In-Vivo Range Verification Based on Prompt Gamma-Ray Timing Measurements

We present a novel approach for real time range verification in particle therapy based on prompt gamma ray timing (PGT) spectroscopy. The measurement approach relies on the fact that high-energy particles need, dependent on their range, a varying transit time through the irradiated material. This transit time is about 1-2 ns in the case of protons with a range of 5-20 cm. Timing spectroscopy of promptly emitted gamma rays, measured with an arrangement resembling a typical time-of-flight (TOF) setup, encode these transit times and thus give a real time access to the particle range. We show that statistical momenta of PGT distributions such as the center of gravity and the variance incorporate the information on the particle range with a millimeter precision, although measurement uncertainties may cover the described effect at first sight. Typical uncertainties are limited by the detector time resolution and the particle bunch spread, and are finally determined by the spectrum stability. In contrast to other prompt gamma imaging techniques, the PGT method is based on straight timing spectroscopy with a single scintillation detector. Therefore, neither passive nor electronic collimation is required. The proposed idea is verified by an analysis of experimental data taken during proton irradiation experiments at the AGOR facility at KVI-CART in Groningen (The Netherlands). The measurement results are in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo based modeling of the experimental setup. We conclude that precise range assessment is feasible within a few seconds of irradiation due to the direct measurement method.