In this thesis a single stage detector logarithmic video amplifier is designed with a dynamic range of 40dB in 2-6GHz frequency band. Since the detector logarithmic video amplifier (DLVA) is used to convert the power of the RF signals to video voltages in logarithmic scale, it can be regarded as a logarithmic converter instead of logarithmic amplifier. The design is composed of two main parts: The Schottky diode detector rectifies the incoming RF signal and produces a video voltage and the logarithmic amplifier transforms the scale of the video voltage from linear scale to logarithmic scale in order to observe the RF signals with a wide amplitude range. The approximation of the logarithmic function is obtained by the summation of the output currents of the differential amplifiers operating as logarithmic stages. Offset voltage of the DLVA is minimized in order to obtain maximum sensitivity / this makes the detection of RF signals with low power possible. The study is composed of mainly three parts: First, brief information about logarithmic amplification techniques is given and the circuit architecture is developed for logarithmic amplification and video detection, second these circuits are simulated and finally the design is implemented and tested.

An x-ray fluorescence detection system has been designed by our research group for quantifying the amount of gold nanoparticles presented within the phantom and animals during gold nanoparticle-aided cancer detection and therapy procedures. The primary components of the system consist of a microfocus x-ray source, a Pb beam collimator, and a CdTe photodiode detector. In order to optimize and facilitate future experimental tasks, a Monte Carlo model of the detection system has been created by using the MCNP5 code. Specifically, the model included an x-ray source, a Pb collimator, a CdTe detector, and an acrylic plastic phantom with four cylindrical columns where various materials such as gold nanoparticles, aluminum, etc. can be inserted during the experiments. In this model, 110 kVp x-rays emitted into a 60o cone from the focal spot of the x-ray source were collimated to a circular beam with a diameter of 5 mm. The collimated beam was then delivered to the plastic phantom with and without a gold nanoparticle-containing column. The fluence of scattered and gold fluorescence x-rays from the phantom was scored within the detector's sensitive volume resulting in various photon spectra and compared with the spectra acquired experimentally under the same geometry. The results show that the current Monte Carlo model can produce the results comparable to those from actual experiments and therefore it would serve as a useful tool to optimize and troubleshoot experimental tasks necessary for the development of gold nanoparticle-aided cancer detection and therapy procedures.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22441号 / 工博第4702号 / 新制||工||1734(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科原子核工学専攻 / (主査)教授 神野 郁夫, 教授 斉藤 学, 准教授 櫻井 良憲 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

This diploma thesis is focused on measurements of nanoparticles infrared absorption. In project is made literar research of sensors in part of IR area, principal design of detector controled by microcontroller for measurement absorption properties of solutions of nanoparticles and microparticles in IR area with diode detector and bank of optical filtres. According to this design of device microcontroller and display device was chosen. This work contains program design for microcontroler and display unit.

Thesis describing design and measurement of the vector reflectometer system based on six port principle. The expectations for precision measurement in wide bandwidth system are explained. Diode linearization problem is described and the calibration method especially designed for the wide band systems is explained. And finally several data processing methods for the final result decision are compared.

Radiotherapy is used in clinics to treat cancer with highly energetic ionizing particles. The radiation dose can be measured indirectly by means of radiation detectors or dosimeters. The dose deposited in a detector can be related to dose deposited in a point within the patient. In theory, however, this is only possible under charged particle equilibrium (CPE). The motivation behind the dissertation was driven by the difficult, yet crucial, dosimetry in non-CPE regions. Inaccurate dose assessment performed with standard dosimetry using ionization chambers may significantly impact the outcomes of radiotherapy treatments. Therefore, advanced dosimetry methods tailored specifically to suit non-CPE conditions must be used. This work aims to improve dosimetry in two types of non-CPE conditions that pose dosimetric challenges: regions near interfaces of tissues with low- and high- density media and in small photon fields. To achieve the main dissertation objectives, an enhanced film dosimetry protocol with a novel film calibration approach was implemented. This calibration method is based on the percent depth dose (PDD) tables and was shown to be efficient and accurate. As a result, the PDD calibration method was used for the film dosimetry process throughout the dissertation work. Monte Carlo (MC) calculations for the small field dosimetry were performed using phase-space files (PSFs) provided by Varian for TrueBeam linac. The MC statistical uncertainty in these types of calculations is limited by the number of particles (due to latent variance) in the used PSFs. This study investigated the behaviour of the latent variances (LV) with beam energy, depth in phantom, and calculation resolution (voxel size). LV was evaluated for standard 10x10 cm2 fields as well as small fields (down to 1.3 mm diameter). The results showed that in order to achieve sub-percent LV in open 10x10 cm2 field MC simulations a single PSF can be used, whereas for small SRS fields (1.3—10 mm) more PSFs (66—8 PSFs) would have to be summed. The first study in this dissertation compared the performance of several dosimetric methods in three multi-layer heterogeneous phantoms with water/air, water/lung, and water/steel interfaces irradiated with 6 and 18 MV photon beams. MC calculations were used, along with Acuros XB, anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA), GafChromic EBT2 film, and MOSkin dosimeters. PDDs were calculated and measured in these heterogeneous phantoms. The result of this study showed that Acuros XB, AAA, and MC calculations were within 1% in the regions with CPE. At media interfaces and buildup regions, differences between Acuros XB and MC were in the range of +4.4% to -12.8%. MOSkin and EBT2 measurements agreed to MC calculations within ~ 2.5%-4.5%. AAA did not predict the backscatter dose from the high-density heterogeneity. For the third, multilayer lung phantom, 6 MV beam PDDs calculated by all treatment planning system (TPS) algorithms were within 2% of MC. 18 MV PDDs calculated by Acuros XB and AAA differed from MC by up to 3.2 and 6.8%, respectively. MOSkin and EBT2 each differed from MC by up to 3%. All dosimetric techniques, except AAA, agreed within 3% in the regions with particle equilibrium. Differences between the dosimetric techniques were larger for the 18 MV than the 6 MV beam. This study provided a comparative performance evaluation of several advanced dosimeters in heterogeneous phantoms. This combination of experimental and calculation dosimetry techniques was used for the first time to evaluate the dose near these interfaces. The second study in the dissertation aims to improve dose measurement accuracy in small radiotherapy fields. Field output factors of 6 MV beams from TrueBeam linear accelerator (linac) collimated with 1.27-40 mm diameter cones were calculated and measured using MC and EBT3 films. A set of detector specific correction factors for two widely used dosimeters (EFD-3G diode and PTW-60019 microDiamond detectors) were determined based on GafChromic EBT3 film measurements and calculated using MC methods. MC calculations were performed for microDiamond detector in parallel and perpendicular orientations relative to the beam axis. The result of this study showed that the measured OFs agreed within 2.4% for fields ≥10 mm. For the cones of 1.27, 2.46, and 3.77 mm diameter maximum differences were 17.9%, 1.8% and 9.0%, respectively. MC calculated OF in water agreed with those obtained using EBT3 film within 2.2% for all fields. MC calculated output correction factors for microDiamond detector in fields ≥10 mm ranged within 0.975-1.020 for perpendicular and parallel orientations. MicroDiamond detector correction factors calculated for the 1.27, 2.46 and 3.77 mm fields were 1.974, 1.139 and 0.982 with detector in parallel orientation, and these factors were 1.150, 0.925 and 0.914 in perpendicular orientation. EBT3 and MC obtained correction factors agreed within 3.7% for fields of ≥3.77 mm and within 5.9% for smaller cones. This work provided output correction factors for microDiamond and EFD-3G detectors in very small fields of 1.27 – 3.77 mm diameter and demonstrated over and under-response of these detectors in such fields. These correction factors allow improve the accuracy of dose measurements in small photon fields using these detectors. / Graduate / 2019-08-30

<p>The main focus of this work is to improve the existing clinical machine model within the Pinnacle software planning system (at Juravinski Cancer Center, Hamilton, CA). The incident energy fluence spectrum exiting from the accelerator head is considered an important element of the machine model. Relying on the Pinnacle auto modeling function to determine the relative photon fluence spectrum based on percent depth dose curves fitting for various filed sizes, led to different solutions when the process cycle were repeated. This work presents a new method for determining the Pinnacle photon energy fluence spectrum based on 6 MV Varian 21EX machine. A Monte Carlo simulation spectrum based on BEAMnrc code was attenuated to various depths of water. We determine that, the BEAMnrc spectrum attenuated by 15 cm of water gives the closest agreement between the computed and measured depth dose, similar to the clinical machine spectrum.</p> <p>Implementing the novel spectrum into a machine that retained the same modeling parameters as the clinical machine (21ex-JCC) shows a slight better calculation of the output factor. The MLC model parameters were also investigated, however, adjusting the MLC offset table was found to give significant improvements, especially for the small field geometries.</p> <p>The full impact of adjusting the photon energy spectrum, Off-Axis Softening Factor, MLC rounded leaf tip radius and MLC calibration offsets were investigated individually, resulting in a good model parameter fit. Several proposed supplementary setups were created to further assess our model. This include a geometry sensitive to MLC abutment leakage, the calculation of output factors for long and narrow MLC defined fields, and small square MLC and jaws defined fields. A Sun-Point diode detector was used in the measurement of the output factors for its accurate precision at small geometries. In addition, a GAFCHROMIC EBT2 film dosimetry was used in the measurement of the MLC abutment leakage.</p> <p>Our new model shows superior results in comparison to the clinical 21ex-JCC machine model, especially with MLC small field calculations. We conclude that relying on PDD curves and dose profiles validation method in assessing the model might not necessarily lead to the best machine parameters, since these are not sensitive to subtle changes in parameters that have important dosimetric consequences.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

This master’s thesis describes various principles of measurement of electromagnetic waves in a free space and on a line. Used sensors and their real parameters are given for every method. The analysis of protections of high-frequency inputs of measuring instruments is done here and the most suitable method and protections of input for realization are chosen. The analysis of design of secondary protection of high-frequency input is done in this project. The protection of input is realized and measured. The suitable method of measurement is chosen as well as the sensor for measurement of power. The block diagram and circuit diagram of the meter of power are designed. According to designed conception the measuring instrument for measurement of power is realized and its single qualities are measured during the realization. In the final part its precision is measured and the evaluation of results is done.