagnostic for structured electron beam at/after flute, extend beyond accelerator and into phantom/target/ ….charge distribution outside vaccum/after matter interaction & dosimetry, ...dependence on structured beam...see in plan
→ provide input for simulations and later cross-checks with simulation based on measurement results

me (year1) find postdoc 
postdoc(year 2&3): extend and combine simulations and new implement new methods to propagate structured beams through matter interaction, based on the existing simulations like MC but also transport matrix stuff, include not only single electron matter effects but also consider collective effects during transport through matter for electrons
?think about x-rays from KARA?

me(year 2&3)???think about x-rays from KARA? 

(Somewhere I could do something with systematic simulation (computational experiments) using high performance computing???)

((ALTERNATIVE: I do postdoc as described above, and postdoc does improvements on (time-resolved?) dosimetry…for ultra short pulses, would need to be detector engineer ….))

Phd2 (year4&5&6): 
based on previous results work on algorithm/method to adjust starting distribution in such a way that the a certain “requested” distribution on target is achieved by pre-compensating(??) the expected effects of transport through accelerator and matter….

me(year 4&5&6) ???
((ALTERNATIVE year 4-6: using Cstart for “energy scanning” and “pulse length” scanning measurement, to test effects on beam matter interaction during transport of structured beams and dosimetry...For this out-coupling of electrons necessary at cstart))

2.4	Handling of research data

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2.5	Relevance of sex, gender and/or diversity

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2.6	Justification for the choice of host institution(s)
Please justify the choice of each proposed host institution.

[Text]Environment:
- ATP - accelerators as well as detector technologies
- HEIKA - Heidelberg Karlsruhe Strategic Partnership
- new KIT Center Health Technologies
- possible Cluster of Excellence AccelerateRT
Accelerators:
- FLUTE electron linear accelerator as electron source up to 40MeV and ultra short pulses
down to femtoseconds
- virtual diagnostic, spatial light modulator, ...
- KARA storage ring as synchrotron light source for x-ray (and also THz ?)
- extensive diagnostics, variable, special operation modes, ...
- in the planing, CSTART innovative non-equilibrium storage ring will provide the possibility
to study dynamics of changing pulse lengths
- coming, laser based accelerator

3	Project- and subject-related list of publications
Works cited from sections 1 and 2, both by the applicant and by third parties. Please include DOI/URL if available. A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.

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4	Supplementary information on the research context
Section 4 et seq. must not exceed 8 pages.

4.1	Ethical and/or legal aspects of the project

1.1.1	General ethical aspects

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1.1.2	Descriptions of proposed investigations involving humans, human materials or identifiable data

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1.1.3	Descriptions of proposed investigations involving experiments on animals

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1.1.4	Descriptions of projects involving genetic resources (or associated traditional knowledge) from a foreign country

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1.1.1	Explanations regarding any possible safety-related aspects (“Dual Use Research of Concern; foreign trade law)

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4.2	Employment status information
Last name, first name, and employment status (including duration of contract and funding body, if on a fixed-term contract)

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4.3	Composition of the project group
List only those individuals who will work on the project but will not be paid out of the project funds. State each person’s name, academic title, employment status, and type of funding.

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4.4	Researchers in Germany with whom you have agreed to cooperate on this project

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4.5	Researchers abroad with whom you have agreed to cooperate on this project

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4.6	Researchers with whom you have collaborated scientifically within the past three years
This information will help avoid potential conflicts of interest.

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4.7	Project-relevant cooperation with commercial enterprises
If applicable, please note the EU guidelines on state aid or contact your research institution in this regard.

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4.8	Project-relevant participation in commercial enterprises
Information on connections between the project and the production branch of the enterprise

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4.9	Scientific equipment
List larger instruments that will be available to you for the project. These may include large computer facilities if computing capacity will be needed. 

FLUTE (is this first time mentioning FLUTE…?)
KARA,....
HPC (Rechenzentrum?) 
"Use of HoreKa ("Hochleistungsrechner Karlsruhe") is free of charge, but the resource has to be acknowleged on all publications." (project proposal needs to be submitted)
bwUniCluster "All members of the shareholder universities can apply for an account. The use of the bwUniCluster is free of charge. "

4.10	Other submissions
List any funding proposals for this project and/or major instrumentation previously sub-mitted to a third party. 

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4.11	Other Information
Please use this section for any additional information you feel is relevant which has not been provided elsewhere.

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5	Requested modules/funds
Explain each item (stating last name, first name)

5.1	Module Junior Research Group Leader
Use this module to request funding for your position as project leader under the Emmy Noether Programme.

Clinician scientists may apply for a temporary substitute position instead of a position as junior research group leader. The relevant module can be found on the list of modules.

[Text] Eigene Stelle

5.2	Basic Module

1.1.5	Funding for Staff

[Text]2 doctoral students (75%), (100% für ingenieur)
1 postdoc 
hiwi? (538Euro job)
Aufgabe (mit verweis auf arbeitsprogram) und ab wann
????(die gewünschte Dauer der Beschäftigung im Vorhaben,
 - die Vertragslaufzeiten sollten in der Regel der Projektlaufzeit entsprechen,
 - bei der Festlegung der Vertragslaufzeiten für wissenschaftliches Personal in der
Qualifizierungsphase sollte das Qualifizierungsziel des Stelleninhabers bzw.
der Stelleninhaberin angemessen berücksichtigt werden.)

1.1.6	Direct Project Costs

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5.2.1.1	Equipment up to € 10,000, Software and Consumables

[Text]-Safety equivment, like small dosimeters to measure area free after irradiation
-building material for water target
(laptop kann nicht finanziert werden)

5.2.1.2	Travel Expenses

[Text]Teilnahme Konferenzen (1x pro doctorant, 2x für postdoc, Xx für mich? 

5.2.1.3	Visiting Researchers (excluding Mercator Fellows)

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5.2.1.4	Expenses for Laboratory Animals

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5.2.1.5	Other Costs

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5.2.1.6	Project-related Publication Expenses 

[Text] bis zu 750/Jahr für normale Publikationen (geht das z.b. druckkosten Dissertationen?), oder auch für nenn Buch kapitel oder so?

1.1.7	Instrumentation

5.2.1.7	Equipment exceeding € 10,000

[Text] Dosimetry detectors (e.g. mircoDiamond from PTW) 

5.2.1.8	Major Instrumentation exceeding € 50,000

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5.3	Module Temporary Clinician Substitute
Clinician scientists may apply for a temporary substitute position instead of a position as junior research group leader. In addition, this module may be used to finance substitute medical personnel who will assume the patient-care responsibilities of the clinicians participating in your project.

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5.4	Module Mercator Fellows

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5.5	Module Workshop Funding

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5.6	Module Public Relations Funding

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5.7	Module Standard Allowance for Gender Equality Measures
Please detail what measures are planned to promote diversity and equal opportunities.

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5.8	Module Family Allowance

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