@article{LiAmirkhanyanGrebinyketal.2025, author = {Li, Xiangkun and Amirkhanyan, Zohrab and Grebinyk, Anna and Gross, Matthias and Komar, Yuliia and Riemer, Felix and Asoyan, Aida and Boonpornprasert, Prach and Borchert, Paul and Davtyan, Hakob and Dmytriiev, Dmytro and Frohme, Marcus and Hoffmann, Andreas and Krasilnikov, Mikhail and Loisch, Gregor and Lotfi, Zahra and M{\"u}ller, Frieder and Schmitz, Michael and Obier, Frank and Oppelt, Anne and Philipp, Sebastian and Richard, Christopher and Vashchenko, Grygorii and Villani, Daniel and Worm, Steven and Stephan, Frank}, title = {Demonstration of ultra-high dose rate electron irradiation at FLASHlab@PITZ}, series = {Physics in Medicine \& Biology}, volume = {70}, journal = {Physics in Medicine \& Biology}, number = {5}, publisher = {Institute of Physics Publishing (IOP)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-20092}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Objective. The photo injector test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ) is building up an R\&D platform, known as FLASHlab@PITZ, for systematically studying the FLASH effect in cancer treatment with its high-brightness electron beams, which can provide a uniquely large dose parameter range for radiation experiments. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities by experiments with a reduced parameter range on a startup beamline and study the potential performance of the full beamline by simulations. Approach. To measure the dose, Gafchromic films are installed both in front of and after the samples; Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to predict the dose distribution during beam preparation and help understand the dose distribution inside the sample. Plasmid DNA is irradiated under various doses at conventional and ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) to study the DNA damage by radiations. Start-to-end simulations are performed to verify the performance of the full beamline. Main results. On the startup beamline, reproducible irradiation has been established with optimized electron beams and the delivered dose distributions have been measured with Gafchromic films and compared to FLUKA simulations. The functionality of this setup has been further demonstrated in biochemical experiments at conventional dose rate of 0.05 Gy s-1 and UHDR of several 105 Gy s-1 and a varying dose up to 60 Gy, with the UHDR experiments finished within a single RF pulse (less than 1 millisecond); the observed conformation yields of the irradiated plasmid DNA revealed its dose-dependent radiation damage. The upgrade to the full FLASHlab@PITZ beamline is justified by simulations with homogeneous radiation fields generated by both pencil beam scanning and scattering beams. Significance. With the demonstration of UHDR irradiation and the simulated performance of the new beamline, FLASHlab@PITZ will serve as a powerful platform for studying the FLASH effects in cancer treatment.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GrossHoffmannGeorgievetal.2023, author = {Gross, Matthias and Hoffmann, Andreas and Georgiev, Georgi and Kuhl, Thorsten and Li, Xiangkun and Oppelt, Anne and Boonpornprasert, Prach and Philipp, Sebastian and Grebinyk, Anna and Vashchenko, Grygorii and Aftab, Namra and Adhikari, Gowri and Richard, Christopher and Stephan, Frank and Khachatryan, Vitali and Riemer, Felix and Krasilnikov, Mikhail and Amirkhanyan, Zohrab}, title = {Comparison of measurements and simulation results of dose for the FLASH radiation therapy beamline at PITZ}, series = {IPAC'23 : 14th International Particle Accelerator Conference, 7-12 May 2023, Venice, Italy : proceedings}, booktitle = {IPAC'23 : 14th International Particle Accelerator Conference, 7-12 May 2023, Venice, Italy : proceedings}, editor = {Istituto Nazionale Di Fisca Nucleare,}, publisher = {JACoW Publishing}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-21126}, pages = {4996 -- 4999}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The high-brightness electron beam at the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ) is now also used for FLASHlab@PITZ: an R\&D platform for studying radiation biology and the FLASH effect in radiation therapy. The available parameter space of the electron beam with a momentum of 22 MeV/c allows bunch charges from 10 pC up to 5nC, bunch durations of 0.1-60ps, and bunch train lengths up to 1 ms. The number of bunches in the single train can currently be varied between 1 and 1000 bunches, with an upgrade to 4500 foreseen in 2023. Radiation biology studies require accurate dose prediction, therefore Monte Carlo simulations based on the FLUKA code were performed. According to estimations, dose delivery of 0.002 Gy (low charge case 0.1pC) and 10Gy (high charge case 5nC) is possible, if the beam is confined to a circular area with a radius of 5 mm with a lead collimator. For the Monte Carlo simulations, the experimental setup was accurately modeled, including the exit window, lead collimator, etc. Dose measurements were used to compare simulations with experiments. Dose profiles were experimentally measured with Gafchromic films and then compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The first experiments at FLASHlab@PITZ in 2023 have demonstrated flexible dose options for studying the FLASH effect and radiation biology studies.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LiAmirkhanyanAftabetal.2024, author = {Li, Xiangkun and Amirkhanyan, Zohrab and Aftab, Namra and Boonpornprasert, Prach and Dmytriiev, Dmytro and Frohme, Marcus and Georgiev, Georgi and Grebinyk, Anna and Gross, Matthias and Hoffmann, Andreas and Komar, Yuliia and Krasilnikov, Mikhail and Loisch, Gregor and Oppelt, Anne and Richard, Christopher and Riemer, F. and Philipp, Sebastian and Schmitz, Michael and M{\"u}ller, Frieder and Obier, Frank and Vashchenko, Grygorii and Worm, Steven and Stephan, Frank}, title = {Overview of FLASHlab@PITZ: the new R\&D platform for FLASH radiation therapy and radiation biology}, series = {Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 2687, Applications of Accelerators, Technology Transfer and Industrial Relations and Outreach}, volume = {2687}, booktitle = {Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 2687, Applications of Accelerators, Technology Transfer and Industrial Relations and Outreach}, publisher = {Institute of Physics Publishing (IOP)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-18474}, year = {2024}, abstract = {An R\&D platform for electron FLASH radiation therapy and radiation biology is being prepared at the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (FLASHlab@PITZ). This platform is based on the unique beam parameters available at PITZ: ps scale electron bunches of up to 22 MeV with up to 5 nC bunch charge at MHz bunch repetition rate in bunch trains of up to 1 ms in length repeating at 1 to 10 Hz. It works together with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau (TH Wildau) as partner in close vicinity for the biological resources. A startup beamline has been installed to allow dosimetry studies and irradiation experiments on chemical, biochemical and biological samples after a 60-degree dispersive arm. The measured dose and dose rates under different beam conditions and first experimental results will be reported in this paper. In addition, a dedicated beamline for FLASHlab@PITZhas been designed for better control of the high brightness electron beams. This includes a dogleg to translate the beam and a 2D kicker system to scan the tiny beam focused by quadrupoles across the samples within less than 1 ms. Simulation studies will be presented to demonstrate the extremely flexible dose parameters with various irradiation options for electron FLASH radiation therapy and radiation biology studies.}, language = {en} }