The medical beamline

The project is aimed at utilizing laser accelerated particle beams for biomedical pre-studies towards first medical applications. Our recent successes in the efficient generation of proton and carbon ions with table-top, 10 Hz laser systems such as the ATLAS laser at MPQ allow now to realize the first dedicated RBE studies in cell samples utilizing the laser-ion source.

The experimental chamber has been modified and is prepared for first experiments. Although RPA promises the generation of mono-energetic ions from the source, a controlled biological experiment requires beam transport to the sample and reproducible energy filtering. From the experimental chamber where the ions are produced by the laser, they are transported with a permanent-magnet quadrupole lenses (A.2.2) through a magnetic chicane to the sample. The experiment at MPQ is currently extended and additional vacuum chambers that house the beam optics will be installed (Fig). Before the transfer to MPQ, the complete beam transport setup will be tested at the TANDEM accelerator.

In addition to pre-clinical therapy studies we also consider the production of positron-emitting isotopes needed for Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET). The task here is to produce medically relevant amounts of ¹¹C-isotopes with about 10 – 15-MeV protons as provided by the laser source. This application is of specific interest for making recent advances in biomarker development for early cancer diagnosis available for clinical routine. Today’s cyclotron technology only allows off-site production (only long-life isotopes like ¹⁸F) or production in dedicated research clinics. The drastically reduced shielding requirements may allow easy installation of ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O and ¹⁸F on-site directly at the PET-CT or SPECT-CT scanner to produce specific biomarkers on demand for the diagnostic indication.