Methods for dosimetric measurement and characterisation of laser-driven ion beams

A novel strategy for dosimetry measurements of laser-driven proton beams has also been presented in this work. This is based on the use of a small portable graphite calorimeter developed at National Physical Laboratory, with the absorbed dose obtained through measurements of the radiation-induced temperature rise in the system. An experimental investigation was performed using the VULCAN PW laser system at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, successfully demonstrating the proof of this principle in the first measurements of a calorimeter system to detect the absorbed dose of laser-driven beams.

Through the methods developed for the characterisation and dosimetry of ultra-high dose rate laser-driven beams, suitable solutions are presented for accurate measurement of such modalities, whilst overcoming the challenges typically associated with this particle acceleration regime, in addition to unusable conventional detectors. These steps may represent important ones in the translation of this novel accelerating regime to the applications proposed.<br><br>