Fast readout of GEM detectors for medical imaging

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2012.10.046
• Publication Date: 2012-10-22T12:00:21Z
• Authors: M. Bucciantonio; U. Amaldi; R. Kieffer; N. Malakhov; F. Sauli; D. Watts
• Keywords: Gas electron multiplier

Abstract We describe the design and implementation of a fast data acquisition (DAQ) system for Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) trackers applied to imaging and dosimetry in hadrontherapy. Within the AQUA project of the TERA foundation a prototype of Proton Range Radiography of 30×30 cm 2 active area has been designed and built to provide in-beam integrated density images of the patient before treatment. It makes use of a pair of GEMs to record position and direction of protons emerging from the target. A fast data acquisition rate close to 1 MHz will allow obtaining a good resolution in-beam proton radiography in a few seconds. A dedicated fast front-end circuit for GEM detectors (GEMROC by AGH-Crakow University) is read by the FPGA based DAQ card (GR_DAQ), developed by the AQUA group. The same system is under evaluation (within the ENVISION European project) to realize the in-vivo dosimetry, based on detecting secondary light particles during the treatment of the patient.