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Radioactive Beams for Image-Guided Particle Therapy: The BARB Experiment at GSI

  • the Super-FRS Experiment Collaboration
  • GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research
  • Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
  • University of Jyväskylä
  • University of Helsinki
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad
  • University of Groningen
  • Justus Liebig University Giessen
  • Technische Universität Darmstadt
  • Tohoku University
  • Fontys University of Applied Sciences
  • MedAustron
  • RIKEN
  • The University of Osaka
  • Peking University
  • CAS - Institute of Modern Physics

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Several techniques are under development for image-guidance in particle therapy. Positron (β+) emission tomography (PET) is in use since many years, because accelerated ions generate positron-emitting isotopes by nuclear fragmentation in the human body. In heavy ion therapy, a major part of the PET signals is produced by β+-emitters generated via projectile fragmentation. A much higher intensity for the PET signal can be obtained using β+-radioactive beams directly for treatment. This idea has always been hampered by the low intensity of the secondary beams, produced by fragmentation of the primary, stable beams. With the intensity upgrade of the SIS-18 synchrotron and the isotopic separation with the fragment separator FRS in the FAIR-phase-0 in Darmstadt, it is now possible to reach radioactive ion beams with sufficient intensity to treat a tumor in small animals. This was the motivation of the BARB (Biomedical Applications of Radioactive ion Beams) experiment that is ongoing at GSI in Darmstadt. This paper will present the plans and instruments developed by the BARB collaboration for testing the use of radioactive beams in cancer therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number737050
JournalFrontiers in Oncology
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • PET
  • carbon ions
  • oxygen ions
  • particle therapy
  • radioactive ion beams

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