Magnetic plasma expulsion uses a magnetic field distortion to redirect incident charged particles around a certain area for the purposes of shielding. Computational studies are carried out and for certain values of magnetic field, magnetic plasma expulsion is found to effectively shield a sizable area. There are however many plasma behaviors and interactions that must be considered. Applications to a new cryogenic antimatter trap design are discussed.

The goal of radiation therapy is to eradicate tumour cells while minimising radiation dose to healthy tissues. Ions including protons and carbon ions have gained increasing interest for cancer treatment. Advantages of ion beam therapy are conformal dose distribution, and for ions heavier than protons increased biological effectiveness in cell killing, compared to conventional radiation therapy using photons. Despite these advantages, fundamental problems in ion beam therapy include accuracy of dose determination at the cellular level, and characterisation of the radiation quality at the microscopic scale. Due to the high density of interactions along ion tracks, inhomogeneity of dose and track parameters at the cellular level is one of the major concerns for ion beam therapy. The aim of the thesis is to develop computational tools for dosimetry of ion tracks at the molecular level. Event-by-event Monte Carlo track structure (MCTS) simulations were developed for full-slowing-down tracks of protons and carbon ions in water representing cellular environment. In Paper I, the extension of the MCTS code KURBUC_proton was carried out to energies up to 300 MeV, covering the entire proton energy range used in radiation therapy. Physical properties and microdosimetry of proton tracks were investigated and benchmarked with the experimental data. Papers II-V describe the development of the MCTS code for full-slowing-down tracks of carbon ions. In Papers II-IV, the classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) model was developed for the calculation of interaction cross sections for low and intermediate energy carbon projectiles of all charge states (C0 to C6+) in water. In Paper V, the calculated cross sections were implemented in a new MCTS code KURBUC_carbon simulating carbon ions of energies 1-104 keV/u in water. This development allows the investigation of track parameters in the Bragg peak region of carbon ion beams. Publication of the thesis and the published papers make contribution to the physics of ion interactions in matter, and provide a new and complete database of electronic interaction cross sections for low and intermediate energy carbon projectiles of all charge states in water. The MCTS codes for protons and carbon ions provide new tools for biophysical study, including microdosimetry, of ion tracks at cellular and subcellular levels, in particular in the Bragg peak region of these ions. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Submitted. Paper 5: Submitted.</p><p> </p>

Dans cette thèse nous avons étudié des collisions entre des projectiles CnN⁺ (n=0,1,2,3) et des atomes d’Hélium à vitesse intermédiaire (2.25 u.a). A cette vitesse, proche de la vitesse des électrons sur les couches de valence externe des atomes et molécules, de nombreux processus électroniques prennent place avec une forte probabilité : ionisation (simple et multiple), excitation électronique, capture d’électron (simple et double). Nous avons mesuré les sections efficaces absolues de tous ces processus. Un autre aspect intéressant de la collision concerne la fragmentation des molécules excitées, que nous avons également mesurée précisément grâce à un dispositif dédié. Les expériences ont été effectuées auprès de l’accélérateur Tandem d’Orsay avec des faisceaux de quelques MeV d’énergie cinétique. Le dispositif AGAT a permis de réaliser les collisions (en condition de collision unique) et de mesurer tout à la fois les sections efficaces des processus et la fragmentation associée. Parallèlement nous avons simulé ces collisions d’un point de vue théorique en utilisant le modèle à Atomes et Electrons Indépendants (IAE) couplé à des calculs CTMC (Classical trajectory Monte Carlo). Sur cette base, nous avons prédit les sections efficaces qui se sont trouvées être en bon accord avec les mesures, à l’exception de la double capture d’électrons. Par ailleurs les rapports de branchement de dissociation des CnN⁺ après excitation électronique sont bien reproduits en utilisant la distribution d’énergie interne des espèces calculées avec le même modèle IAE/CTMC. Ces expériences nous ont permis de construire des « Breakdown Curves » (BDC), véritables cartes d’identité des molécules qui permettent de prévoir, dans le cadre d’une fragmentation statistique comment va fragmenter un système dont on connait l’énergie interne. Avec ces BDC nous avons pu prédire et recommander des rapports de branchement pour des voies de sortie de processus physiques et chimiques d’intérêt astrochimique. Ces données seront insérées dans la base internationale d'astrochimie the Kinetic Data Base for Astrochemistry KIDA. Cette thèse a été réalisée dans le cadre de l’Ecole Doctorale Ondes et Matière (EDOM) à l’Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay (ISMO), à l’Université Paris-Sud Paris Saclay. / This thesis studies the aftermath of collision between singly positively charged Nitrogenated carbon species CnN⁺ (n=0,1,2,3) and neutral Helium atom at a velocity of 2.25 au. At this velocity, close to the velocity of outer electrons in atoms and molecules, several electronic processes take place and are near their maximum of probability such as ionisation (single, double, triple …), electronic excitation and electron capture (single and double). We looked at their cross sections and how their evolution with the molecule size. Following the collision the molecule can fragment, which leads to another interesting aspect, the fragmentation branching ratios. Collision experiments were done using a Tandem accelerator at Orsay that produced the CnN⁺ projectiles and a dedicated set-up, AGAT, to capture the flying fragments/intact molecule after collision according to their charge to mass ratio. Knowing the number of particles that are shot and the fact that our set-up allows no loss of fragments/intact molecule, we could get the probabilities of various fragments formed. Using these probabilities and a knowledge of the Helium jet profile used, we could measure their cross sections. The probabilities alone are sufficient to obtain the fragmentation branching ratios.The next step was to use a theoretical model to simulate the collision. We used Independent Atom and Electron (IAE) model coupled with Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) method to calculate the desired cross sections. A general good agreement was obtained, with the exception of double electron capture. The model could also predict, through the calculation of the species internal energy, the fragmentation branching ratios of cations CnN⁺ after electronic excitation. Also, the branching ratios were used to construct semi-empirical Breakdown Curves (BDCs), which are internal energy dependent dissociation branching ratios specific to each molecule, type, size and charge. With those, we could recommend products branching ratios to be used for various processes of astrochemical interest. The products branching ratios will be made available for a wider network of researchers under the international Kinetic Database for Astrochemistry (KIDA).This thesis was realized under the doctoral programme of Ecole Doctorale Ondes et Matiere (EDOM) with Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay (ISMO) where the author was given an office and Université Paris-Sud where the author is formally enrolled.