Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation study of the secondary radiation fields at the laser-driven ion source LION

At the Center for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA), Garching, Germany, the LION (Laser-driven ION Acceleration) experiment is being commissioned, aiming at the production of laser-driven bunches of protons and light ions with multi-MeV energies and repetition frequency up to 1 Hz. A Geant4 Monte Carlo-based study of the secondary neutron and photon fields expected during LION’s different commissioning phases is presented. Goal of this study is the characterization of the secondary radiation environment present inside and outside the LION cave. Three different primary proton spectra, taken from experimental results reported in the literature and representative of three different future stages of the LION’s commissioning path are used. Together with protons, also electrons are emitted through laser-target interaction and are also responsible for the production of secondary radiation. For the electron component of the three source terms, a simplified exponential model is used. Moreover, in order to reduce the simulation complexity, a two-components simplified geometrical model of proton and electron sources is proposed. It has been found that the radiation environment inside the experimental cave is either dominated by photons or neutrons depending on the position in the room and the source term used. The higher the intensity of the source, the higher the neutron contribution to the total dose for all scored positions. Maximum neutron and photon ambient dose equivalent values normalized to 109 simulated incident primaries were calculated at the exit of the vacuum chamber, where values of about 85 nSv (109 primaries)−1 and 1.0 μSv (109 primaries)−1 were found.

Synthesis and Characterization of Proton Conducting Polymer Electrolytes based on Poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and Polyvinylchloride

Poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), Polyvinylchloride (PVC) blend membrane doped with different molar weight percentage of NH4Br has been prepared by solution casting technique using dimethyleformamide (DMF) as solvent and characterized for electrical properties. The prepared polymer electrolyte has been studied by XRD, FT-IR, Dielectric and Capacitance measurements. The XRD results show that the amorphous nature of PVP has increased in 70%PVP: 30%PVC. It is also observed that the amorphous nature of 70%PVP: 30%PVC is further increased by the addition of different concentration of NH4Br. A complex formation of PVP: PVC, PVP: PVC: NH4Br have been confirmed by FT-IR studies. Proton conductivity for the above film has been measured using impedance spectroscopy. The polymer blends 70%PVP: 30%PVC shows an ionic conductivity of 8.46X10-8 Scm-1. The conductivity of the blend film increases as concentration of NH4Br increases. The maximum proton conductivity 2.78X10-3 Scm-1 has been observed for 70%PVP: 30%PVC: 0.6 Molar weights (MWt) NH4Br. The primary proton battery with configuration of Zn + ZnSO4.7H2O/70PVP:30PVC: 0.6 Mwt% NH4Br/PbO2 + V2O5 are fabricated and tested.

Cryo-EM structure and dynamics of the green-light absorbing proteorhodopsin

The green-light absorbing proteorhodopsin (GPR) is the archetype of bacterial light-driven proton pumps. Here, we present the 2.9 Å cryo-EM structure of pentameric GPR, resolving important residues of the proton translocation pathway and the oligomerization interface. Superposition with the structure of a close GPR homolog and molecular dynamics simulations reveal conformational variations, which regulate the solvent access to the intra- and extracellular half channels harbouring the primary proton donor E109 and the proposed proton release group E143. We provide a mechanism for the structural rearrangements allowing hydration of the intracellular half channel, which are triggered by changing the protonation state of E109. Functional characterization of selected mutants demonstrates the importance of the molecular organization around E109 and E143 for GPR activity. Furthermore, we present evidence that helices involved in the stabilization of the protomer interfaces serve as scaffolds for facilitating the motion of the other helices. Combined with the more constrained dynamics of the pentamer compared to the monomer, these observations illustrate the previously demonstrated functional significance of GPR oligomerization. Overall, this work provides molecular insights into the structure, dynamics and function of the proteorhodopsin family that will benefit the large scientific community employing GPR as a model protein.

Hydrophilic Cross-Linked Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Diblock Copolymer as Proton Exchange Membrane for Fuel Cells

This study proposes a hydrophobic and hydrophilic aliphatic diblock copolymer wherein the hydrophobic block contains glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) units that are distanced by poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) segments to fabricate a proton exchange membrane (PEM). This diblock copolymer also known as ionomer due to the hydrophilic block comprising 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (SPM) block. The diblock copolymer was synthesized in the one-pot atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) synthesis. Subsequently, the membrane was fabricated by means of solution casting in which an organic diamine, e.g., ethylene diamine (EDA), was introduced to crosslink the diblock copolymer chains via the addition of amine to the epoxide group of GMA. As a result, the PEM attained possesses dual continuous phases, in which the hydrophobic domains are either agglomerated or bridged by the EDA-derived crosslinks, whereas the hydrophilic domains constitute the primary proton conducting channels. The in-situ crosslinking hydrophobic block by using a hydrophilic cross-linker represents the merit aspect since it leads to both improved proton conductivity and dimensional stability in alcohol fuel. To characterize the above properties, Nafion® 117 and random copolymer of P(AN-co-GMA-co-SPM) were used as control samples. The PEM with the optimized composition demonstrates slightly better fuel cell performance than Nafion 117. Lastly, this diblock ionomer is nonfluorinated and hence favors lowering down both material and environmental costs.

Modelling and measurements of distributions in an adult human phantom undergoing proton scanning beam radiotherapy: lung- and prostate-located tumours

Proton radiotherapy has been shown to offer a significant dosimetric advantage in cancer patients, in comparison to conventional radiotherapy, with a decrease in dose to healthy tissue and organs at risk, because the bulk of the beam energy is deposited in the Bragg peak to be located within a tumour. However, it should be kept in mind that radiotherapy of cancer is still accompanied by adverse side effects, and a better understanding and improvement of radiotherapy can extend the life expectancy of patients following the treatment of malignant tumours. In this study, the dose distributions measured with thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) inside a tissue-equivalent adult human phantom exposed for lung and prostate cancer using the modern proton beam scanning radiotherapy technique were compared. Since the TLD detection efficiency depends on the ionization density of the radiation to be detected, and since this efficiency is detector specific, four different types of TLDs were used to compare their response in the mixed radiation fields. Additionally, the dose distributions from two different cancer treatment modalities were compared using the selected detectors. The measured dose values were benchmarked against Monte Carlo simulations and available literature data. The results indicate an increase in the lateral dose with an increase of the primary proton energy. However, the radiation quality factor of the mixed radiation increases by 20% in the vicinity to the target for the lower initial proton energy, due to the production of secondary charged particles of low-energy and short range. For the cases presented here the MTS-N TLD detector seems to be the most optimal tool for dose measurements within the target volume, while the MCP-N TLD detector, due to an interplay of its enhanced thermal neutron response and decreased detection efficiency to highly ionising radiation, is a better choice for the out-of-field measurements. The pairs of MTS-6 and MTS-7 TLDs used also in this study allowed for a direct measurement of the neutron dose equivalent. Before it can be concluded that they offer an alternative to the time-consuming nuclear track detectors, however, more research is needed to unambiguously confirm whether this observation was just accidental or whether it only applies to certain cases. Since there is no universal detector, which would allow the determination of the dosimetric quantities relevant for risk estimation, this work expands the knowledge necessary to improve the quality of dosimetry data and might help scientists and clinicians in choosing the right tools to measure radiation doses in mixed radiation fields.