3rd Jagiellonian Symposium on Fundamental and Applied Subatomic Physics

23 Jun 2019, 17:00 → 28 Jun 2019, 23:20 Europe/Warsaw

Collegium Maius

Sunday, 23 June

17:00 → 19:00 Welcome reception

18:00 → 19:00 Guided tour through Collegium Maius

Monday, 24 June

08:00 → 08:30 Coffee a priori

08:30 → 09:00 Opening by prof. Ewa Gudowska-Nowak, Dean of the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science and prof. Paweł Moskal, conference chair

09:00 → 12:15 Monday: Applied physics: Imaging in Radiotherapy

Conveners: Ihor Kadenko (International Nuclear Safety Center of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) , Mitra Safavi-Naeini (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO))

09:00 Innovative image-guidance solutions for ion beam therapy

Since the establishment of the first few hospital-based facilities in the 1990s, ion beam therapy has rapidly emerged as a promising radiation therapy modality, due to its superior ability to concentrate the beam energy to the tumour while better sparing normal tissue and critical organs in comparison to the widely established photon therapy. However, to enable full clinical exploitation of its advantageous ballistic precision and advanced beam delivery strategies, novel solutions of in-room image guidance are warranted to provide accurate information of the patient position and tissue properties prior to treatment for adaptive therapy schemes, along with in-vivo range verification during or after treatment toward the final goal of dose-guided radiation therapy. This talk will review latest imaging innovations in ion beam therapy, which are just entering the clinic or are being investigated for possible clinical use in the near future, with special focus on new instrumentation largely exploiting technologies well established in high-energy physics, nuclear physics and acoustics.

Speaker: Katia Parodi (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany)

Parodi_invited.pptx

09:35 The Future of Charged Particle Therapy after Solving the Uncertainty Problems

Radiation therapy with charged particles (protons, heavier ions) is associated with considerable uncertainties in range and biological effectiveness that limit its compatibility with photon IMRT in randomized clinical trials. In combination, these uncertainties often prohibit preferred beam directions
because the risk of aiming the beam at organs at risk is considered too high. In therapy with heavier ions (helium, carbon), differences in RBE models limit the comparability of planned doses between different centers. Therefore, all current clinical trials with protons and ions may not test the full clinical potential
of charged particle therapy and may lead to inaccurate results and wrong conclusions. In this talk, I will present solutions for a complete solution of the uncertain problem in charged particles and discuss the future of clinical trials in particle therapy after such solutions have been implemented. We may be at the verge of a phase shift in radiation therapy.

Speaker: Reinhard Schulte (Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA)

Schulte3rdJagellonianWkshp talk 2019_Final.pptx

10:00 FOOT: a nuclear physics experiment focused on Particle theraphy and Radioprotection in Space

Particle therapy uses proton or 12C beams to treat deep-seated solid tumors, and due to the advantageous characteristics of charged particles energy deposition in matter, the maximum of the dose is released to the tumor at the end of the beam range, in the Bragg peak region. However, the beam nuclear interactions with the patient tissues induces fragmentation both of projectile and target nuclei and needs to be carefully taken into account. In proton treatments, the target fragmentation can induce low energy, short range fragments along all the beam path, that may deposit a non negligible dose in the entry channel. On the other hand in 12C treatments the main concern is long range fragments produced by projectile fragmentation that release their dose in the healthy tissues.

The FOOT experiment (FragmentatiOn Of Target) is designed to study these processes. Target ( O and 12C nuclei) fragmentation induced by 150-250 MeV proton beams will be studied via an inverse kinematic approach, where 16O and 12C therapeutic beams collide on graphite and hydrocarbon targets to provide the nuclear fragmentation cross section on hydrogen. Increasing the beam energy to 300-400 MeV/nucleon also the projectile fragmentation of these beams will be explored. Such a detector will also be able to study the interaction of light nuclei (4He, 12C and 16O) with kinetic energy of 800 MeV/nucleon with graphite and hydrocarbon targets, of interest for radioprotection in space.
The FOOT collaboration (France, Germany, Japan, Italy) started to design an experimental setup made of an interaction region with beam monitor and start counter, a magnetic spectrometer for the fragments momentum measurement, a thin plastic scintillator for ΔE and time of flight measurements and a BGO calorimeter to measure fragment kinetic energy. The information provided will be combined in order to identify the charge and isotopic number of the fragments. This detector will be paired by a setup where specific emulsion chamber will be coupled to the FOOT interaction region to measure the production in graphite and polyethylene target of light charged fragments as protons, deuterons, tritons and Helium nuclei.

Speaker: Vincenzo Patera (Universita' di Rome "Sapienza" e INFN)

Jagellonian_Patera_2019.pdf

10:25 Coffee break

10:55 Cyclotron Centre Bronowice IFJ PAN - physics for science and medicine

Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (in Polish - Centrum Cyklotronowe Bronowice, CCB) is a part of the Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow (IFJ PAN). The first proposal for the CCB project was submitted in September 2006. In years 2010- 2015 the new facility was constructed.
In CCB the dedicated to medicine Proteus C-235 cyclotron is used to produce proton beams in energy range from 70 to 230 MeV. The main activity of CCB is proton radiotherapy (in cooperation with clinical partners). Cyclotron Centre Bronowice is also one of the few proton therapy centres with experimental room dedicated for nuclear physic programme.
The following activities are being conducted in CCB: medical physics,dosimetry, microdosimetry, radiobiology and materials engineering, development of clinical and scientific infrastructure intended for a tumour treatment and experiments in nuclear physics.

Speaker: Renata Kopeć (institute of Nuclear Physics PAN)

Krakow_2019_final.pptx

11:20 Investigations on physical and biological range uncertainties in Krakow proton beam therapy centre

The physical and biological range uncertainties are limiting the clinical potential of proton beam therapy (PBT). Our research activities aim at developing software tools and detector instrumentation to tackle the problem of beam range uncertainties in the clinic. We will present research activities performed by our group within national and international collaborations in the perspective of recent advances in the field of proton therapy medical physics.

We will report on our development and pre-clinical application of a GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo (MC) simulation toolkit FRED. The MC based recalculation of patient treatment plans with variable radiobiological effectiveness is an essential input for medical doctors and physicists and can support PBT treatment planning. Taking advantage from the FRED time performance we aim to improve quality assurance efficiency in Krakow PBT facility. The software tools and procedures developed are currently integrated into the cancer patient treatment procedures to fully exploit the advantages of proton beams in the clinic.

We will report on our investigations of plastic scintillator based PET detectors for monitoring of particle therapy delivery. We study the feasibility of Jagiellonian-PET detector technology for proton beam therapy range monitoring by means of MC simulations of the β+ activity induced in a phantom using proton beams. The experimental validation and image reconstruction activities are ongoing.

Using a GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo simulation toolkit FRED and plastic scintillator based PET detectors we aim to improve patient treatment quality with protons.

Speaker: Prof. Antoni Ruciński (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN)

AntoniRucinski_SympozjumUJ_20190624.pdf

11:45 The new capabilities for ensuring radiation protection of individuals undergoing medical exposure

The work is dedicated to the development of the new capabilities for ensuring radiation protection of individuals undergoing medical exposure in radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology: a) special 3D printer for effective production of anthropomorphic human phantoms; b) the free Radiation Therapy Planning System (RTPS) for dose calculations in radiation therapy; c) special open source software tools for computer aided education (to teach himself and in dedicated groups) in radiation protection fields.
The work is being performed according to the main directions of IAEA project RER9147 (Ukrainian part) and partly supported by grant 9903 of STCU.
Presently the firms which produce anthropomorphic phantoms, use a standard complex technology with limited assortment. Therefore, phantoms are very expensive, that doesn’t allow developing extensive network of phantoms for professional training of medical personnel and control of treatment quality. We have proposed to develop an approach based on a 3D printing tool (with tissue-equivalent “inks” of various types, large speed and precision) that can provide validation tests for the whole chain for ionizing radiation in medicine. This technique will be applicable for radiotherapy and X-ray diagnostics sites and can provide a new level of professional training for the clinical staff and students.
We study the possibility to build in Ukraine the pilot project of systems for education in cancer hospital and audits in hospitals of therapeutic dose (check of all chain: methods-equipment-personal) by regulatory officers and inspectors using detectorized anthropomorphic phantoms, produced by 3D printer. Such approaches are possible and for diagnostic radiology.
Purpose of new free RTPS: a) independent check of dose calculation by main RTPS for treatment of cancer patients; b) safe for patients (because main RTPS does not used) education of students (in medical physics) and personal of hospitals for obtaining of skills and experience of work with RTPS.
Special open source software tools for computer aided education of medical physicists and radiation protection specialists are based on the MOODLE platform.

Speaker: Oleg Bezshyyko (TSNUK)

Bezshyyko_3DprinterQA.pptx

12:00 The SiFi-CC project - towards online monitoring of proton therapy

Over the last five years, the number of proton therapy centres in the World has doubled. In Kraków, Poland a new proton therapy facility Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) has been launched in 2013. The accuracy of proton therapy could be improved if on-line monitoring of deposited dose became a standard in clinical practice. Different approaches for beam range verification (one-dimensional) or monitoring of deposited dose distribution (two- or three-dimensional) are being developed, exploiting different types of secondary radiation. One of them is prompt-gamma imaging, for which the detectors of the Compton-camera type featuring a three-dimensional reconstruction allow to obtain the richest information.

Physicists from the Jagiellonian University and the RWTH Aachen University have established a collaboration to develop a method for on-line monitoring of dose distribution deposited in proton therapy exploiting prompt-gamma radiation. In the first project called $\gamma$CCB the relevant differential yields for gamma emission were measured at HIT Heidelberg and CCB Kraków. The new project aims at the development of a setup for prompt-gamma imaging, which will take advantage of the latest advances in scintillation detectors - fibres made from modern, heavy scintillators read out by SiPMs, hence the project name SiFi-CC (SiPMs and scintillating Fibre-based Compton Camera). Key features of detector design and the simulated performance will be discussed.

Speaker: Aleksandra Wrońska (Jagiellonian University in Kraków)

Talk3JS2019_Wronska.pdf

12:15 → 13:45 Lunch

13:45 → 17:55 Monday: Fundamental physics: Hadrons in nuclear matter

Conveners: Hans Ströher, Johann Zmeskal (Stefan Meyer Institute)

13:45 Mesons in nuclei: review and perspectives

In-medium properties of mesons in nuclei contains rich information of the strong interation in-between, which helps understanding low-energy non-perturbative region of the QCD. We will review the experimental and theoretical activities and discuss the perspectives in the near future including possibilities in new facilities.

Speaker: Kenta Itahashi (RIKEN)

14:20 $\eta N$ scattering parameters and possible $\eta' d$ bound state from $\eta$ photoproduction on the deuteron

Among the two-body dynamics of the meson-nucleon systems, the interaction between the eta meson ($\eta$) and nucleon ($N$) is not well known although it has been found to be attractive. An experiment [1] is conducted to determine the low-energy $\eta N$ scattering parameters using a special kinematics at the Research Center for Electron Photon Science (ELPH), Tohoku University. The energy and momentum of the emitted proton ($p$) are measured at 0 degrees for $\eta$ photoproduction on the deuteron at incident energies around 0.94 GeV, which gives the low relative momentum between $\eta$ and neutron ($n$) in the final state. Low-energy $\eta n$ scattering is likely to take place in this condition, and the scattering parameters can be determined from the differential cross section as a function of the $\eta n$ invariant mass (corresponding to the relative $\eta n$ momentum) [2]. We present the current status of the experiment.

Recently, a possible $\eta'd$ bound state is theoretically investigated [3]. A structure corresponding to the state can be observed via the $\gamma d\to \eta d$ at incident energies around 1.2 GeV. In case of backward $\eta$ emission, the structure becomes prominent because a background contribution coming from quasi-free single-step $\eta$ emission is highly suppressed. $\eta$ photoproduction on the deuteron has been experimentally studied at ELPH below incident energies of 1.15 GeV. The angular differential cross sections are determined at backward $\eta$ emission angles. We also present the preliminary results for the energy dependence and discuss a possible $\eta'd$ bound state.

[1] T. Ishikawa et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B 48, 1801 (2017).
[2] S.X. Nakamura, H. Kamano, T. Ishikawa, Phys. Rev. C 96, 042201 (R) (2017).
[3] T. Sekihara, H. Fujioka, T. Ishikawa, Phys. Rev. C 97, 045202 (2017).

Speaker: Takatsugu Ishikawa (Research Center for Electron Photon Science, Tohoku University)

ishikawa20190624d.pdf

14:45 Search for eta-mesic helium with WASA-at-COSY

The existence of eta-mesic nuclei in which the eta meson is bound with nucleus via the strong interaction was postulated by Haider and Liu over thirty years ago,however till now it has not been confirmed experimentally.

The experiments dedicated to the search for eta-mesic helium were performed using WASA detection setup installed at the COSY accelerator in the Research Center Juelich.
The search for the eta-mesic bound states is conducted via the measurement of the excitation function for selected decay channels of the He-eta systems. This presentation will summarize the present status of the research.

Speaker: Magdalena Skurzok (INFN-LNF Frascati)

JSympozjum3_Jun2019.pdf

15:05 Spectroscopy of eta'-mesic nuclei with WASA at GSI/FAIR

We are conducting experimental search for $\eta$'-mesic nuclei aiming at investigating in-medium properties of the $\eta$' meson. The first experiment was performed in 2014 at GSI by measuring the $^{12}$C($p$, $d$) reaction near the $\eta$'-meson production threshold. While no significant peak structure due to the formation of $\eta$'-mesic nuclei was observed, stringent constraints on the formation cross section as well as the $\eta$'-nucleus interaction have been deduced. As a next step, we are planning a semi-exclusive measurement of the $^{12}$C($d$, $dp$) reaction to extend the experimental sensitivity. In addition to the measurement of the ($p$,$d$) reaction, a proton emitted from decay of $\eta$'-mesic nuclei will be identified in order to enhance the signal-to-background ratio in the experimental spectrum. The WASA central detector, which had been used at COSY, will be moved to GSI and integrated with the fragment separator FRS to enable the planned semi-exclusive measurement. In this contribution, we will report the present status and future plans of this experiment.

Speaker: Yoshiki Tanaka (GSI)

15:25 The KLOE-2 experiment at DAΦNE

The KLOE-2 experiment has finished its data taking campaign at the DAΦNE collider, recording about 5.5fb−1 of data. Together with the already collected events from the KLOE campaigns, the registered data represents the largest sample of φ-mesons acquired in a φ-factory. KLOE-2 is the continuation of the KLOE experiment with a improved physics program mainly focused on the study of KS, η rare decays as well as on kaon interferometry, test of discrete symmetries, and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. Starting 2008, the general purpose KLOE detector was upgraded at the same time that a new scheme of the interaction region of the DAΦNE collider was implemented. The upgraded KLOE-2 detector included a new cylindrical GEM detector, the Inner Tracker, to improve the vertex reconstruction capabilities and a tagging system for scattered electrons in γγ processes, as well as small angle calorimeters to improve the acceptance for particles coming from the Interaction Point. The talk will cover the present status and plans of the experiment as well as the latest physics achievements of the collaboration.

Speaker: Elena Perez del Rio (INFN-LNF)

JagiellonianSymposium_KLOE.pdf

15:45 Coffee break

16:15 Recent topics on mesic atoms and mesic nuclei

Mesic atoms and mesic nuclei are considered to provide valuable information on meson properties at finite density, which are closely related to the aspects of the chiral symmetry of strong interaction. So far, the structure and formation of the bound states of various mesons such as $\pi$, $\eta$, $\eta(958)$, and $\phi$ have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. In this talk, we will briefly review the studies of the meson bound states and report the recent research activities on mesic atoms and mesic nuclei.

Speaker: Satoru Hirenzaki (Nara Women's University)

Hirenzaki.Krakow2019.fin.pdf

16:40 The pion-nucleon sigma term from pionic atoms

Early work suggested that the in-medium pion-nucleon threshold isovector amplitude b1 gets renormalized in pionic atoms by about 30% away from its free-space value [1]. Weise attributed such renormalization to the leading low-density decrease of the in-medium quark condensate and the pion decay constant in terms of the pion-nucleon sigma term [2]. Subsequent work triggered by data from `deeply bound states' in pionic atoms supported this idea [3]. Accepting the validity of this approach, we extracted the pion-nucleon sigma term from a large-scale fit of pionic-atom level shift and width data across the periodic table. Our fitted value for sigma is (57+/-7) MeV and is robust with respect to variation of pion-nucleon interaction terms other than b1 [4]. This value of sigma agrees with values obtained in several recent studies based on near-threshold pion-nucleon phenomenology [5], but sharply disagrees with values obtained in recent direct lattice QCD calculations [6].

[1] Reviewed by C.J. Batty, E. Friedman, A. Gal, Phys. Rep. 287 (1997) 385.
[2] W. Weise, Acta Phys. Pol. B 31 (2000) 2715, Nucl. Phys. A 690 (2001) 98c.
[3] Reviewed by E. Friedman, A. Gal, Phys. Rep. 452 (2007) 89.
[4] E. Friedman, A. Gal, Phys. Lett. B 792 (2019) 340.
[5] Reviewed by J. Ruiz de Elvira, et al., J. Phys. G 45 (2018) 024001.
[6] Reviewed by N. Yamanaka, et al. (JLQCD), Phys. Rev. D 98 (2018) 054516.

Speaker: Avraham Gal (Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

fg_krk19.pdf

17:05 Photoproduction of mesons off quasifree nucleons and light nuclei

Photoproduction of mesons off nuclei is important for several different topics. Reactions with free and quasifree nucleons (mainly protons and neutrons bound in the deuteron) have given much new input for the investigation of the excitation spectrum of the nucleon. For this, experimentally mainly the exploration of several polarization observables (circularly and linearly polarized beams, longitudinally and transversally polarized beams), in addition to differential cross sections, is important. Also the measurement of reactions with mesons pairs in the final state (in particular $\pi\pi$ and $\pi\eta$) has opened new windows to the nuclear excitation spectrum because such reactions are sensitive to higher lying states with a more complicated excitation structure which tend to de-excite in sequential decays via intermediate excited states. During the last few years techniques have been developed to study such reactions also for quasifree neutrons bound in light nuclei, which is necessary to disentagle the isospin structure of the electromagnetic excitations. In the meantime, even double-polarization observables for the production of neutral meson pairs off quasifree neutrons are experimentally accessible.

Furthermore, photoproduction of mesons off nuclei is also a very valuable testing field for meson-nucleon interactions and the production of exotic hadronic states. The nature of the narrow states observed for the production of eta mesons from light nuclei are still not understood and controverselly discussed. Also the possible manifestation of di-baryonic states in coherent double $\pi^0$ production off the deuteron is under discussion. Recently, also several new data sets for photoproduction of mixed-charged pion pairs were collected, which are sensitive to the contribution of the $\rho$-meson to photoproduction in the second resonance region, which is very important for the strong suppression of the second resonance peak for nuclear targets which is assumed to be a nuclear in-medium effect. We will give a summary of recent results.

Speaker: Bernd Krusche (University of Basel)

krusche_krakau.pdf

17:30 Further Theoretical Analysis on the $K^{-} {}^{3} \text{He} \to \Lambda p n$ Reaction for the $\bar{K} N N$ Bound-State. Molecular approach to the recent $\Omega_c$ and pentaquark LHCb states.

In the first part I shall present an update of the theoretical approach of [1] to the $K^{-} {}^{3} \text{He} \to \Lambda p n$ Reaction [2], adapting it to the most recent experimental results [3], where we show a good agreement with experiment using a picture based on chiral dynamics for the $\bar{K} N N$ Bound-State, which has a binding of about 20 MeV, shared by most theoretical approaches.
In the second part, I will present results based on the molecular approach to the recent $\Omega_c$ and pentaquark LHCb states, where a good reproduction on masses and widths is obtained for some oberved states, and others are predicted.

[1] T. Sekihara, E. Oset and A. Ramos, Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2016, 123D03 (2016).
[2] Y. Sada et al. [J-PARC E15 Collaboration], Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2016, 051D01 (2016).
[3] S. Ajimura et al. [J-PARC E15 Collaboration], Phys. Lett. B 789, 620 (2019).

Speaker: Eulogio Oset (University of Valencia)

omegacpenta.pdf

17:55 → 18:25 Coffee++

19:00 → 20:00 Concert in Collegium Maius

Tuesday, 25 June

08:00 → 08:30 Coffee a priori

08:30 → 12:20 Tuesday: Fundamental physics

Conveners: Avraham Gal (Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) , Wojciech Wiślicki (NCBJ)

08:30 How may quantum computing enhance cancer detection?

New cutting edge technology allows obtaining the complete information from high energetic photons undergoing Compton scatterings. This in turn enables for the first time to read out the quantum information from the molecular environment for which recent pilot studies suggest that this new kind of information plays a role in detection of cancer in humans.

Speaker: Beatrix Hiesmayr (University of Vienna)

09:05 Positronium for foundamental studies

The fundamental interaction of positron with matter and the mechanism of positronium formation are briefly introduced. Then, recent advances in fundamental experiment with many positrons bunched beam for the production of positronium in vacuum are presented: formation of antihydrogen by charge exchange, excitation of positronium in long lived states. Planned running experiment with long lived positronium at CERN and in the Trento antimatter laboratory are detailed.

Speaker: Roberto Sennen Brusa (Dep. of Physics, University of Trento and INFN-TIFPA)

2019 Cracovia 25 Giugno Symposium.pdf

09:30 The role of positronium decoherence in positron annihilation in matter

A small difference between the energies of the para-positronium (p-Ps) and ortho-positronium (o-Ps) states suggests the possibility of the superposition of p-Ps and o-Ps during the formation of positronium (Ps) from pre-Ps. It is shown that such a superposition decoheres in the basis of p-Ps and o-Ps. The decoherence time scale estimated here motivates a correction in the precise analysis of the positron annihilation lifetime spectra.

Speaker: Marek Pietrow (Institute of Physics, UMCS University, Lublin, Poland.)

PsDecoherence.pdf

09:50 Coffee break

10:20 Critical look at the time--energy uncertainty relations

We analyze the Heisenberg and Mandelstam-Tamm time-energy uncertainty relations
and we show that within the Quantum Mechanics of Schroedinger and von Neumann,
contrary to the position-momentum uncertainty relation, these
relations can not be considered as universally valid.

Speaker: Krzysztof Urbanowski (University of Zielona Gora)

urbanowski-3rJS-2019.pdf

10:40 On the neutron decay

We present the puzzle of the neutron lifetime, according to which different measurements (bottle and beam methods) deliver different lifetimes. In particular, the bottle method delivers a lifetime which is 8 s shorter than the beam method. At present, the mismatch is at the 4 sigma level. If the mismatch is not due to (yet undiscovered) systematic errors, one should search for theoretical explanations. We then discuss which theoretical solutions have been proposed in the literature and propose a novel one based on the effect of quantum measurements on the lifetime of quantum systems.

Speaker: Francesco Giacosa (Institute of Physics, Kielce University)

GiacosaKrakowSubatomic2019.pdf

11:00 Possible LENR observation due to dineutron formation

Low energy nuclear reactions (LENR) are considered based on dineutron formation in the outgoing channel of a neutron induced nuclear reaction on 159Tb. Due to the dineutron presence and subsequent decay, either it is itself, or it`s products may react with 158Tb nuclei to transform them directly or sequently into 160Tb. Accumulation of 160Tb is assumed from purely strong or weak-strong processes via nuclear reactions at room temperature. Some theoretical estimations, experimental observations and measurement results of terbium sample radioactivity are presented and discussed.

Speaker: Ihor Kadenko (International Nuclear Safety Center of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)

JagielSymp_IKadenko_25_06_2019_final.pdf

11:20 New concepts in tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle in bulk matter

The standard scheme of several tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle in bulk matter - both in the experiment and in the subsequent data analysis - has long been based on the seminal paper by Ramberg and Snow (RS) (Phys. Lett. B238, 439 (1990)). The ideas exposed in that paper are so simple and immediate that they have long gone unchallenged. However, while some of the underlying approximations are still valid, other parts of the RS paper must be reconsidered. In this talk I describe some new concepts that are related to the motion of the electrons in the test metal (the "target" of the experiment) and which have been recently studied in the framework the VIP Collaboration.

Speaker: Edoardo Milotti (University of Trieste and INFN-Sezione di Trieste)

Krakow2019-Milotti.pdf

11:40 Quantum Mechanics studies in the Cosmic Silence

The VIP-2 at the Underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) experiment aims to perform high precision tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons. The spin-statistics connection can be only demonstrated within Quantum Field Theory, hence experimental evidence of even a tiny violation of the PEP would be an indication of physics beyond the Standard Model. The method consists in circulating a DC current in a copper strip, searching for the X radiation emission due to a prohibited transition (from the 2p level to the 1s level of copper when this is already occupied by two electrons).
VIP already set the best limit on the PEP violation probability for electrons $\frac12\beta^2<$4.7$~\times~10^{-29}$, the goal of the upgraded VIP-2 experiment is to
improve this result of two orders of magnitude at least. The experimental apparatus and the results of the analysis of a first set of collected data will be presented.
The extremely low background environment of LNGS is also suitable for investigating one of the main mysteries of Quantum Mechanics Foundations: the measurement problem. Dynamical reduction models of the wave function collapse are at test at LNGS, with an experimental setup based on High Purity Ge Detectors and an utmost radio-pure Roman lead target. Preliminary results will be shown.

Speaker: Kristian Piscichia (Centro Fermi, LNF (INFN))

KristianPiscicchia_Symposium-cracov-2019.pdf

12:00 Nuclear shapes and symmetries seen through measurement of short lifetimes

Nuclear shapes like triaxial, octopole and tetrahedral - with underlying symmetries and associated conserved quantities - have drawn considerable interest during recent years. Chiral symmetry (handedness) in triaxial nuclei manifests itself in two degenerate sets of energy levels. Their reduced transition probabilities B(M1) and B(E2) are the critical observables [1], obtainable from the measured lifetimes. Doppler shift attenuation method (DSAM) is a modern and sophisticated technique to measure lifetimes accurately in picoseconds. Signature splitting and signature inversion are yet another phenomena pointing towards different nuclear shapes. Recently we investigated 126I [2, 3] - a triaxial nucleus with changing shape and axis of rotation when excited to high angular momentum states - exhibiting both signature splitting and inversion, and possibly chirality.
We produced 126I through the reaction 124Sn(7Li, 5n)126I using 7Li beam at energy 50 MeV from the Pelletron accelerator at Inter University Accelerator Center, New Delhi, India. The experimental set-up consisted of 15 Compton suppressed HPGe clover detectors installed in INGA set-up [4]. We obtained lifetimes of many states [3] - ranging from 1.2 to 2.7 ps - by observing lineshape profile of the decaying -transition and peak fitting using the software by J. C. Wells [5]. A typical gated spectrum in the figure presents the right- and left-side Doppler shifted profiles of a -transition in the forward (32) and backward (148) detectors, respectively, compared to the Gaussian peak at the 90 detector.
We reported signature splitting and inversion in the negative parity yrast band of 126I [2]. Lifetime measurement using DSAM enabled us to establish changing triaxial shapes at the inversion point, i.e., at low and high spins [3]. We originally proposed chiral bands in 126I [2] based on roughly degenerate energy states, which is currently being investigated through lifetime measurement using DSAM. The initial B(E2) values 0.11, 0.04 and 0.05 (e2b2) for 17+, 18+ and 19+, respectively, indicate possible chiral nature [1].
In our ongoing work, we aim to study chirality in 128La - produced through 114Cd(19F, 5n)128La - by measuring lifetimes (DSAM) of the proposed chiral bands [6] by applying a stringent test on B(E2) [1].

[1] I. Hamamoto, Int. J. Mod. Phys. E 20, 373 (2011).
[2] B. A. Kanagalekar et al., Phys. Rev. C 88, 054306 (2013).
[3] H. K. Singh et al., submitted to Phys. Rev. C.
[4] S. Muralithar et al., J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 312 052015 (2011).
[5] J. C. wells and N. R. Johnson, ORNL Report, 6689, 44 (1991).
[6] K. Y. Ma et al., Phys. Rev. C 85, 037301 (2012).

Speaker: Pragya Das (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay)

PragyaDas_Jagiellonian_Sym_25June2019.pptx

12:20 → 13:50 Lunch

13:30 → 15:15 Poster session

13:30 A comparison study of analytical RBE models.

Analytical models of radiobiological response in ion beams are used in studies on improving treatment planning in proton therapy. The best known models are Carabe [1], Wedenberg [2] and McNamara [3]. They relate response of the system (i.e. cell survival) with beam characterication (kinetic energy, linear energy transfer, ion type) and tissue radiosensitivity expressed by parameters of linear quadratic model (alfa, beta). These approaches has been used in studies of variable RBE in proton therapy. Application of these models require time-consuming and complex simulation of particle transport to establish spatial distribution of dose and linear energy transfer (LET).

We propose a simplified approach where particle transport is replaced by two analytical models applicable to pencil-beam dose delivery systems. Spatial dose distribution is calculated using the Bortfeld [4] model and LET distribution according to Wilkens [5] model. Both models assume power-law approximation of energy loss per unit distance are valid for uniform media. The predictions are within 2-3% agreement with particle transport simulations using Monte-Carlo codes.

All models were implemented in open-source program code library called libamtrack [6]. The library is written using ANSI C and is freely available on Github service https://github.com/libamtrack. It is designed as a shared library to be used by scientific programmers in their own modelling codes.
To facilitate the use by regular users a web interface was provided, exploiting modern technologies capable of compiling C code directly into JavaScript and WebAssembly languages. This web interface offers calculation of dose, LET and RBE as a function of depth for various media and beam configuration.

Combination of analytical models describing proton beam properties (Bortfeld, Wilkens) with radiobiological response models offers a way for fast model tuning and comparison in uniform media. We believe that the public implementation in the open-source library extended with user-friendly web interface may lead to wider application and futher development of analytical models in proton therapy.

[1] Carabe, Alejandro, et al. "Range uncertainty in proton therapy due to variable biological effectiveness." Physics in Medicine & Biology 57.5 (2012): 1159.
[2] Wedenberg, Minna, Bengt K. Lind, and Björn Hårdemark. "A model for the relative biological effectiveness of protons: the tissue specific parameter α/β of photons is a predictor for the sensitivity to LET changes." Acta oncologica 52.3 (2013): 580-588.
[3] McNamara, Aimee L., Jan Schuemann, and Harald Paganetti. "A phenomenological relative biological effectiveness (RBE) model for proton therapy based on all published in vitro cell survival data." Physics in Medicine & Biology 60.21 (2015): 8399.
[4] Bortfeld, Thomas. "An analytical approximation of the Bragg curve for therapeutic proton beams." Medical physics 24.12 (1997): 2024-2033.
[5] Wilkens, Jan J., and Uwe Oelfke. "Analytical linear energy transfer calculations for proton therapy." Medical physics 30.5 (2003): 806-815.
[6] Greilich, Steffen, et al. "Amorphous track models: a numerical comparison study." Radiation Measurements 45.10 (2010): 1406-1409.

Speaker: Leszek Grzanka (IFJ PAN)

13:30 Advanced optical simulation study on the spatial resolution of a thick monolithic PET detector

The intrinsic spatial resolution of clinical positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is ~ 3 - 4 mm. A further improvement of the resolution using pixelated detectors will not only result in a prohibitive cost, but is also inevitably accompanied by a strong degradation of important performance parameters like timing, energy resolution and sensitivity. Therefore, it is likely that future generation high resolution PET detectors will be based on continuous monolithic scintillation detectors. Monolithic detectors have attractive properties to reach superior 3D spatial resolution while outperforming pixelated detectors in timing, energy resolution and sensitivity.
In this work, optical simulations including an advanced surface reflection model, allow us to investigate the influence of three parameters on the spatial resolution: silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) pixel size, photon detection efficiency and the number of channels used to read out the SiPM array. A lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystal with dimensions 50x50x16 mm3 coupled to an SiPM array is calibrated and a nearest neighbor algorithm is used to position events. Findings show that the tested parameters affect the spatial resolution resulting in 0.40 - 0.66 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM). Best resolution could be obtained with smaller SiPM pixels, higher PDE, and an individual channel readout. However, it was shown that combining channels by adding their signals can significantly reduce the amount of readout channels while having small or no significant impact on the resolution. The mean depth of interaction estimation error is 1.6 mm. This study demonstrates the ultimate spatial resolution that can be obtained with this detector without being constrained by practical limitations of experimental setups. In the future these optical simulations may be used as a more precise and fast method to obtain calibration data for real monolithic detectors.

Speaker: Mariele Stockhoff (UGent)

13:30 Algorithm for recovery of the annihilation pairs from multi-photon events for the J-PET scanner with non-pure radioisotopes.

J-PET scanner is the multi-layer, large field-of-view, cylindrical-shape
PET tomography device made of plastic scintillators. Its unique
capabilities allows to investigate various extensions to the traditional
2-photon tomography. In this contribution we investigate the method to
recover 511 keV annihilation photons from the multi-photon events. The
obtained fraction of events can be used to increase the statistics and
improve the quality of the reconstructed image. The studies are based on
the GATE Monte Carlo simulations with the 44 Sc source. The preliminary
results of theselection algorithm based on energy, geometrical and
temporal conditions will be presented. The presented technique can be
further extended towards 2+1 tomography, where the additional
information based on the registration of the high-energy de-excitation
gamma is incorporated into the image reconstruction procedure.

Speaker: Yulia Fedorova

13:30 Application of multivariate analysis in search of the KS→3π0 decay in the KLOE-2 experiment

Violation of the combination of two discrete symmetries C (charge conjugation) and P (parity) is a very important mechanism in the Standard Model. It is, for example, one of the conditions for existance of asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe. One of the purely CP-violating process, which is still not discovered is the $K_S \rightarrow 3\pi^0$ decay.
The best upper limit on the branching ratio of this process BR($K_S \rightarrow 3\pi^0$) $< 2.7 \times 10^{-8}$ was measured with the KLOE detector operating at the DA$\Phi$NE collider located in the Italian National Center for Nuclear Physics in Frascati [1]. At the same time, predictions based on the Standard Model give us BR($K_S \rightarrow 3\pi^0$) $\sim 2 \times 10^{-9}$, which is one order of magnitude smaller than the measured upper limit. Thus, further investigation of this process is needed to test the Standard Model predictions.
In this respect, analysis of the KLOE-2 data sample [2] has been started aiming to significantly improve the present upper limit. As an alternative to the classic cut-based analysis, we plan to use multivariate analysis algorithms. In this work we show preliminary tests of available multivariate analysis algorithms applied to the KLOE data, to check the feasibility of this approach. The obtained results are comparable to the cut-based analysis [1] with two times higher signal efficiency showing a big potential of this method.

References
[1] D. Babusci et al. [the KLOE Collaboration], Phys.Lett. B723 (2013) 54-60
[2] G. Amelino-Camelia et al., Eur.Phys.J. C68 (2010) 619-681

Speaker: Szymon Parzych (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Application of Silicon-Polymer composite varistors to protect sensitive medical imaging circuits and performing better voltage bias for SiPMs

Nowadays Silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) becomes a reasonable choice for time of flights Positron emission tomography( TOF-PET). To achieve the best performance of SiPMs, it is necessary to adjust a suitable voltage bias; this means that SiPMs are very sensitive to voltage fluctuations [1]. One of the most significant issues in electronic circuits related to medical imaging equipments is finding a way to protect them against voltage fluctuations. The common method is using voltage dependent resistors which is called varistors [1]. The resistivity of a varistor decreases extremely at the specific voltage called Breakdown voltage. Also this electronic piece can save circuit from voltage damages by diverting surge current to an external circuit. [2, 3]. Silicon-polymer composite varistors, which were prepared using hot press method at a temperature of 130°C and a pressure of 60 MP, have been investigated. Research on (I-V) characteristics of samples shows that by increasing Silicon content in the mixture, the breakdown voltage decreases from 110V to 70V, but leakage current increases. Increasing Silicon content decreases their potential barrier height also from 0.29 eV to 0.26 eV. Unlike breakdown voltage and potential barrier height, increasing Silicon content increases nonlinear coefficient from 4.1 to 4.8. Using these techniques give us ability to produce suitable varistors for medical imaging modalities.

References:
[1] Mateusz Baszczyk, Piotr Dorosz, Sebastian Głąb, Wojciech Kucewicz, Łukasz Mik, Maria Sapor, SILICO︎ PHOTOMULTIPLIER GAI︎ COMPE︎SATIO︎ ALGORITHM I︎ MULTIDETECTOR MEASUREME︎TS, Metrol. Meas. Syst., Vol. XX (2013), No. 4, pp. 655–666.
[2] M. Ghafouria, M. parhizkar, H. Bidadi, S. MohammadiAref, A.Olad, Effect of Si content on electrophysical properties of Si-polymercomposite varistors, Materials Chemistry and Physics 147(2014)1117-1122.
[3] Tayefi Ardebili, Faranak ; Parhizkar, Mojtaba ; Ghafouri, Mohammad ;Velaee, Arezo, The effect of Si content on the electro physical properties of Si-poly Aniline based composite varistors, 1stNational Conference on Physics- Islami Azad University,July(2016)619-622.
[4] M. Parhizkar, S. Mohammadi Aref, M. Ghafouri, A. Olad, H. Bidadi, Correlation between sintering pressure and electrical properties of hot varistors, Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 17 143-148 (2014).

Speaker: Faranak Tayefi Ardebili (Department of Physics, Tabriz University Tabriz, Iran. 
)

13:30 Application of the machine learning methods to the event classification in the J-PET scanner.

One of the challenge for the total and large PET tomographs is the efficient selection of the true coincidence photon pairs and reduction of the background consisting of events with the photons scattered in the patient body, multiple scattered in the detector or coming from different annihilations (random coincidences). The J-PET scanner is the multi-layer, large field-of-view, cylindrical-shape PET tomography device made of plastic scintillators. Photons which are measured interacts in plastic scintillators dominantly
by the Compton effect which makes the selection process even more
challenging. We investigate the possibility of using the Machine Learning algorithms for multi-photon event classification to increase the signal to background ratio. Two boosted-decision trees algorithms: AdaBoost and XGBoost was used. The studies are based on the Monte Carlo simulation of the IEC-NEMA phantom. Preliminary results are compared with the standard selection procedure.

Speaker: Jan Bielecki (Warsaw University of Technology)

13:30 Challenges in radiotherapy planning: dose verification in the vicinity of the border of tissue-prosthesis medium

The success or failure of radiotherapy largely depends on the accuracy with which the dose will be delivered to a specific volume in the patient's body. In many cases, a change in dose by 3-4% may cause failure of the treatment. Both national and international guidelines on coherence and accuracy in ionizing radiation dosimetry are focused on homogeneous media (i.e. water), however, the human body is composed of elements of a high diversity in electron density (bones, lungs, teeth, muscles) [1]. It became frequent that apart from natural heterogeneous structures, many of patients have artificial elements, i.e. hip prostheses, surgical rods, stents or dental fillings.
One of the problems associated with radiotherapy planning for patients with endoprostheses (mainly the hip) is the inaccuracy of the algorithm calculating the dose distribution in the treatment planning system for the area in the vicinity of the border of tissue-prosthesis medium. Due to the use of high-energy ionizing radiation, during the treatment of patients with hip joint prosthesis, the dose delivered during the therapy session may be significantly different compared to the treatment plan. This is related to the change in the amount of energy deposited in the structure of irradiated organs. The change usually manifests by the dose reduction. This is due to the phenomena known as beam hardening by a high-density metal element and secondary build-up of the dose at the border of the medium (secondary build-up), resulting in an increase of the dose at the border of the medium, giving up to 20% [2]. Such a large change in energy deposited in the tissues of treated patients may lead to skeletal changes (leading to fractures in the hip joint) or even necrosis and weakening of the fixation of the implant.
To verify the dose of ionizing radiation a phantom filled with water (soft tissue equivalent) was used with the bone elements (imitating hip joint) and metallic and ceramic (hip joint endoprostheses) placed in the stand. On acetabulum surface, thermoluminescent microdosimeters (TLD) based on lithium fluoride (LiF) and Gafchromic EBT were placed. The first irradiation by medical linear accelerator was performed and the dosimeters are under readout procedure.

REFERENCES
[1]. Malicki J.,Ślosarek K., 2016. Planowanie leczenia i dozymetria w radioterapii. Tom I, Gdańsk, ISBN: 9788365672292
[2]. Reft C, Alecu R, Das IJ, Gerbi BJ, Keall P, Lief E, Mijnheer BJ, Papanikolaou N, Sibata C, Van Dyk J. 2003. Dosimetricconsiderations for patients with HIP prosthesesundergoingpelvicirradiation. Report of the AAPM RadiationTherapyCommitteeTaskGroup 63 MedPhys. 30(6).1162-82.

Speaker: Bartosz Kiełtyka (Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland)

13:30 Comparison of the JISP16 and the AV18 forces based predictions for the differential cross section and the nucleon analyzing power in d(n, nn)p reaction

The JISP16 nucleon-nucleon potential [1] is applied to investigate the nucleon induced deuteron breakup reaction at energies E=13 and 65 MeV. We use the formalism of Faddeev equation [2] and proceed like in the case of the application of the JISP16 potential to the elastic scattering process [3].
Our study reveals that this force delivers, in general, qualitatively a similar description of the exclusive cross-section and analyzing power for the studied reaction to the one based on the standard realistic nucleon-nucleon AV18 interaction [4]. However, in some regions of the phase space, the differential cross sections based on the JISP16 and on the AV18 forces differ by more than 100% and 50% at E=13 and E=65 MeV, respectively. In the case of analyzing power – there is a difference of more than 100% at E=65 MeV. Such specific parts of the phase space can be used to fine-tune the JISP16 potential parameters.

References list:

[1] A. M. Shirokov, J. P. Vary, A. I. Mazur, and T. A. Weber, Phys. Lett. B644, 33 (2007)
[2] W. Glöckle et al., Phys. Rept. 274, 107 (1996)
[3] R. Skibiński et al., Phys. Rev. C97, 014002 (2018)
[4] R. B. Wiringa, V. G. J. Stoks, and R. Schiavilla, Phys. Rev. C51, 38 (1995)

Speaker: Volodymyr Soloviov (Jagiellonian University, Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics)

13:30 Correlations of observables in few-nucleon systems

The ab-initio theoretical study of the three-nucleon (3N) observables for the nucleon elastic and inelastic scattering on the deuteron is possible using realistic models of nuclear forces. Such models contain a number of free parameters whose values are typically fixed using the two-nucleon data. In case of few models, as the One-Pion-Exchange-Gaussian (OPE-Gaussian) force [1] or the chiral force with the semilocal momentum-space regularization [2] derived by Bochum group even beyond the fifth order of chiral expansion (N4LO), in addition to the central values of parameters also their correlation matrix has been determined. The knowledge of the correlation matrix of the potential parameters opens new possibilities in studies of few-nucleon systems. In this presentation I will give two examples of such studies:

Firstly, we have applied the OPE-Gaussian force and the chiral N4LO potential with the semilocal momentum space regularization to study the propagation of uncertainties of two-nucleon interaction parameters to 3N scattering observables [3, 4] and have determined corresponding statistical uncertainty of these observables for the first time.

Secondly, we have investigated correlations between various two- and three-nucleon observables as well as between observables and specific potential parameters. While the complex structure of 3N scattering equations makes analytical studies of such correlations extremely difficult, the statistical approach can be here successfully applied. Knowledge of correlations between observables increases our understanding of 3N Hamiltonian. That piece of information is also necessary for a correct and precise performing the fitting procedure for many-body interactions. Our study indicates which of the 3N observables are particularly useful in this context.

1. R. Navarro Pérez, J. E. Amaro, and E. Ruiz Arriola, Phys. Rev. C89, 064006 (2014).

2. P. Reinert, H. Krebs, and E. Epelbaum, Eur. Phys. J. A54, 86 (2018).

3. R. Skibiński et al., Phys. Rev. C98, 014001 (2018).

4. Yu. Volkotrub et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B50, 367 (2019).

Speaker: Yuriy Volkotrub (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 CPT violation, entanglement and gravity in particle mixing

We show that the gravitational interaction among the elements of a mixed particle system leads to the violation of the time-reversal (T) symmetry while the CP symmetry is preserved hence inducing a CPT symmetry violation. This violation is directly associated to the rising of the entanglement among the elements of the system. This many-body effect, which scales with the number of the elements in the system, could have played a relevant role in the generation of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the first stages of the Universe. Experiments, based on Rydberg atoms confined in microtraps can simulate the mixing and the mutual interaction, and could allow to test the presented mechanism.

Speaker: Kyrylo Simonov

13:30 Design and implementation of new scintillation probes for the PAL spectrometry

Initial tests of a new measuring probe for use in PALS spectrometry were designed and carried out. Unlike commercial measuring probes, SiPM’s were used as scintillation light detectors. Tests were carried out with various types of scintillation materials, e.g. NaI (Tl), BaF2 & BC412. Three types of SiPM’s (KETEK & SensL) were also tested.
Main adventages of this project are: mobilty of new PAL spectrometer design (mPALS), safety increase in field experiments and hazardous environments (no HV on user side) and immunity to random magnetic field fluctuations (which is the main concern with PMT usage)
The new device will be able to be used for cancer diagnostics in hospital facilities.

Speaker: M.Sc.Eng. Konrad Wysogląd (UMCS Nuclear Methods Department)

13:30 Determining the energy released by electron capture into different atomic subshells for $^{110m}$Ag isomer in the dependence on the ionization degree and assumed electronic configuration

The proposed studies focus on a performing the comprehensive analysis of the optimal conditions for a detailed knowledge of the nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC) process for selected nuclear isomers (i.e. metastable exited states of atomic nuclei) of a few elements. The part of these research focuses on the especially interesting and important case of NEEC process for the $^{110m}$Ag isomer ($T_{1/2}$ ~ 249.83 d).

Within the framework of our previous studies for the $^{93m}$Mo [1,2] and $^{242m}$Am [3] isomers we have determined, using the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) method [4-9], the dependence of the energy released by electron capture into different L, M and N subshells (for $^{93m}$Mo) and O, P and Q subshells (for $^{242m}$Am) on the ionization degree (and assumed electronic ground state configuration). Here it is worth noting that the energy released by the electron capture process to the system with q ionized degree can be treated as binding energy of the caught electron for the (q-1) ionized system. In connection with this, we have performed for the $^{110m}$Ag isomer the detailed MCDF calculations concerning the dependence of the energy released by electron capture into different subshells for N, O and P shell of $^{110m}$Ag isomer on the degree of ionization and electronic configuration.

These research have a basic research character, because they are concentrated on a systematic study directed toward greater knowledge and understanding of the various aspects of a new physical phenomena, i.e. the NEEC process. It is worth noting that these studies are starting point for applied research, which purpose will be to allow the controlled release of energy stored in the nuclear isomer of selected elements.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is supported by the Polish National Science Center under Grant number 2017/25/B/ST2/00901.

REFERENCES
[1] M. Polasik, K. Słabkowska, J.J. Carroll, C.J. Chiara, Ł. Syrocki, E. Węder, and J. Rzadkiewicz, Phys. Rev. C 95 034312 (2017).
[2] C. J. Chiara, J. J. Carroll, M. P. Carpenter, J. P. Greene, D. J. Hartley, R. V. F. Janssens, G. J. Lane, J. C. Marsh, D. A. Matters, M. Polasik, J. Rzadkiewicz, D. Seweryniak, S. Zhu, S. Bottoni, A. B. Hayes & S. A. Karamian, Nature 554 216–218 (2018).
[3] J. Rzadkiewicz, M. Polasik, K. Słabkowska, Ł. Syrocki, E. Węder, J.J. Carroll, and C.J. Chiara, Phys. Rev. C 99, 044309 (2019).
[4] I.P. Grant, Int. J. Quantum Chem. 25 23 (1984).
[5] K.G. Dyall, I.P. Grant, C.T. Johonson, F.A. Parpia, and E.P. Plummer, Comput. Phys. Commun. 55 425 (1989).
[6] M. Polasik, Phys. Rev. A 39 616 (1989); Phys. Rev. 41 3689 (1990); Phys. Rev. 52 227 (1995); Phys. Rev. 58 1840 (1998).
[7] F.A. Parpia, C.F. Fischer, and I.P. Grant, Comput. Phys. Commun. 94 249 (1996).
[8] P. Jönsson, X. He, C.F. Fischer, and I.P. Grant, Comput. Phys. Commun. 177 597 (2007).
[9] C. F. Fischer and G. Gaigalas, Phys. Rev. A 85 042501 (2012).

Speaker: Katarzyna Słabkowska (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 87-100 Toruń, Poland)

13:30 Development of a new free Radiation Therapy Planning System for dose calculation in Radiation Oncology

The work is dedicated to the development of the new free RTPS (the Radiation Therapy Planning System), the using GPU hardware and Artificial Intelligence algorithms for dose calculation. The semi-empirical algorithms and Monte Carlo methods are applied to obtain balance between of speed and precision of work. Free RTPS systems are effective not only for training students and medical physicists, but also for increasing the reliability of the dose calculations in the radiation oncology, quality control of dose delivery, development of new types of radiation therapy such as proton therapy and therapy using carbon ions. We use the modern graphical interface, convenient and habitual for medical physicists, written on the C++ and Python.
Over the last decade we are observing a technological revolution in radiation oncology. Enhanced use of imaging techniques combined with computer-controlled methods of dose delivery aims at escalating effective dose values deposited in tumors without increasing the morbidity and tissue complications. A pivotal tool for these irradiation approaches is the computerized radiation treatment planning system (RTPS) which is used to develop optimal treatment techniques for individual patients. Modern RTPSs make increased use of patient images, possibly from various imaging modalities, enhanced 3-D displays, sophisticated dose-calculation algorithms, complex treatment plan evaluation tools, visualized and validated by a comprehensive set of the generated images. Implementation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) added a further complexity to the RTPS. RTPSs are used in external beam radiation therapy (and brachytherapy) to generate beam profiles (or positioning of the sources) and dose distributions, maximizing tumor control and minimizing normal tissue complications. Enhanced modern RTPSs have to serve as an essential education tool for students of specialties related to using of ionizing radiation in medicine and for training of medical physics personnel. Alternative RTPS are indispensable to provide an independent calculation path to estimate the dose obtained by patient as required by regulation documents.
Unfortunately, as a rule RTPSs are provided only as a complement to the purchased radiation-therapy equipment, which makes it inconvenient, expensive and often impossible to use such RTPS for training and education of personnel and students as well as for independent checks. Therefore, development of RTPS, independent on a specific vendor of the equipment for radiation therapy, potentially using an open source approach, is essential for improving the level of training and education as well as the quality standards in radiation therapy in Ukraine and in other countries. The proposed development of the open source RTPS will employ modern algorithms and approaches, possibly best available open algorithms from commercial software, forward and inverse planning, semi empirical and Monte Carlo methods, techniques of parallelizing for effective calculations.

Speaker: Hlib Lakhno (TSNUK - Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)

13:30 Development of the J-PEM for breast cancer detection and diagnosis using positronium imaging

The purpose of the presented investigations is to design, construct and to establish the characteristic performance of the J-PEM (Jagiellonian Positron Emission Mammography), which is imaging modality for the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, based on a novel idea with plastic scintillator [1,2] and wavelength shifter (WLS) [3]. Out of all imaging modalities, J-PEM is a type of Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) which is a dedicated and well-recognized technique to diagnosis the breast cancer which is based on the same principle as that of PET. J-PEM can be an effective system for the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in its early stage by improving sensitivity and specificity and it can be achieved by the combined use of plastic scintillators, which have superior timing properties, with the WLS. In addition, this device will be developed in view of the classification of malignancy based on the possibility of positronium mean lifetime imaging [4].
We have prepared a simulation program based on Monte Carlo method for optimizing the geometry and material for the J-PEM prototype. Next step will be to construct the first prototype using the above geometry and material. We will be taking the detector system into operation, performing hardware commissioning and calibration. We also intend to prepare the image reconstruction procedure for double module J-PEM and make measurements with radioactive sources(handling with proper safety) and phantoms for testing of the device focusing upon its imaging capabilities. Furthermore, data analysis and determination of the imaging characteristics prototype for Specificity, Sensitivity, Position spread function(PSF) and signal to noise ratio (SNR).

Speaker: Shivani . (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Development of vacuum chambers for J-PET experiments

Vacuum chambers are necessary for the physics experiments, planned to be carried out with the use the J-PET detector. Several chambers, with particular purposes listed below, were manufactured and tested at various stages of development of the detector.
The chambers used for particular runs of J-PET experiments had generally cylindrical shapes, while the radioactive source was placed in the center of each chamber. Such orientation ensures the axially symmetrical response of J-PET scintillators and allows to carry out correct calibration. Variation of the material used for manufacturing of the chambers (aluminum/ plastic), allows to observe the detector response with various absorption and scattering of gamma quanta. Such determination is necessary for proper analysis of multi-gamma annihilation, which will be needed for planned experiments.
Additionally, individual chambers vary in sizes and the spatial orientation of the porous material, used as a target in which positrons/ positronium atoms annihilate. In two chambers the investigated sample, was placed in the immediate vicinity of the source, while in the biggest one, the target material was evenly distributed on the internal surface of the chamber wall. Such orientation allowed to investigate the exact position of annihilation event. The replacement of porous material with metal one allowed to observe the difference of the detector efficiency for 2 gamma and 3 gamma detection.

Speaker: Marek Gorgol (Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Institute of Physics, Department of Nuclear Methods)

13:30 Discovery of CP violation in charm decays at LHCb experiment and prospects for Run III and Run IV

The existence of CP violation in the decays of strange and beauty mesons is very well established experimentally. On the contrary, CP violation in the decays of charmed particles has never been observed before (2018). During the LHC Run I and Run II the LHCb collaboration has collected a huge sample of charmed hadrons. This sample enables some of the most sensitive searches for CP violation ever performed. In this presentation, the results of the latest search for time-integrated CP violation in $D^0 \rightarrow K^{-}K^{+}$ and $D^0 \rightarrow \pi^{-}\pi^{+}$ decays, performed using the full data set collected by LHCb corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9fb^{−1}$, will be discussed. The flavour of the decaying charm meson is determined by looking at the charge of the pion from the strong decay $D^{*}(2010)^{+} \rightarrow D^{0} \pi^{+}$ for promptly produced $D^{0}$, or at the charge of the muon in semileptonic $\bar {B^0}, B^{-} \rightarrow D^{0} \mu^{-} \bar{\nu}_{\mu}X$ decays for secondary production of $D^{0}$. Also a brief prospects for further analyses (especially including $ \Xi_c$ barion decay) will be presented.

Speaker: Jakub Ryżka (AGH UST)

13:30 Gate Simulation study of the 24 Modular J-PET and data analyzing

A novel Positron Emission Tomography (PET) detector consisting of strips of polymer scintillators is being developed in J-PET Collaboration. Despite other commercial PET scanners which are based on crystal scintillators, 24 modular J-PET is the latest prototype of the J-PET collaboration using Silicon photomultipliers. Each module in this prototype contains 13 strips of EJ-230 with 50 cm long plastic scintillator. Modules in this geometry are placed on the lateral area of a cylinder with 70 cm diameters. The axis of each detector is parallel to the axis of the cylinder. At ends of each module there is a silicon photomultiplier(Si-PM). GEANT4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) is one of the most advanced specialized software packages for simulations of the Positron Emission Tomography scanners. For this simulation, 6 point sources have been used and just back to back events taken into account. Gate Output J-PET Analyzer (GOJA) is a software developed by J-PET collaboration to analyze GATE simulation output . This software can perform three dimensional list-mode of coincidences, which can be used in image reconstruction. Since modular J-PET is under construction, one of the aims of investigations is to find out all the NEMA characteristics of the tomography by GATE simulation. In parallel, GATE simulation and GOJA data analyzing have been implemented, to provide us with the reconstructed images of J-PET. For this goal, we are developing Quantitative Emission Tomography Iterative Reconstruction (QETIR) software.

Speaker: Meysam Dadgar (Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University )

13:30 Higher-order recombination processes in Argon ions observed via x-ray emission in an EBIT

The electron-electron interaction is a crucial aspect of atomic reactions involving electron-ion collisions. An effective way to investigate electron-electron interaction is to study the higher-order recombination processes. The most basic of those recombination processes is dielectronic recombination. DR is the time reversal to the Auger process and thus is well-known and investigated in many different highly-charged systems [1,2]. In this resonant process, a free electron is captured while another bound electron is excited due to the direct interaction between the two electrons. The recombination is completed through radiative stabilization of the excited ion. The research presented here was conducted the Jagiellonian University EBIT [3]. An XFlash SD x-ray detector was positioned perpendicular to the electron beam axis. The very good resolution of the x-ray detector enabled the K-LL DR resonances to be distinguished for He- up to N-like Ar ions. In this region, in addition to the K-LL DR, one of the $2p_{1/2}$ subshell electrons can be excited to the $2p_{3/2}$ subshell state [2]. A significant influence of various intershell TR processes (KL-LLL) was observed and caused a broadening of Be- to N-like DR lines presented in Figure 1 [2]. These results encouraged more detailed present studies of TR, specifically of KK TR. There, the resonant capture of a free electron to an ion-bound state transfers two K-shell electrons to a higher atomic shell. This way, a doubly-excited K-shell state is produced and, in most cases, it decays via emission of two photons. The first transition with two vacancies in the K shell is responsible for the emission of photon ($K_{α}^{ h}$) with a slightly higher energy than following satellite transition ($K_{α}^{ s}$). This TR process has been not reported yet to the best of our knowledge. This work presents significant arguments for a successful observation of the KK-LMM TR process in Ar ions. The data set was collected for the trap ionization time between 100 ms and 250 ms for different electron-beam energies in the region (5200-7500) eV. This electron energy region was expected to manifest a significant enhancement of the hypersatellite Ar-K x-ray emission due to the TR processes mentioned above. Indeed, we observed a maximum-like behavior of the intensity ratio between this radiation and the satellite Ar-Kα radiation presented in Figure 2.

References:
[1] T.M.Baumann. Z.Harman, J.Stark, et al. Phys. Rev. A 90, 052704 (2014)
[2] C.Beilmann, P.H.Mokler, Z. Harman, et al. Phys. Scr. T144, 014014 (2011)
[3] G.Zschornack, M.Schmidt and A.Thorn, CERN Yellow Report 007, 165-201 (2013)

Speaker: Weronika Biela (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Inexpensive scintillation spectrometer systems on the base SiPM light detectors

The work is devoted to the development of inexpensive scintillation spectrometer systems on the base SiPM light detectors for various radiation applications (compact cheap mobile spectrometers of gamma, beta and alpha particles, monitoring of accelerator beams - Beam Loss Monitors). CsI(Tl) was used as scintillation crystals. Hulls was built using 3D printing. Detector electronics (with 512 channel multi-channel analyzer with Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections) costed no more than 40-50 dollars.

Speaker: Oleh Trofimiuk (TSNUK - Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)

13:30 Investigation of magnetic field inside Belle2 spectrometer

The Belle II detector, dedicated to investigation of B mesons properties, started data acquisition on SuperKEKB e+e- collider this year. Precise measurement of particle momentum in 1.5T magnetic field is crucial for the success of physics program. The measurement of the field inside tracking detector volume was performed in collaboration between CERN, DESY, IFJ PAN and KEK labs. Field itself is complex, as it is a product of combined effect of main analyzing solenoid and system of compensating solenoids.
Combination of two robotized measurement campaigns and simulation is used to create final field map for track reconstruction. Mass distribution of known particles is used to assess field map quality.

Speaker: Szymon Bacher (IFJ PAN)

13:30 Investigation of the heavy inorganic scintillators for quality assurance in hadron therapy

In the last decades hadron therapy has become an important cancer treatment modality. Therefore, research towards improvement of quality assurance and new online treatment monitoring methods has intensified. Prompt gamma imaging (PGI) is one of the most promising techniques for real time monitoring of deposited dose distribution. Recent development in production of inorganic scintillators resulted in variety of materials, many of which show excellent timing properties and light yield. Moreover, due to large densities and Zeff, those materials are well suited for the detection of a few-MeV gamma radiation emitted as a by-product of hadron therapy. Such scintillators, when manufactured in a form of thin fibers and combined with modern silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), allow for compact and granular detector designs. Thus, heavy inorganic scintillators seem to be suitable for PGI detectors, such as Compton cameras.

Within the SiFi-CC project we investigated properties of heavy inorganic scintillating materials for their future application in fiber-based Compton camera. The study was focused on lutetium based crystals (LuAG:Ce, LYSO:Ce), as well as recently developed GAGG:Ce:Mg material. All samples had an elongated, fiber-like shape with 1 x 1 mm2 cross section and 100 mm length. The following properties of the materials have been investigated: attenuation length of the scintillating light, timing characteristics, energy resolution and light output. Additionally, in order to optimize performance of the scintillators an influence of different coating types has been investigated.

Speaker: Katarzyna Rusiecka (Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland)

13:30 Laser peened austenic stainless steel studied by positron annihiliation spectroscopy

Laser shock peening (LSP) is a proven surface modification process designed to improve the mechanical properties of materials. LSP is mainly applied on surfaces of metallic components [1]. It consists in irradiating a metallic target surface with a high power density laser beam pulses. The beam heats and ionizes the sample surface, turning it into rapidly expanding plasma which generates a high-pressure shockwave in the target material. It results in severe plastic deformation changes in microstructure and introduces compressive residual stress inside the target material which are reflected by increase in hardness and corrosion resistance [2]. LSP is a promising method for enhancement of biomedical implant components properties [3].

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is a well-established method that provides information about changes in micro-structure of the affected subsurface region at the atomic level [4]. Changes in the number and the type of crystal lattice defects are reflected in measured positron annihilation characteristics.

The poster presents preliminary results of positron annihilation spectroscopy studies of the subsurface zone in 316L stainless steel samples subjected to laser peening. By combining chemical removing of the sample layers and measurement of positron lifetime, we obtained the depth profile of defects and determined the affected zone range in the samples after laser processing. The variable energy positron beam (VEP) technique allowed near-surface the depth profiling of defects and obtaining of positron diffusion length in the modified surface layer.

Konrad Skowron acknowledges the support of InterDokMed project no. POWR.03.02.00-00-I013/16

References
[1] Gujba, A.K.; Medraj, M. Materials (2014) 7, 7925-7974.
[2] Ebrahimi, M., Amini, S, Mahdavi Seyed M., Int J Adv Manuf Technol (2017) 88, 1557–1565
[3] Guo, Y.B., Sealy, Michael & Guo, Changsheng, , CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology (2012), 61, 583-586
[4] Krause-Rehberg R., Leipner H. S., Positron Annihilation in Semiconductors, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (1999)

Speaker: Konrad Skowron (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN)

13:30 Measurement of the charge asymmetry for the KS → πeν decay and test of CPT symmetry with the KLOE detector

Using 1.63 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected by the KLOE experiment about $7 \times 10^4$ $K_S \rightarrow \pi e \nu$ decays have been reconstructed. The measured value of the charge asymmetry for this decay is $A_S = (−4.9 \pm 5.7_{stat} \pm 2.6_{syst}) \times 10^{-3}$, which is almost twice more precise than the previous KLOE result. The combination of these two measurements gives $A_S = (−3.8 \pm 5.0_{stat} \pm 2.6_{syst}) \times 10^{-3}$ and, together with the asymmetry of the $K_L$ semileptonic decay, provides significant tests of the CPT symmetry. The obtained results are in agreement with CPT invariance.

Speaker: Daria Kisielewska (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Modelling the horizontal polarization lifetime curves for a storage ring EDM experiment

One of the great mysteries in the natural sciences is why matter dominates over antimatter in the visible universe. The breaking of the combined charge conjugation and parity symmetries in the Standard Model of particle physics is insufficient to explain this. Therefore, other sources of CP-violations are sought, and these could manifest in the Electric Dipole Moments (EDM) of fundamental particles.

The JEDI (Juelich Electric Dipole moment Investigations) Collaboration works towards the direct measurement of the EDM of charged hadrons (spin-polarized protons and deuterons) in a storage ring. The observable is the minuscule vertical polarization buildup starting from a horizontally polarized beam, caused by the interaction of the EDM with a radial electric field. This requires the polarized beam to possess a long horizontal polarization lifetime. This was previously achieved at the Cooler Synchrotron (COSY). Multiple models were applied to explain the shape of the polarization lifetime curve. The underlying idea of these models and the conclusion drawn from this will be presented.

Speaker: Swathi Karanth (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Monitoring proton therapy through in-beam PET – the perspective of proton therapy physicist

Proton therapy is a method of radiotherapy allowing the delivery of a high radiation dose to the target volume in a conformal way. This is possible thanks to the very beneficial shape of the depth dose distribution of proton beam, called the Bragg peak.
However, the steep distal fall-off of the beam can result in over- or under-dosage in critical regions. Therefore the monitoring of the beam range is very needed. The one of the method of such monitoring is the in-beam PET system, DoPET developed by the group from Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa (Italy). In order of an effective development of this kind of system the cooperation with proton therapy center is necessary. The tests of DoPET were performed, among others, in Cyclotron Centre Bronowice, Institute of Nuclear Physics in Cracow (Poland), which is equipped with two Gantries with pencil beam scanning (PBS) system.
In order to evaluate the capabilities of DoPET several irradiations of different materials phantoms mimicking human tissue have been performed. The experimental conditions were simulated with FLUKA Monte Carlo code. The data analysis was performed focusing on the quantification of the activated volume in terms of depth and signal height.
In this work the experiment will be presented in details, including all issues which have to be solved by the beam provider to convert the treatment parameters into the ones required by the PET system. The comparison of the Monte Carlo predictions vs. experimental data will be shown as well.

Speaker: Dawid Krzempek (Cyclotron Centre Bronowice, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland.)

13:30 Monte Carlo study of image noise contributions of a prototype proton computed tomography scanner

Proton computed tomography (pCT) is an imaging modality for generation of accurate relative-stopping-power images. Such images are used in the context of particle therapy for treatment-planning and dose-recalculation according to the anatomy-of-the-day. A recently proposed method for fluence-modulated pCT (FMpCT) imaging may further reduce imaging dose while maintaining image quality within a region-of-interest, i.e. the treatment beam path.

To enable future FMpCT acquisitions we present results of a detailed Monte Carlo study of contributions to image noise of the phase II prototype pCT scanner. The scanner was modelled using the Geant4 framework taking into account quenching effects in the scintillators of the energy detector and a beam model from experimental data of the tracking detectors. Based on an image guide, variance levels at the detector can be calculated and disentangled into contributions from various physical effects, such as multiple Coulomb scattering (MCS) or energy straggling. An important noise contribution was the object-specific interplay of heterogeneities and MCS. Finally, accuracy of the variance prediction was compared to measurements.

Speaker: Reinhard W. Schulte (Loma Linda University)

13:30 MonteCarlo Simulations of the SiFi-CC

In 2014 NuPECC listed online monitoring of the beam range in hadron therapy as one of the most important challenges in hadron therapy. Monitoring systems based on the detection of prompt gamma radiation are considered as one of the most promising options. Different detector setups are developed and tested around the world. A Compton camera, yielding the full three-dimensional dose distribution, is one of the favoured setups.
The SiFi-CC project, being a joint effort of colleagues from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and RWTH Aachen University, aims at a development of a Compton camera based entirely on heavy scintillating fibers read out by SiPMs. The setup design is being optimized for its future performance on the way of Monte Carlo simulations using the GEANT4 package. Different scintillating materials, fiber properties and setup geometries are simulated and the resulting position, energy and time resolutions are determined. Results of the simulations will be presented and compared to results of laboratory measurements.

Speaker: Jonas Kasper (III. Physics Institute B RWTH Aachen University)

13:30 Non-strange dibaryons studied in coherent double neutral-meson photoproduction on the deuteron

The search for non-strange $B=2$ (dibaryon) bound/resonance states has a long history. The dibaryon state is of interest, which can be a molecule consisting of two baryons or a spatially compact hexaquark object. The $\gamma d\to \pi^0\pi^0 d$ reaction has been experimentally investigated at incident energies ranging from 0.58 to 1.2 GeV to study non-strange dibaryons. The angular distributions of deuteron emission in the $\gamma d$ center-of-mass cannot be reproduced by quasi-free production of neutral pions followed by deuteron coalescence. Additionally a 2.14-GeV peak is observed in the $\pi^0 d$ invariant mass distribution. These suggest a sequential process such as $\gamma d \to R_{\rm IS}\to \pi^0 R_{\rm IV} \to \pi^0 \pi^0d$. We discuss the newly onserved two isoscalar dibaryons ($R_{\rm IS}$) and an isovector dibaryon ($R_{\rm IV}$) observed in the $\pi^0\pi^0d$ and $\pi^0d$ channels, respectively. We also show the $\gamma d \to \pi^0\eta d$ reaction.

Speaker: Takatsugu Ishikawa (Research Center for Electron Photon Science, Tohoku University)

13:30 Nuclear deformation effects to the formation cross section of eta(958) mesic nucleus

The significantly large mass of the $\eta(958)$ ($\eta'$) meson within the other light pseudoscalar mesons is understood to be generated by the $\rm U_{A}(1)$ anomaly and the chiral symmetry breaking. In the nuclear medium, the $\eta'$ mass is considered to be reduced due to a partial restoration of chiral symmetry [1]. The reduction of the $\eta'$ mass leads to an attractive $\eta'$-nucleus interaction and to a possible existence of $\eta'$-nucleus bound states, namely $\eta'$-mesic nuclei [2]. The $\eta'$-mesic nuclei are believed to provide new insights of the properties of $\eta'$ meson and the aspects of strong interaction at finite nuclear density.

The first experiment to search for the $\eta'$-mesic nuclei by the missing mass spectroscopy in the $^{12}{\rm C}(p, d)$ reaction was performed at GSI [3, 4, 5] and the excitation energy spectrum of $^{11}{\rm C}$ around $\eta'$-meson threshold was obtained. Since no peak structure indicating the $\eta'$ bound states was found, the upper limits of the formation cross section and the constraints for the $\eta'$-nucleus potential parameters were determined [5, 6].

In the analyses in Refs. [5, 6], the $^{11} {\rm C}$ core nucleus in the $\eta'$-mesic nuclei was implicitly assumed to have the standard nuclear density distribution as usual stable nuclei. However, the latest theoretical work reported in Ref. [7] indicated the possible change of the density distribution of $^{11}{\rm C}$ due to the interaction with $\eta'$. Thus in this report we investigate theoretically the nuclear deformation (compression) effects to the structures and the formation spectra of $\eta'$-$^{11}{\rm C}$ bound states to provide the realistic basis to deduce the physical information from the experimental spectra.

Reference

[1] D. Jido, H. Nagahiro and S. Hirenzaki, Phys. Rev. C85 (2012) 032201.
[2] H. Nagahiro and S. Hirenzaki, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94 (2005) 232503.
[3] K. Itahashi et al., Prog. Theor. Phys. 128 (2012) 601-613.
[4] H. Nagahiro et al., Phys. Rev. C87(2013) no.4, 045201.
[5] Y. K. Tanaka et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117 (2016) no.20, 202501.
[6] Y. K. Tanaka et al., Phys. Rev. C97 (2018) no.1, 015202.
[7] D. Jido, H. Masutani and S. Hirenzaki, arXiv:1808.1014[nucl-th], accepted to PETP, 2019.

Speaker: Suzuna Kinutani (Nara Women's University)

13:30 Odd-even staggering in the yields of intermediate mass fragments from p+Ag collisions at Ep=480 MeV

The experimental total production cross sections of intermediate mass fragments (isotopes of Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne, Na, and Mg) were extracted by the integration of dsigma/dOmega dE data measured at several angles for p+Ag collisions at proton beam energy of 480 MeV. The total cross sections show typical odd-even staggering (OES) when presented as a function of the atomic number Z of ejectiles. The effect is the strongest for products with T3=(N-Z)/2 =0 and 1. Similar behavior is observed for theoretical cross sections evaluated in the two-step model in which the first stage of the reaction is described by intranuclear cascade INCL++ and the second stage by GEMINI++ model. The OES seems to be even more pronounced for theoretical than for the experimental cross sections.

Speaker: Udai Singh (Jagiellonian University, Crakow)

13:30 Optimization of the collimator for spatially fractionated proton therapy of the eye

Purpose
In spatially fractionated proton therapy (SFTP) the arrays of parallel and narrow proton beams are applied to reduce the impact of irradiation on healthy tissue. At the beam entrance the locally irradiated skin benefits from faster recovery than that observed for the uniform exposure. In the same time, due to the multiple Coulomb scattering of the proton beam, the target volume can be uniformly irradiated.

The main goal of this work was to optimize the construction of mechanical collimators to form minibeam. The theoretical study is concerned to design and test a beam collimator in the shape of mesh and slits that for the parallel 60 MeV proton beam would produce the desired depth dose distribution at a depth relevant for eye proton therapy.

Materials and Methods
Monte Carlo simulations (FLUKA ver. 2011.2x-6) were used as a method to evaluate the dose distributions of SFTP irradiations in several configurations of mechanical collimation. The parameters of the collimator i.e. center-to-center distance (c-t-c), mesh/slits aperture (diameter of spot or width of slit), Collimator-Phantom distance (CPD) and material composition etc. were optimized in order to assure the required dose distribution.

Results
Comparable Peak to Valley Dose Ratio (PVDR) values were obtained for mesh collimators of the larger aperture (spot diameter 0.7-1.0 mm) than for slits collimator (width of slit 0.25-0.5 mm). The results show that proton beam widths 0.7 mm with c-t-c distance 1.4 mm (mesh) and 0.25 mm width with c-t-c distance 0.75 mm are needed to obtain simultaneously uniform dose distribution in the target volume and the high values of PVDR. A larger c-t-c distances (2 mm or more) does not lead to the dose homogeneity in the BP area. Among the considered materials, brass and tungsten are offering the best compromise. The highest PVDR are obtained with a tungsten multislit collimator. The reduction of the Collimator-Phantom distance allows to maximize the dose-volume effects. Despite lower the PVDR values, more advantageous in terms of, manufacturing cost, material processing (drilling holes/slits) and secondary neutrons is used brass collimator.

Conclusions
Spatially fractionated proton therapy SFPT (proton grid therapy) is considered for treatment of eye tumor with sparing eyelids localized on the beam’s path after hypofractionated therapy.

For 60 MeV parallel proton beam the mesh diameter of 0.7 mm or the slits width of 0.25 mm was found sufficient to broaden the resulting mini-beams due to the multiply proton scattering in the collimator and in consequence to the homogenous target irradiation.

Speaker: Mrs Agata Toboła-Galus

13:30 Patient dose evaluation in digital breast tomosynthesis

Breast cancer (BC), a most common women malignancy, is often screened by mammography and ultrasound exams. Mammography provides early micro-calcification recognition, that is important for further cancer diagnosis. The imaging method-of-choice in the case of BC is an X-ray mammography (MG), also with the use of high-resolution digital modality. However, a planar MG has some limitations in terms of its sensitivity, especially in patients with dense and treated breasts. Moreover, MG contributes to the overall radiation burden of patients, and it is known that the risk for breast cancer is correlated with an exposure on ionizing radiation due to medical imaging. Patients, for whom MG study does not give a clear answer or is impossible to interpret, are often further diagnosed by contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is currently regarded as the most sensitive BC detection technique. On the other hand, it is limited by higher costs and lower availability and it provides higher rates of false positive cases. Relatively new method applied in breast neoplasms detection is digital tomosynthesis, introduced in 2011.
Classical planar (2D) mammography image characterized by a superposition of all breast structures projected onto the detector plane making difficult to recognize suspected areas. Tomosynthesis is a modality in which a series of breast exposures are performed at different angles (usually 9). Acquired images are subsequently used to reconstruct thin (1 mm) slices, which eliminates the problem of overlapping breast structures. This makes it easier to detect potentially suspicious changes, which can additionally be supported by specialist software such as CAD (Computer Aided Diagnosis).
Image and dosimetry data were used for studies performed in the digital tomosynthesis mode at the Department of Radiology and Imaging Diagnostics. So far, data from 219 patients have been collected and analyzed in a total of 357 CC / MLO projections in tomosynthesis mode. Additionally 70 of the patients had also classic 2D examination used as a reference in terms of dose.
Depending of the projection and mammography mode (2D-planar, tomosynthesis), the average glandular dose (AGD) increases with increasing breast thickness. It was observed that the increase of AGD is much faster in patients undergoing tomosynthesis. AGD for thomosynthesis was 30-60% higher depending on breast thickness, comparing with 2D examination (i.e. 1,36 vs 1,75 mGy for 63-72mm compressed breast thickness).
The diagnostic benefits of 3D imaging compensate for the risk associated with increasing the glandular dose in patients, especially in groups where the breast thickness after compression does not exceed 63mm.

Speaker: Kamil Kisielewicz (Centre of Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Krakow Branch, Poland)

13:30 Recent results of the CKM angle γ measurement at LHCb and prospect for Run III and Run IV

The CKM angle γ is the least precise measured parameter of the Unitary Triangle. Discrepancies between precise measurements of the CKM angle γ in the tree-level and loop dominated processes might provide evidence of New Physics - beyond the Standard Model. The value can be well determined by exploiting the interference between favored 𝑏→𝑐 and suppressed 𝑏→ 𝑢 transition amplitudes (e.g. 𝐵→𝐷𝐾 decay). Selected results of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) angle γ measurements, with special attention for 𝐵→𝐷𝐾 decays family, obtained at the LCHb will be discussed. A quick overview of the upgrade of the LHCb spectrometer and prospect for future measurements during Run III and Run IV at LHC will be also presented.

Speaker: Wojciech Krupa (AGH UST)

13:30 Reconstruction of the NEMA IEC body phantom from J-PET total-body scanner simulation using STIR.

Current total-body PET scans are time consuming, expensive, and require high-activity radiopharmaceuticals. In available clinical PET scanners, the cost of detectors introduces restrictions to the field of view. The J-PET project of a total-body scanner based on polymer detectors is expected to increase geometric efficiency without increasing the production costs. The results of reconstruction of the NEMA IEC phantom simulation for a long J-PET scanner will be presented. The simulations and reconstruction is carried out using two recognized open source packages. For simulations of the phantom and the scanner the GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) is used, while the basis for the 3D image reconstruction is the STIR (Software for Tomographic Image Reconstruction). Huge number of registered coincidences in a total-body scan poses a challenge for data acquisition and image reconstruction. Additionally, for long cylindrical PET detectors, the axial resolution can be degraded by the parallax effect between detected pairs with a large axial difference. A more oblique line of response (LOR) penetrates more scintillating material than a LOR of less axial difference, which coupled with unknown depth of interaction increases uncertainty on axial position of detection pair. One possible solution to this problem is to limit the maximal LOR angle with regards to the transverse plane. The effect on the image quality of LOR angle is discussed.

Speaker: Przemysław Kopka (National Centre for Nuclear Research, Otwock-Swierk, Poland)

13:30 Response functions and cross sections for inclusive neutrino scattering off $^2$H

Neutrino scattering on nuclei has been investigated for several decades. It played an important role in establishing fundamentals of the theory of weak interactions and electroweak unification. Later it became a tool to study the much more subtle properties of neutrinos, such as masses and oscillations.

Most of the calculations for neutrino scattering on light nuclei were performed in coordinate space, see important Refs. (1-4). In a recent paper (5) we presented momentum-space based results for several (anti)neutrino induced reactions on light nuclei: $$\nu(\bar{\nu}) +{^2}\mathrm{H} \rightarrow \nu(\bar{\nu})+p+n \, ,\\ \bar{\nu}+{^2}\mathrm{H}\rightarrow e^++n+n \, ,\\ \nu (\bar{\nu})+{^3}\mathrm{He}\rightarrow \nu (\bar{\nu})+p+{^2}\mathrm{H} \, ,\\ \nu (\bar{\nu})+{^3}\mathrm{He}\rightarrow \nu (\bar{\nu})+p+p+n \, ,\\ \nu (\bar{\nu})+{^3}\mathrm{H}\rightarrow \nu (\bar{\nu})+p+{^2}\mathrm{H} \, ,\\ \nu (\bar{\nu})+{^3}\mathrm{H}\rightarrow \nu (\bar{\nu})+n+n+p \,, \\ \nu+{^3}\mathrm{He} \rightarrow e^++n+{^2}\mathrm{H} \, ,\\ \nu+{^3}\mathrm{He} \rightarrow e^++n+n+p \,, \\ \nu+{^3}\mathrm{H} \rightarrow e^++n+n+n \, .$$ We restricted ourselves to neutrino energies up to 300 MeV and pointed out to problems arising from merging relativistic kinematics with nonrelativistic dynamics. For the inelastic reactions on the deuteron we calculated directly the total cross sections $\sigma_{tot} (E)$ at many incoming neutrino energies. The essential building block for the total cross section at a given (anti)neutrino energy $E$ is the threefold differential cross section $d^3\sigma/d\Omega^{\, \prime} \; d E^{\, \prime}$, which depends on $E$, on the (anti)neutrino scattering angle $\theta^{\, \prime}$ and on its final energy $E^{\, \prime}$. Namely, the total cross section is most easily calculated as $$ \sigma_{tot} (E) = \int d \Omega^{\, \prime} \int d E^{\, \prime} \frac{d^3\sigma}{d\Omega^{\, \prime} \; d E^{\, \prime}} \, = \, 2 \pi \int d \theta^{\, \prime} \sin \theta^{\, \prime} \int d E^{\, \prime} \frac{d^3\sigma}{d\Omega^{\, \prime} \; d E^{\, \prime}} \, . $$ The cross section $d^3\sigma/d\Omega^{\, \prime} \; d E^{\, \prime}$ can be expressed in terms of the so-called response functions $R_{jk}$ (5), which depend on two parameters only: on the internal energy of the nuclear system $E_{CM}$ and on the magnitude of the three-momentum transfer $Q$: $$ \frac{d^3\sigma}{d\Omega^{\, \prime} \; d E^{\, \prime}} \, = \, \sum\limits_{jk} v_{jk} \left(E, \theta^{\, \prime} , E^{\, \prime} \right) \, R_{jk} \left( E_{CM} , Q \right) \, . $$ Since the $v_{jk}$ functions, stemming from the lepton matrix element, are analytically known, it is thus much more efficient to calculate just the response functions on a sufficiently dense two dimensional grid in the $\left( E_{CM} , Q \right) $ plane and use interpolations to obtain these values of the response functions which are needed to compute $\sigma_{tot} (E) $ at a required energy $E$. Note also that in the case of the neutral current driven reactions, exactly the same response functions can be used to obtain cross sections with neutrinos and antineutrinos. This approach has been already successfully tested for the (anti)neutrino reactions on the deuteron and one example of the response function for the $\nu(\bar{\nu}) +{^2}\mathrm{H} \rightarrow \nu(\bar{\nu})+p+n$ reaction is shown in Fig. 1. The corresponding work for several reactions with the three-nucleon systems is in progress and will be reported at the conference. As in Ref. (5), also in the present calculations the single nucleon current from Ref. (6) and the AV18 two-nucleon potential (7) is employed.

References
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Speaker: Alessandro Grassi ((for LENPIC Collaboration))

13:30 Search for the $\eta$-mesic Helium in $pd \rightarrow pd\pi^{0}$ Reaction with WASA-at-COSY

The negatively charged pions and kaons can be trapped in the Coulomb potential of atomic nucleus forming so called mesonic atoms. It is also conceivable that a neutral meson could be bound to a nucleus. In this case the binding is exclusively due to the strong interaction and hence such object can be referred to as a mesic nucleus.
The most promising candidate for such state is the $\eta$-mesic nucleus since the $\eta$-nucleon interaction is strongly attractive. The existence of the mesic nuclear matter was postulated over thirty years ago [1], however, until now it has not been confirmed experimentally. Such system in the form of the $\eta$-mesic Helium may be created for example in the deuteron-deuteron or proton-deuteron fusions [2].
Three experiments dedicated to the search for $\eta$-mesic Helium were performer up to now using the WASA detector system installed at the Cooler Synchrotron COSY at the Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany) [2-8].
The poster will be focused on the status and perspectives of the search for the $\eta$-mesic Helium in $pd \rightarrow (^{3}He\eta)_{bound} \rightarrow pd\pi^{0} \rightarrow pd\gamma\gamma$ reaction.

$\textbf{Bibliography:}$
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Speaker: Aleksander Khreptak (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Search for the Charge symmetry forbidden annihilation of electron- positron pair using the J-PET detector

Discrete symmetries ( reflection in space (P), reversal in time (T) and charge conjugation (C)) are violated in weak interactions only. Charge conjugation transforms a particle into antiparticle and vice versa by changing its internal quantum numbers. Positronium atom (Ps) which is the meta-stable bound system of particle (e-) and its antiparticle (e+) can be an excellent tool for studying the charge symmetry violation [1-3]. In 1967, Mills and Berko measured the C-forbidden decays of the singlet state (1S0: p-Ps) by estimating the ratio (R) of its decays 3γ / 2γ with best limit so far (R~2.6x10-6 at 68% confidence level ) [4].
J-PET is the PET device built from 192 plastic scintillators of dimension 500 X19 X 7 mm3 which are arranged axially in 3-layers [5-8]. It can be used to investigate the C-forbidden decays of the positronium atoms (p-Ps → 3γ) and estimating the branching ratio between 3γ to 2γ [2]. The event wise registration of the annihilation photons emitting from the decay of positronium atoms allows to distinguish between photons originating from the long-lived (o-Ps in range of ns) or short-lived (p-Ps in range of ps) atoms [9-10]. Furthermore, the angular correlation between the annihilated photons can also be used as a signature to differentiate between the decays from singlet (p-Ps) or triplet (o-Ps) states of the Ps atoms. The plastic scintillators used in J-PET offers an excellent time and high angular resolution and thus the value of R is expected to be measured with better sensitivity [5]. The status and preliminary results from the studies will be discussed and presented.
References:
1] W. Bernreuther et al., Z. Phys. C 41, 143 (1998)
[2] P. Moskal et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B 47, 509 (2017)
[3] E. Czerwinski et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B 48, 1961 (2017)
[4] A. P. Mills et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 18, 420 (1967)
[5]P. Moskal et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. A 764, 317 (2014)
[7] P. Moskal et al., Phys. In Med. And Bio. 61 , 2025 (2016)
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[9] B. Jasinska et al. Acta. Phys. Polon. B 47, 453 (2016)
[10] K. Dulski et al., Hyperfine Interaction 40 , 1 (2018)

Speaker: Jyoti Chhokar (Jagiellonian University)

Jyoti_Chhokar__ChargeSymmetry.pdf

13:30 Search of electric dipole moment using storage ring

The Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics fails to explain the reason for our very existence since it is not capable to account for the apparent matter-antimatter asymmetry of our Universe. Permanent EDMs of particles violate both time reversal and parity invariance, therefore via CPT theorem CP is violated. Finding an EDM value larger than predicted by SM would be a strong indication for physics beyond the SM. The JEDI collaboration attempts to measure EDM for proton and deuteron using storage ring. Final precision of 10-29 e·cm is expected with the dedicated storage ring.

The assumed precision level is very high so it is necessary to pay attention to some standard effects which could mimic the investigated EDM. Up to now only the magnetic dipole moment (MDM) and EDM interaction with electromagnetic fields were considered when calculating spin evolution in the storage ring. However, the elements of the storage ring have complicated field distributions, hence the fields gradients are also present. Therefore, the MDM and electric quadrupole moment (EQM) interaction with fields gradients must be considered. This usually neglected effects could mimic EDM signal at the goal precision. The analytical calculations for EQM-gradients interaction [1] confirm the importance of taking into account effects from field gradients in the planned EDM measurements.

The simulations of these effects have to be performed prior to deciding about the design and construction of the final storage ring. Such calculations could be performed with properly modified BMAD software, equipped with realistic fields for all elements. BMAD software was modified implementing particles tracking in custom defined elements and extending T-BMT equation with MDM and EQM interaction with fields derivatives. Presently the custom elements fields are defined with analytical formula taken from Ref. [2]. This allows easy definition of fields gradients and direct control of fields parameters. Preliminary calculations of spin precession with fields gradients effect included will be presented for the quasi-frozen spin method of EDM measurement described in Ref. [3].

References:

1. A. Magiera, Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 20, 094001 (2017)

2. B.D. Muratori et al., Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 18, 064001 (2015)

3. Y. Senichev et al., in Proc. 6th Int. Particle Accelerator Conf. (IPAC'15), Richmond, VA, USA, May 2015, p. 213

Speaker: Anjali Aggarwal (The Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland)

13:30 Studies of the orthopositronium lifetime for cancer diagnostics

Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy is a material testing method based on the analysis of the lifetime of positronium, which depends on the structure of the material in which it was formed. Thanks to this property, we might use this method in the future for cancer diagnostic purposes. The main goal of this work was to examine the influence of environmental conditions like temperature or humidity on the properties of o-Ps formed in cancerous and healthy tissues. A series of measurements were also made to compare the lifetime of positronium in normal tissue and fixed in formalin in order to determine some relationships that can help in future research.

Speaker: Zuzanna Bura

13:30 Study of (p,x) and (γ,x) reactions on natural Molybdenum

Since 2010 the nuclear medicine community has been expressing global concern for the shortage of 99mTc supply based on fission production of 99Mo from highly enriched uranium to produce 99Mo/99mTc generators. As an alternative to reactor based 99Mo/99mTc generator technology, many research groups have suggested the direct production of 99mTc through accelerators. There are many production methods of 99Mo/99mTc using accelerators.
Production of 99Mo/99mTc through proton induced reaction on highly enriched 100Mo looks promising. But it is also possible to produce 99Mo/99mTc by natMo. With this method production costs of 99Mo/99mTc may be reduced, however more radioactive impurities of other Mo isotopes may be produced. At 9-26 MeV energy range there is a large discrepancy in the data available for the production of Radionuclides impurities, hence this work was conducted to contribute data in reducing the discrepancy. In this work, we studied target yield and the cross-section for the production of long-lived Radionuclides produced in the natMo target at the energy range 19-26 MeV. Target yield was derived using the measured activity of produced radionuclides. The total cross section for all isotopes produced is presented and compared with the previously available data. Present results showed good agreement with most of the earlier reported data.
Preliminary results of production possibility of 99Mo using SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Cracow, Poland will be discussed.

Speaker: Arshiya Anees Ahmed (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Study of angular correlations in the ortho-positronium annihilation with the J-PET detector for the search of CPT symmetry violation

The test of the three discrete symmetries of quantum mechanics under the chargeconjugation (C), parity transformation (P), and time reversal (T) is one of the most important issues in nuclear and elementary particle physics. All of three discrete symmetries are violated, singly or in pairs with different orders. The CPT combination of these three symmetries seems to be conserved in nature so far.

Studies of the observables violating the combined CPT symmetry constitute precise tests of the Standard Model. However, The CP-symmetry violation was observed to date only for systems involving quarks, raising the importance of searches its manifestations e.g. in purely leptonic systems. The 3 decay of spin-aligned ortho-positronium atoms (o-Ps) can be used to test CPT invariance in such a purely leptonic system. We search for CPT violating decay processes in positronium, using the angular correlation of $\overrightarrow{S}$. $(\overrightarrow{k}_{1} \times \overrightarrow{k}_{2})$ where $\overrightarrow{S}$ is the positronium spin and $\overrightarrow{k}_{1}$, $\overrightarrow{k}_{2}$ are the directions of the most energetic positronium decay photons.

The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) detection system enables experimental tests of both CP and CPT symmetries through measurement of the expectation values of angular correlation operators odd under these transformations and constructed from the spin vector of the ortho-positronium atom, the co-planar momentum vectors of 3 gamma photons originating from the decay of the positronium atom, and the linear polarization direction of annihilation photons.

Precise experimental symmetry tests with J-PET are possible using the trilateration based reconstruction technique of 3 ortho-positronium decays and a positronium production chamber including a highly porous material target, whose setup allows for determining the ortho-positronium spin liner polarization without the use of an external magnetic field.

Speaker: Muhsin Mohammed (Jagiellonian University)

13:30 Study of nanoscopic porosity in black metals by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Thermal evaporation or magnetron sputtering of metals in carefully adjusted low pressure (~100 Pa) of nitrogen gas enables deposition of peculiar porous structures known as black metals. Because of their unique morphology black metals highly absorb light in the visible to infrared spectral region. The surface of black metals appears dark since light incident on the surface is completely absorbed in multiple reflections in fractal-like structure of percolated micro-cavities with a broad size distribution. Black metals are used in electronic devices for optical sensing and imaging, solar cells, camouflage and gas sensors. The physical mechanism leading to formation of peculiar porous structure of black metals is not completely understood yet and parameters for their preparation were found empirically. The development of black metals with morphology of nanoscopic porosity tailored for specific application requires understanding of the mechanism of growth of these materials.
Positronium (Ps), i.e. hydrogen-like bound state of electron and positron, is excellent non-destructive probe of nanoscopic pores in solids. In conventional metals Ps does not form because any bound state of positron and electron is quickly destroyed by the screening of conduction electrons. However, in porous metals containing micro-cavities a thermalized positron may pick an electron on inner surface and escape into a cavity forming Ps. Ortho-positronium (o-Ps) formed by this process decays predominantly by pick–off annihilation and its lifetime is determined by the scattering rate on the walls of the cavity. Hence, measurement of o-Ps lifetime enables determination of size distribution of microcavities.
In the present work black Al, Au and Pd films prepared by magnetron sputtering and thermal evaporation were characterized by positron annihilation spectroscopy. Porous black films were compared with conventional smooth films. It was found that Ps is formed in smooth films on the surface only while in black metals it is formed in the whole film. The size distribution of micro-cavities in black metal films prepared by thermal deposition and magnetron sputtering was determined. Moreover, the development of the size and morphology of nanoscopic porosity with increasing film thickness was examined. It was found that the film first grows on a substrate as a smooth layer. Above certain critical thickness of a few nm the film starts to grow as a porous layer and its roughness gradually increases with increasing thickness.

Speaker: Oksana Melikhova (Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University)

13:30 Study of prompt gamma imaging using heavy scintillating fibers for future application in proton therapy

The aim of the project is the development of a method for on-line monitoring of dose distribution in proton therapy based on detection of prompt gamma (PG) radiation emitted from a patient during irradiation. During this project, an imaging prototype of Compton Camera (CC) based on heavy scintillating fibers together with the corresponding data handling and an image reconstruction framework will be presented in the future. Currently, computer code is being developed to implement algorithms which will be needed for image reconstruction from the detection setup, comparing obtained simulation results for different design options. In this work, the reconstructed images using back-projection and list-mode MLEM are evaluated. A spatial resolution of 5 mm FWHM for 22Na point sources in 20 cm distance which were reconstructed by means of 10 iterations of list-mode MLEM has been achieved by Geant4 simulation results. Moreover, data from laboratory measurements and comparing with simulated data will address the challenge of practical Compton imaging for proton therapy in the future work.

Speaker: Majid Kazemi Kozani (Jagiellonian University Krakow)

13:30 The chiral forces with semilocal regularization applied to the deuteron photodisintegration below Eγ= 100 MeV

The improved chiral nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction with the semi-local regularization in the momentum space was derived recently [1] up to the fifth order of the chiral expansion (N4LO) and even some contributions from the next order have been tested in so-called N4LO+ model. In comparison to the first generation of the chiral potential [2] the regularization of the potential is now performed in a semi-local way what leads to a much better control of finite-cutoff artifacts. Such a semi-local regularization has been already proposed in the [3] where it was applied in coordinate space. In recent work [1] an alternative approach for semi-local regularization performed directly in momentum space was derived and used to construct the NN interaction. Beside the new regularization method also other important improvements, like new way of fixing of parameters for pion-nucleon vertexes or new NN databased used to fix free low energy constants have been implemented in the model [1]. The new force leads in the nucleon-nucleon (nucleon-deuteron) scatterings to very precise description of observables up to 300 (200) MeV and delivers only tiny dependence on the regularization parameter.
The chiral interaction of Ref. [1] has been never applied to study the electromagnetic processes in two-nucleon system. We will present such first applications especially focusing on the dependence of predictions on the regularization parameters and on the chiral order used. It is well known, that the non-local regularization of the chiral forces lead to a strong dependence of the predictions on regularization parameters already at N2LO [4,5,6]. Using the semi-local regularization in the coordinate space improves the data description both for the electromagnetic as well as for the weak processes [7]. In this contribution we, for the first time, extend the investigations from Ref. [7] to the chiral model with semi-local regularization in the momentum space [1] and, in particular, we will discuss the predictions for the deuteron photodisintegration reaction at the photon energy range up to 100 MeV. The comparison of predictions with the data and the predictions based on older chiral models will be presented.
[1] P.Reinert, H.Krebs, and E.Epelbaum, Eur. Phys. A54, 86 (2018).
[2] E.Epelbaum, W.Glöckle, Ulf-G.Meißner, Nucl. Phys A637, 107 (1998); Nucl. Phys. A671, 295 (2000).
[3] E.Epelbaum, H.Krebs, and Ulf-G.Meißner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 122301 (2015).
[4] R.Skibiński, J.Golak, H.Witała, W.Glöckle, A.Nogga, and E.Epelbaum, Acta Phys. Polon. B37, 2905 (2006).
[5] R.Skibiński, J.Golak, D.Rozpędzik, K.Topolnicki, and H.Witała, Acta Phys. Polon. B46, 159 (2015).

Speaker: Vitalii Urbanevych (Mgr)

13:30 The energy released by electron capture into different atomic subshells of $^{242m}$Am isomer for different ionization degrees

Following the first experimental observation of $^{93m}$Mo isomer depletion via nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC), we have made theoretical investigation related to the $^{242m}$Am isomer ($T_{1/2}$ ~ 141 y). It is worth to underline that for $^{242m}$Am isomer the probability of the NEEC process can be even higher than for the $^{93m}$Mo isomer [1-3].

We have performed here the extensive multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock [4-9] study concerning the dependence of the energy released by electron capture into different subshells for N, O and P shell of $^{242m}$Am isomer on the degree of ionization and electronic configuration.

These study have a basic research character, because they are concentrated on a systematic study directed toward greater knowledge and understanding of the various aspects of a new physical phenomena, i.e. the NEEC process. The presented studies may contribute to the development of the concept of new ultra-energy-dense nuclear power sources, and $\gamma$-ray lasers.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is supported by the Polish National Science Center under Grant number 2017/25/B/ST2/00901.

REFERENCES
[1] M. Polasik, K. Słabkowska, J.J. Carroll, C.J. Chiara, Ł. Syrocki, E. Węder, and J. Rzadkiewicz, Phys. Rev. C 95 034312 (2017).
[2] C. J. Chiara, J. J. Carroll, M. P. Carpenter, J. P. Greene, D. J. Hartley, R. V. F. Janssens, G. J. Lane, J. C. Marsh, D. A. Matters, M. Polasik, J. Rzadkiewicz, D. Seweryniak, S. Zhu, S. Bottoni, A. B. Hayes & S. A. Karamian, Nature 554 216–218 (2018).
[3] J. Rzadkiewicz, M. Polasik, K. Słabkowska, Ł. Syrocki, E. Węder, J.J. Carroll, C.J. Chiara, Phys. Rev. C 99, 044309 (2019).
[4] I.P. Grant, Int. J. Quantum Chem. 25 23 (1984).
[5] K.G. Dyall, I.P. Grant, C.T. Johonson, F.A. Parpia, and E.P. Plummer, Comput. Phys. Commun. 55 425 (1989).
[6] M. Polasik, Phys. Rev. A 39 616 (1989); Phys. Rev. 41 3689 (1990); Phys. Rev. 52 227 (1995); Phys. Rev. 58 1840 (1998).
[7] F.A. Parpia, C.F. Fischer, and I.P. Grant, Comput. Phys. Commun. 94 249 (1996).
[8] P. Jönsson, X. He, C.F. Fischer, and I.P. Grant, Comput. Phys. Commun. 177 597 (2007).
[9] C. F. Fischer and G. Gaigalas, Phys. Rev. A 85 042501 (2012).

Speaker: Łukasz Syrocki (Nicolaus Copernicus University)

13:30 The FAZIA detector and developments from recent experiment for 48Ca+27Al system at 40 MeV/A

Heavy-ion induced reactions offer unique opportunities to probe nuclear properties far from the ground state. The isospin flow during heavy-ion collisions is a subject of current investigation due to its link with the nuclear symmetry energy ($E_{sym}$) which is only partly known far from stability and ground-state conditions. More specifically, at incident energies between 10 and 100 AMeV, it is possible to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of asymmetric nuclear matter. Also, they are of paramount importance in the astrophysical context for the description of the core-collapse of supernovae, as well as the formation and static properties of proto-neutron stars. The FAZIA program is aimed at investigating the evolution of isospin (i.e. the N/Z ratio) effects in heavy-ion collisions for excited (medium-light) quasi-projectiles (QP) formed in semi-peripheral collisions at Fermi energies. Various observables (e.g. isobaric ratios, mass fragment distributions, N/Z ratio of fragments, etc.) are calculated from the data obtained for the study of isospin effects. The experiment is based on the excellent isotopic separation capability of the FAZIA detector telescopes (Si-Si-CsI(Tl)), permitted by the combined use of the ΔE-E and PSA techniques and of fast digital electronics. In this contribution, I will report on some possible physics that can be studied from the FAZIA-PRE experiment performed at LNS (Catania) with 6 FAZIA blocks, focusing on the 48Ca + 27Al reaction at 40 MeV/A in comparison with systems such as 48Ca + 12C at 40 MeV/A and 48Ca + 27Al at 25 MeV/A.

Speaker: Sahil Upadhyaya (Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Krakow)

13:30 The SIDDHARTA-2 Apparatus for Kaonic Deuterium X-Ray Spectroscopy at DAFNE

Kaonic atoms provide a perfect testing ground for studying the low-energetic, non-perturbative regime of quantum chromodynamics. Since kaons are the lightest mesons carrying strangeness, they allow for a direct observation of the influence of the strong interaction on the kaonic atom ground state in the form of an induced energy shift and broadened width. The SIDDHARTA-2 experiment, located at the DAFNE collider in Frascati, Italy, aims to determine this ground state shift and width in kaonic deuterium via X-ray spectroscopy.
Due to the very low kaonic deuterium X-ray yield, an improvement of the signal-to-background ratio of at least one order of magnitude is vital for the success of this measurement. This increase will be achieved in SIDDHARTA-2 through the implementation of three updates on the apparatus: a lightweight, cryogenic gaseous target cell, a large-area X-ray detection system in the form of Silicon Drift Detectors, and a veto system dedicated to background suppression. The veto system consists of the Veto-1 system for active shielding and the Veto-2 system for the discrimination against background originating from minimum ionising particles. The properties and characterisation of these updates will be presented.

Speaker: Marlene Tüchler (Stefan Meyer Institute)

13:30 Uncertainty of RBE model in proton radiotherapy based on α / β ratio and linear energy transfer.

Living systems exhibit complex response to radiation during and after radiotherapy with protons beams. The response, measured usually by cell survival is mostly affected by the quantity of absorbed radiation. Many other factors, including cell type, dose rate and beam energy have also non-negligible effect on cell-survival.

In proton radiotherapy constant value of the relative biological effect (RBE) is assumed in clinical practice. Many studies based on in-vitro and in-vivo experiments suggest that variable proton RBE would improve the treatment outcome. Several models based on data extracted from in-vitro experiments relate RBE variations with linear energy transfer (LET) and α / β ratio in linear-quadratic (LQ) model. In our study we selected Wedenberg model and extended it by adding prediction of RBE statistical distribution. Such approach propagates uncertainties of in-vitro cell experiments into higher level quantities such as RBE and dose-volume-histograms.

The model is based on experimental data for 10 different cell lines irradiated with monoenergetic proton beams with LET values ranging from from 6 keV/um to 30 keV/um. We reconstructed parameters of Wedenberg model by performing least-square fitting to the mean values of the cell survival. Then the model was improved by subsequent fitting including statistical uncertainty of cell survival which produced distributions of correlated α and β parameters of LQ model. We used bootstrapping - resampling technique, to mimic new data generation, by drawing modified samples (in this case: parametres α, β and q) . The model outcome was a skew RBE distribution. Mean value of predicted RBE distribution is in agreement of few percent with original Wedenberg model.

We estimated that uncertainties of LQ model parameters α and β at 10% - 15% lead to RBE uncertainty at 9% level. Introduced model predicts RBE distribution which enable better inter-model testing than simple comparison of mean values. Uncertainty of the RBE allows for richer treatment plan comparison.

References:
[1] M.Wedenberg, B.K.Lind, B.Hardemark, “A model for the relative biological effectiveness of protons: The tissue specific parameter α / β of photons is a predictor for the sensitivity to LET changes”, Acta Oncologica 2012
[2] K.Ilicic, SE Combs, TE Schmid,“New insights in the relative radiobiological effectiveness of proton irradiation.”, Radiation Oncology 2018
[3] B.Jones, MD, FRCR, ”Why RBE must be a variable and not a constant in proton therapy”, BRJ 2016

Speaker: Kinga Jeleń (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAS)

13:30 Understanding digital gamma-ray time-of-flight response for fast scintillation detectors at giga sampling digitization rate

Recently, the developments on digital time of flight are made for the pair of fast scintillator detectors ; BaF2-LaBr3, BaF2-BC501A, and LaBr3-BC501A using CAEN 250 mega samples per second (MSPS), model V1720, and 500 MSPS, model DT5730 digitizers [1,2]. Study reveals the improvement in the TOF resolution from 12%-17% while digitizing the signal from 250 MSPS to 500 MSPS rate. To investigate more in this area, we collected the coincidence signals from same detector pairs, irradiated by 22Na source, at 500 MSPS and 2.5 giga samples per second. Signals from each detector pair were digitized by using LeCroy HDO5000A digital oscilloscope. Different derived digitization rates ; 1.6 GSPS, 1.25 GSPS, 833 MSPS, 625 MSPS, 333 MSPS and 250 MSPS, were generated by signal down sampling method. Signal time marker from each detector pair is calculated by using Digital Constant Fraction (DCF) algorithm. Minimum TOF broadening is noted after the optimization proceedure by altering delay and fraction for each detector pair. On comparing this TOF width at different sampling rates, it is observed that this value saturates after 500 MSPS rate onwards, found true for all the pairs. The values are found to be 0.53 ns, 0.98 ns and 1 ns for the aforementioned detector pairs respectively. To explain this experimental observation, we studied the DCF Transition region (TR) distributions of LaBr3 and BC501A detectors. It reveals a constant slope of TR at different sampling rates. To furthur explain TOF width computationally, a simple pulse fitting method is adopted using Landu Distribution function. Event-by-Event fitting of the experimental pulses followed by TOF calculation explains the experimental TOF broadening for each detector pair.

Speaker: Neha Chug (Department of Physics, Panjab University)

13:30 Using MicroPattern Gas Detectors (MPGD) with modern imaging CMOS sensors for obtaining inexpensive radiation imaging detectors

The work is devoted to using MicroPattern Gas Detectors with modern imaging CMOS sensors for obtaining inexpensive radiation imaging detectors. Last years there is fast progress of new cheap CMOS sensors. It is allows to obtain new quality of radiation image detector systems on the base of "MPGD - CMOS sensor" electronics.

Speaker: Kostiantyn Sakhatskyi (TSNUK - Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)

13:30 Validation of GPU-accelerated Fred Monte Carlo code for proton dose recalculation

In modern radiotherapy of cancer using charged particles, the Monte Carlo (MC) methods are exploited for reliable dose recalculation. Unlike analytical dose calculation methods employed in commercially available Treatment Planning Systems (TPS), the MC tools explicitly take into account many details of particle interactions with target athoms, such as multiple coulomb scattering or nuclear inelastic interactions. Nevertheless, application of general purpose, CPU-based MC tools is limited by the long computational time, thus MC engines based on graphic cards (GPU) calculations are investigated. A GPU-accelerated proton transport code FRED (Fast paRticle thErapy Dose evaluator) was developed at the University of Rome (Italy) for clinical research at proton beam facilities. Application of MC tools in proton therapy can improve accuracy of dose calculations performed with TPS and support Quality Assurance (QA) procedures.
A physical beam model used for patient treatment in Krakow Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) has been implemented in FRED based on measurements performed during facility TPS commissioning. Furthermore, a stoichiometric calibration of CT scanner, taking into account the Hounsfield Unit to the relative proton stopping power relation, as well as material nuclear composition has been implemented. The dose recalculation accuracy was validated experimentally in homogeneous and heterogeneous media. Patient QA treatment plans measurements in water performed with MatriXX array of ionisation chambers and spread-out bragg peaks (SOBP) dose profile measurements with a Markus chamber were used for validation in homogeneous water phantom. Validation in heterogeneous media was performed measuring 3D dose distribution behind a CIRS head phantom.
The maximum difference of the dose measured in SOBPs and calculated in FRED MC is up to 2%. Percentage gamma index passing rate (%GP) with 2mm/3% criteria, obtained comparing 182 simulated and measured layers of patient QA plans was 96.28(3.3)%. Dose distributions measured behind the CIRS head phantom are in agreement with FRED MC simulations showing 3D %GP (2mm/2%) over 99%.

Speaker: Magdalena Garbacz (Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences)

13:30 Water equivalence of various 3D printed materials for proton therapy - Monte Carlo simulation, treatment planning modelling and validation by measurements

Purpose

Knowledge of stopping power in various materials used in the proton therapy is essential for the correct estimation of dose distribution in the patient. Differences between materials result from different cross –sections for interaction of primary protons and production of secondary particles from non-elastic nuclear reactions. One of the most commonly used parameters for characterizing a given material is Water Equivalent Thickness (WET) and corresponding Water Equivalent Ratio (WER). WER is defined as the dimensionless ratio between mass thickness of water (in g/cm2) which causes the same energy loss of the proton beam as in given material and given material mass thickness (in g/cm2).

Materials and Methods

In this work WER of three selected materials – thermoplastics: Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrilebutadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) - commonly used in additive manufacturing technology was measured by a passive proton beam produced in AIC-144 cyclotron at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN in Krakow and Marcus chamber type 23343. Three plates with different thicknesses of 0.5, 1 and 2 cm were prepared for each material. For the PLA material, the influence of the printing direction on the Bragg peak parameters was also analyzed - an additional set of three plates for another printing plane was printed. Measured results were then compared with that predicted by treatment planning system (TPS) and with Monte Carlo simulation performed by means of the FLUKA code. Simulations were performed for theoretical elemental compositions of the tested materials. The Bragg peak parameters were also compared, i.e. residual range 90% (R90), full width at half maximum (FWHM) and distall fall-off (DFO).

Results

The agreement within 0.5-1% was found between results obtained from the measurement and the Monte Carlo simulation. Discrepancies may result from using in simulations nominal compositions of materials, not confirmed by chemical analysis. 3-5% differences were observed in the value of the WER parameter between measurement and the WER value obtained from TPS based on the calibration curve.

Conclusions

It was concluded that the application of 3D printing materials in proton therapy is possible and safe. However, the high precision requirements in radiotherapy make it necessary to overwrite in the treatment planning system the printed material with the known value of Hounsfield Units (HU), in order to obtain the WER value in accordance with the measurements. The known elemental compositions are similar to the composition of human tissues, so they can be treated as part of the patient during preparing treatment plans. However, a good knowledge of different material parameters is needed before being applied to radiotherapy treatments.

Speaker: Agnieszka Wochnik (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN)

15:15 → 15:35 Poster Session winners announcement

15:35 → 18:50 Tuesday: Fundamental physics: Kaonic atoms

Conveners: Satoru Hirenzaki (Nara Women's University) , Eulogio Oset (University of Valencia)

15:35 Extraction of Baryonia from Atomic Data

Exotic atom X-ray research offers atomic level shifts and widths for "lower levels" and widths for "upper levels". Understanding of lower levels is usually difficult as due to larger nuclear–atomic overlap, many body phenomena are involved.

In the upper levels the orbital hadron just grazes the nucleus and the physics is reduced essentially to single hadron – nucleon collisions. Moreover these collisions involve sub-threshold energies and thus allow studies of quasi-bound states in this region.

With antiprotons the "upper level" data are quite numerous and involve level widths in light nuclei, shifts and widths in several heavy nuclei and specific annihilation channels. These data indicate some anomalies in nuclei of sizably different proton and neutron separation energies. These anomalies can be explained provided there exist nucleon–antinucleon 33P1 quasi-bound state at about 8 MeV binding. Such states were predicted by Paris N-Nbar potential models [1], albeit at different energies.

Possibilities of similar studies in Kaonic atoms will be outlined.

[1] PHYSICAL REVIEW C 79, 054001 (2009)

Speaker: Sławomir Wycech (National Centre for Nuclear Research)

wycech_krakow_19.ppt

15:55 The antikaon deuterium experiment at J-PARC - studying strong interaction

Studies with kaonic atoms offer the unique opportunity to perform experiments at vanishing relative energies between the antikaon and the nucleon, because their atomic binding energies are in the keV range, far below the lowest energies of extracted beams for scattering experiments. Specially, kaonic hydrogen atoms offer an ideal framework to study strong-interaction processes, which will give access to the basic low-energy parameters, like the antikaon-nucleon scattering lengths.
The antikaon hydrogen reaction is well understood from the recent results obtained from KpX at KEK, DEAR and finally from SIDDHARTA at DAFNE, along with theoretical calculations based on these results.
Although the importance of antikaon deuterium atom X-ray spectroscopy has been well recognized, no experimental results have yet been obtained due to the difficulty of the X-ray measurement. The kaonic deuterium measurement is indeed needed to disentangle the isoscalar and isovector complex scattering length, shedding light on the antikaon-neutron interaction, long-awaited by theory.
The planned antikaon deuterium experiment at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC, Japan) will be described, including first test measurements at J-PARC with the newly developed X-ray detector system.

Speaker: Johann Zmeskal (Stefan Meyer Institute for Subatomic Physics)

3-JagiellonianSymposium_JZ.pdf

16:15 Revisiting the charged kaon mass

The precision of the charged kaon mass is much worse, an order of magnitude, than the precision of the charged pion mass. Beside the interest in its intrinsic value, the uncertainty in the kaon mass has large influence on the K-N scattering lengths and through them on the kaon-nucleon sigma terms, which reflect the degree of chiral symmetry breaking.
Nowadays, the charged kaon mass can be most precisely determined in the measurements of X-ray transitions in kaonic atoms. The current value, m$_K$=493.677±0.013 MeV, has been obtained as a weighted average of the six measurements, which have very different uncertainties, ranging from 7 keV up to 54 keV. Two most recent and precise measurements, which largely determine the above value, differ by 60 keV and have uncertainty of approximately 10 keV.
To resolve this discrepancy a new measurement is highly desirable, and it would be sufficient that it has the same precision as the two above mentioned measurements to substantially enhance the precision of the kaon mass.
We plan to determine the charged kaon mass with the requested precision in measurements of X-ray transitions in kaonic atoms of selected solid targets with two HPGe detectors at DAPHNE in Frascati, Italy, initially in parallel with SIDDHARTA-2 measurements of X-ray transitions in gaseous targets, and, if necessary, as a dedicated measurement.
Since DAPHNE is producing kaon pairs of low momenta, contrary to the previous measurements, there is no need for a degrader at all or only a thin degrader to slow down kaons and there are no secondary particles in the beam, which is certainly an advantage. But we expect high bremsstrahlung close to the interaction point and also background originating from the kaons absorbed by nuclei. The latter is being determined by using GEANT4 simulations and to determine the beam background measurements in the hall are necessary, and indeed this background will dictate the performance of this measurement. The status of the preparations of the measurement will be presented.

Speaker: Damir Bosnar (Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb)

Bosnar-Krakow.pptx

16:35 Experimental study of Lambda(1405) resonance via kaon-induced reactions on deuteron

There are long-standing arguments on a meson-baryon aspect of the Lambda(1405) resonance. In particular, pole structure of Lambda(1405) has been intensively discussed. Since Lambda(1405) is located below the antikaon-nucleon (KbarN) mass threshold, it is impossible to form Lambda(1405) directly in the KbarN scattering in free space. Therefore, we carried out an experiment to measure spectral shapes of Lambda(1405) in the d(K-,n)piSigma reactions at J-PARC. In this reaction, a neutron is knocked out from a deuteron by an incident K- and a recoiled Kbar reacts with a residual nucleon decaying into a pion (pi) and a Sigma hyperon. In the case of the knocked-out neutron emitted at a forward angle, the recoiled kaon momentum is as low as about 250 MeV/c. This reaction is expected to enhance an S-wave KbarN scattering even below the KbarN mass threshold since the recoiled Kbar and/or the residual nucleon could be off-shell. We successfully measured pi-Sigma mass spectra below and above the KbarN mass threshold. We will discuss KbarN scattering amplitude deduced from the measured spectra.

Speaker: Hiroyuki Noumi

16:55 Coffee break

17:25 High-precision X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms with superconducting detector

A high-resolution X-ray spectrometer based on an array of novel superconducting micro-calorimeters is applied to an experiment of hadron physics for the first time. The scientific campaign of the experiment was completed in 2018. The fresh result from the measurement will be presented in this symposium.

The strong interaction between an anti-kaon and a nucleon/nucleus is known to be strongly attractive in the isospin I=0 channel, which creates extensive interest in studying “kaonic nuclear states”: very recently, J-PARC E15 experiment shows a clear structure which could be interpreted as the K− nuclear bound state [1]. Whereas the measurements of kaonic atom X-rays which provide unique information of the interaction at zero energy become increasingly important, the precision is still not enough to determine K− nucleus potential strength.

The experiment, J-PARC E62, aims to determine 2p-level strong interaction shifts of kaonic 3He and 4He atoms by measuring X-rays from those atoms emitted in the transition from the 3d to the 2p orbitals (6.2 keV and 6.4 keV, respectively) which is relevant to resolve the long-standing problem on the depth of the K- nucleus potential. Since the widths of the transitions are predicted to be as small as 2eV, we introduced a novel X-ray detector, namely superconducting transition-edge-sensor (TES) microcalorimeter offering unprecedented high energy resolution [2], being more than one order of magnitude better than that achieved in the past experiments using conventional semiconductor detectors.

We carried out the experiment at Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC; Tokai, Japan) in June 2018 and successfully observed distinct X-ray peaks from both atoms with a 240-pixel TES array having about 23 mm2 collecting area. The achieved average energy resolution is 5 eV (FWHM) at 6 keV with the charged-particle beam off and 7 eV with the beam on. The time resolution is about 1 µs (FWHM) by merging data streams from beam-detection electronics into the TES's time-division-multiplexing DAQ system.

We give an overview of this project and report the brand-new results obtained from the scientific kaonic-atom X-ray spectroscopy campaign.

[1] J-PARC E15 collaboration, Phys. Lett. B 789 (2019) 620-625.
[2] W. B. Doriese, et al., Review of Scientific Instruments 88 (2017) 053108.

Speaker: Shinji Okada (RIKEN)

17:45 Antikaon-nucleon/nuclei interactions at low-energy by AMADEUS

The AMADEUS collaboration aims to provide information on the $\bar{\mathrm{K}}$-nucleon/nuclei interaction in the low-energy regime. The investigation of the antikaon dynamics in nuclear medium is fundamental for the understanding of the non-perturbative QCD in the strangeness sector, with implications going from nuclear physics to astrophysics. Hyperon-nucleon/nuclei (YN) and hyperon-pion (Y$\pi$) correlated production in K$^-$ nuclear absorption on H, $^4$He, $^9$Be and $^{12}$C nuclei are analysed with the aim to explore the possible existence of kaonic bound states in nuclei and the properties of hyperon resonances in nuclear environment. AMADEUS takes advantage of the DA$\Phi$NE collider, which provides a unique source of monochromatic low-momentum kaons ($p_K$ ~ 127 MeV/c), and exploits the KLOE detector as active target, providing large acceptance and resolution for the data.

Speaker: Raffaele Del Grande (LNF-INFN)

Del_Grande.pdf

18:05 Production of Double-$\Lambda$ Hypernuclei via $\Xi$-Hypernuclear Decay at J-PARC

The investigation of hypernuclei with strangeness $-2$ is one of the hot topics in hypernuclear physics, and the advent of an intense kaon beam at J-PARC has enabled us to explore them in detail. We have proposed a new experiment to produce probably the lightest double-$\Lambda$ hypernucleus, ${}^{\ \ \ \ 5}_{\Lambda\Lambda}\mathrm{H}$. A substantial fraction of a $\Xi$-hypernucleus, ${}^{\ 7}_{\Xi}\mathrm{H}$, which can be produced in the ${}^7\mathrm{Li}(K^-,K^+)$ reaction, is expected to decay into ${}^{\ \ \ \ 5}_{\Lambda\Lambda}\mathrm{H}+2n$. The mass of ${}^{\ \ \ \ 5}_{\Lambda\Lambda}\mathrm{H}$ will be determined by ``decay pion spectroscopy'', which was successfully applied for a single $\Lambda$ hypernucleus at MAMI.

In this contribution, we will review the current situation of the strangeness $-2$ sector in hypernuclear physics and outline the concept of the proposed experiment.

Speaker: Hiroyuki Fujioka (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

18:25 Calculations of mesic nuclei

This contribution reviews recent studies of $K^-$ and $\eta$ nuclear quasi-bound states performed by the Jerusalem-Prague Collaboration using potentials derived from state-of-the-art chirally motivated meson-baryon coupled-channel interaction models.

Energy and density dependence of the scattering amplitudes, implications of self-consistent treatment, as well as the role of meson multi-nucleon interactions are discussed. Calculations of few-body as well as many-body nuclear systems are presented.

Speaker: Jiri Mares (Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

mares-krakow19.pdf

Wednesday, 26 June

08:00 → 08:30 Coffee a priori

08:30 → 12:50 Wednesday: Fundamental physics: Discrete symmetries

Conveners: Beatrix Hiesmayr (University of Vienna) , Bernd Krusche

08:30 Illuminating Antimatter: the ALPHA antihydrogen experiment at CERN

At CERN, we have recently become able to study atoms of antihydrogen - the antimatter equivalent of hydrogen. The question to be addressed is fundamental and profound: “Do matter and antimatter obey the same laws of physics?”. The Standard Model requires that hydrogen and antihydrogen have the same spectrum. I will discuss the latest developments in antihydrogen physics: observation of the first laser-driven transition (1S-2S) [1,2] observation of the antihydrogen hyperfine structure [3], and observation of the Lyman-alpha transition [4]. To study antihydrogen, it must first be produced, trapped [5], and then held for long enough [6] to observe a transition - using very few anti-atoms. I will discuss the techniques necessary to achieve the latest milestones, and then consider the future of optical and microwave spectroscopy, as well as gravitational studies [7], with antihydrogen.

1. Observation of the 1s-2s Transition in Trapped Antihydrogen, M Ahmadi et al., (ALPHA Collaboration) Nature 541, 506–510 (2017).
   2 Characterization of the 1S-2S transition in antihydrogen, M Ahmadi et al., (ALPHA Collaboration), Nature 557, 71–75 (2018).
   3, Observation of the hyperfine spectrum of antihydrogen, M Ahmadi et al., (ALPHA Collaboration) Nature 548, 66–69 (2017).
2. Observation of the 1S–2P Lyman-α transition in antihydrogen, M Ahmadi et al., (ALPHA Collaboration), Nature 561, 211–215 (2018).
3. Andresen, G.B. et al., Trapped Antihydrogen, Nature, 468, 673 (2010).
4. Andresen, G. B. et al. Confinement of antihydrogen for 1,000 seconds. Nature Physics 7, 558 (2011).
5. Amole, C. et al., Description and first application of a new technique to measure the gravitational mass of antihydrogen, Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2787 (2013).

Speaker: Jeffrey Hangst (Aarhus University, ALPHA Collaboration at CERN)

09:05 Electric Dipole Moments – static (EDM) and oscillating (oEDM)

Electric Dipole Moment (EDM) searches of charged particles in storage rings is a novel approach to look for additional microscopic time-reversal (T), parity (P) and charge-parity (CP) violation, the latter being required to help explaining the apparent matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe.
Up to now EDM experiments mainly focused on neutral particles. The idea to exploit charged particles to search for EDM is relatively new, although there have been results for muons from the (g-2) measurements at Brookhaven. EDMs of charged particles such as protons or deuterons can be searched for in storage rings by measuring the influence of electric fields on the polarization vector, which is oriented parallel to the EDM. Assuming technically realistic values for the electric field strength, the number of particles and the polarization lifetime, a statistical error of 10-29 e cm per year of running can be obtained. The challenge is to identify and reduce all systematic uncertainties. This precision can be reached if the precession in the accelerator plane due to the magnetic moment is suppressed (frozen spin method), which can be achieved by an appropriate combination of electric and magnetic fields and momentum. For particles with positive magnetic anomaly (e.g. protons), only electric fields are needed at a proton momentum of 0.7007 GeV/c. Using only electric fields allows for a simultaneous storage of clockwise and counterclockwise circulating beams, which will be the most important tool to mitigate systematic effects. This will be an important advantage compared to other EDM experiments, where one either has to take different consecutive runs with reversed fields (e.g. neutron EDM) or the particles are spatially separated (e.g. Hg-EDM).
The JEDI (Jülich Electric Dipole Investigations) collaboration focuses the establishment of key-technologies and on first exploratory measurements, using the pure magnetic Cooler Synchrotron COSY at Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany). With its ability to store and cool polarized proton and deuteron beams in the appropriate energy range, COSY is the only facility worldwide where such investigations can be conducted. In 2017, the CPEDM (charged particle EDM) collaboration, mainly comprising scientist from CERN and the JEDI collaboration was established, in order to investigate the possibility to design and construct a 500 m circumference storage ring for EDM measurements at CERN. After intense discussions within CPEDM as well as with accelerator experts worldwide, it has become clear that the goal of 10-29 e cm cannot be achieved in one giant leap; instead, a prototype ring must be devised as an inevitable intermediate step. It will serve to answer fundamental questions, to demonstrate key technologies and it can be used to perform a direct EDM measurement competitive to the current neutron EDM sensitivity.
The talk will be about the status of the CPEDM project, including an outlook towards oscillating EDMs due to axion-like particles, a candidate for Dark Matter, which can also be search for in storage rings.

Speaker: Hans Ströher (Forschungszentrum Jülich)

HS_Cracow_FINAL.pptx

09:30 Bounds on Planck-scale deformation of CPT from lifetimes and interference

Deformed relativistic kinematics, expected to emerge in a flat-spacetime limit of quantum gravity, predicts the Planck-scale violation of CPT symmetry. Deformations of the action of CPT are derived from the kappa-deformed Poincare algebra. This entails a subtle but measurable corrections to characteristics of time evolution, e.g. particle lifetimes or oscillations in two-particle states at high energy.We argue that using the muon lifetime or quark flavour oscillations we can bound $\kappa>10^{14}$ GeV at LHC energy and move this limit to $10^{16}$ GeV at future colliders.

Speaker: Wojciech Wiślicki (NCBJ)

cpt_uj.pdf

09:55 CP symmetry test with neutrinos

Why the universe consists of matters only, instead of consisting of equal number of matters and antimatter, is one of the fundamental questions about the universe. One of the conditions required for the matter-dominated universe is the violation of Charge-Parity (CP) symmetry. If CP violation occurs in neutrinos, the oscillation probabilities of neutrinos and antineutrinos will be different. The recent results and the future prospects of CP symmetry test with neutrinos from the long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments are reviewed in the talk. In particular, I will focus on mainly Japan-based projects, T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande.

Speaker: Akihiro Minamino (Yokohama National University)

CPsymmetry_test_with_neutrinos.pdf

10:20 Searches for discrete symmetry violation signals in decays of positronium atoms at J-PET

The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) was constructed as the first PET scanner using plastic scintillators. However, it also constitutes a robust photon detector useful for a broad range of experiments involving orto-positronium (o-Ps) decays into three photons.
We will present an overview of studies performed with o-Ps→3γ decays in J-PET with a view to searching for signals of discrete symmetries violation. The discussed studies will comprise measurements of angular correlations between the photons’ momenta and positronium spin direction as well as a new class of operators sensitive to discrete symmetries violation involving photon polarization.
To date, the most precise tests of the CP and CPT symmetries using ortho-positronium decays reached the precision of 3$\times 10^{-3}$ whereas effects limiting the sensitivity are only expected at the level of $10^{-9}$. With an angular resolution and o-Ps polarization control improved with respect to previous measurements, J-PET aims at achieving the sensitivity to CP and CPT violation signals at a precision level of at least $10^{-4}$.

Speaker: Aleksander Gajos (Jagellonian University, Kraków, Poland)

gajos_sympozjum.pdf

10:40 Coffee break

11:10 The start of the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB e+e- factory

We will review the status of the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB e+e- collider and present some recent results.

Speaker: Bostjan Golob (Univ. of Ljubljana & JSI)

krakow_20190624_BostjanGolob.pptx

11:35 Design of a Novel Compact Detector based on the BGO and SiPM for Ortho-Positronium Physics

Design of a Novel Compact Detector based on the BGO and SiPM for Ortho-Positronium Physics

HyeoungWoo Park$^1$, D.W. Jung$^1$, Sanghoon Hwang$^2$, H.J. Kim$^1$*

$^1$Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea
$^2$Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Daejeong, Republic of Korea

Positronium decay research is one of the sensitive probe to discover new physical phenomenon. Because of the pairing system of electron (particle) and positron (antiparticle), we can study reactions which is forbidden by standard model. The reported positronium decay systems were composed of positron trigger and gamma detection parts. The trigger part is usually coupled to an optical fiber and the photomultiplier tube (PMT). The optical fiber trigger efficiency degrades due to significant scintillation light loss. Therefore, we designed a novel compact detector that directly collects scintillation light. In general, the size of the PMT is relatively large, so a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) was used to make compact trigger part for direct collection of scintillation light. In this research, the trigger part consists of plastic scintillator coupled directly to single channel SiPM to obtain the positron's signal from the center of the detector. The trigger part is surrounded by the gamma detection part with an array of 14 $\times$ 14 BGO scintillators (7.5 $\times$ 7.5 $\times$ 150 mm$^3$) to detect gamma decay in all directions. For dual readout both sides of the BGO scintillators are coupled with 7 $\times$ 7 arrangement of 2 $\times$ 2 arrays for a total of 14 $\times$ 14 SiPMs. The designed frame and grid are used to support BGO scintillators and SiPMs. We obtained pretest data of a positron trigger signal and a gamma energy spectrum of $^{22}$Na and $^{137}$Cs radioactive sources for the novel compact detector. The detector will be used to study of C-parity violation, invisible decay, and rare decay.

Speaker: HyeoungWoo Park (Kyungpook National University)

HWPark_final.pdf

11:50 Leggett-Garg inequalities and neutrino oscillations

The oscillation of neutrinos was predicted in the mid of the last century. Since then they were intensively studied both theoretically and experimentally since a couple of phenomena like e.g CP violation (charge-conjugation-parity) are conjectured. Also, it is not known which neutrino is the heaviest, formulated as the mass hierarchy problem. I will focus on how tools from foundations of quantum mechanics can give answers to these riddles in neutrino physics. In particular, a type of the Leggett-Garg inequalities, kind of time-like versions of Bell inequalities, will be investigated for neutrinos propagating through matter.

Speaker: Christiane Schultze

CSchultzeLGI_and_neutrino_oscillation_presentation-1.pdf

12:05 Precision tests for T-symmetry violation in Positronium decay using the J-PET detector

Time reversal symmetry (T ) violation has been one of the most intriguing aspects of the tests on discrete symmetries. So far, T-violation has not been observed in purely leptonic systems [1, 2, 3]. According to the standard model predictions, photon-photon interaction or weak interaction can mimic the symmetry violation at the level of 10^{−9} (photon-photon interaction) and 10^{−13} (weak interactions) respectively, posing as a physical restriction to these tests [4-6].
The Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) developed at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, is one of its kind, based on organic scintillators [7, 8, 10]. J-PET is an axially symmetric and high acceptance scanner that can be used as a multi-purpose detector system. It is well suited to pursue tests of discrete symmetries in decays of positronium in addition to medical imaging [9, 10, 12, 14]. J-PET enables the measurement of the momentum vector ki and the polarization vector \epsilon_{j} of annihilation photons [11, 13, 14]. Measurement of polarization of annihilation photons is a unique feature of the J-PET detector which allows the study of T-violation by determining the expectation values of the time reversal symmetry odd operator [14],

(\epsilon_{j} \cdot k_{i}), (for j ≠ i) [14].

J-PET collaboration aims to improve the sensitivity for the tests of the time reversal symmetry with respect to the previous experiments in the leptonic sector beyond the present established level of 10^{-3} [2]. At the turn of 2017 and 2018, a three month data-taking campaign with the positronium produced in the porous polymer was conducted. The results of the analyzed data will be presented.

References
[1] V.A. Kostelecky and N. Russell, January 2018 update to Reviews of Modern Physics 83, 11(2011)
[2] T. Yamazaki, T. Namba, S. Asai, T. Kobayashi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 083401 (2010)
[3] P.A. Vetter, S.J. Freedman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 263401 (2003)
[4] M. S. Sozzi, Discrete Symmetries and CP Violation. From Experiment to Theory,
Oxford University Press (2008)
[5] W. Bernreyther et. al., Z. Phys. C 41, 143 (1988)
[6] B. K. Arbic et. al., Phys. Rev. A 37, 3189 (1988)
[7] P. Moskal et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 61 (2016)
[8] P. Moskal et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 764 (2014) 317-321
[9] D. Kamiska et al. Eur. Phys. J. C 76, 445 (2016)
[10] P. Moskal et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 64 (2019) 055017
[11] B. C. Hiesmayr and P. Moskal, Scientific Reports 7, 15349 (2017)
[12] A. Gajos et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 819, 54 (2016)
[13] P. Moskal et al., Eur. Phys. J. C 78, 970 (2018)
[14] P. Moskal et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B 47, 509 (2016)

Speaker: Juhi Raj (Jagiellonian University)

JRaj_Jagiellonian_Symposium_2019 (1).pdf

12:20 Measurement of time-dependent CP violation in $B^0\to J/\psi K^0_S$ decays using early Belle II data

The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB energy-asymmetric $e^+ e^-$ collider is a substantial upgrade of the B factory facility at the Japanese KEK laboratory. The design luminosity of the machine is $8\times 10^{35}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ and the Belle II experiment aims to record 50 ab$^{-1}$ of data, a factor of 50 more than its predecessor. From February to July 2018, the machine has completed a commissioning run, achieved a peak luminosity of $5.5\times 10^{33}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$, and Belle II has recorded a data sample of about 0.5 fb$^{-1}$. Main operation of SuperKEKB has started in March 2019. In this presentation we report a measurement of the time-dependent CP violation parameter for $B^0(\bar B^0)\to J/\psi K^0_S$ using this early data set. One neutral $B$ meson is reconstructed in the $J/\psi K^0_S$ $CP$-eigenstate decay channel and the flavor of the accompanying $B$ meson is identified to be either $B^0$ or $\bar B^0$ from its decay products. We present a new concept for the time-dependent $CP$ violation fit together with initial results for the parameters of $B^0$ mixing-induced phenomena and the lifetime of $B^0$.

Speaker: Benjamin Oberhof

JSYMP_2019_Oberhof_v2.pdf

12:35 Measurement of the CKM angle $\gamma$ at Belle II

The CKM angle $\gamma$ is the least well known of the angles of the unitarity triangle and the only one that is accessible with tree-level decays in a theoretically clean way. The key method to measure $\gamma$ is through the interference between $B^+\to D^0 K^+$ and $B^+ \to \bar D^0 K^+$ decays which occurs if the final state of the charm-meson decay is accessible to both the $D^0$ and $\bar D^0$ mesons. The Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB energy-asymmetric $e^+ e^-$ collider is a substantial upgrade of the B factory facility at the Japanese KEK laboratory. The design luminosity of the machine is $8\times 10^{35}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ and the Belle II experiment aims to record 50 ab$^{-1}$ of data, a factor of 50 more than its predecessor. From February to July 2018, the machine has completed a commissioning run, achieved a peak luminosity of $5.5\times 10^{33}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$, and Belle II has recorded a data sample of about 0.5 fb$^{-1}$. Main operation of SuperKEKB has started in March 2019. To achieve the best sensitivity, a large variety of D and B decay modes is required, which is possible at Belle II experiment as almost any final state can be reconstructed including those with photons. With the ultimate Belle II data sample of 50 ab$^-1$, a determination of $\gamma$ with a precision of 1 degree or better is foreseen. This talk will explain the details of the planned measurement at Belle II and include results related to these measurements obtained with the data already collected.

Speaker: Resmi PK (IIT Madras)

ResmiPK_JSymp.pdf

12:50 → 13:15 Conference photo

13:15 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 18:20 Wednesday: Bio- and medical physics

Conveners: Vincenzo Patera (Universita' di Rome "Sapienza" e INFN) , Antoni Ruciński (Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej PAN)

14:30 Polarized beams for applications in chemistry and biology, and soon medicine

This talk tells the story of how we are applying polarised radionuclei not only in nuclear physics and fundamental-interaction studies, but now also in chemistry and biology, and soon also in medicine. The common point of these versatile studies is the fact that beta or gamma decay from polarized radioactive nuclei is anisotropic in space.
Our experimental setup devoted to laser polarization of short-lived nuclei [1] is located at the CERN-ISOLDE facility, where over 1300 different isotopes are available for research. Since its commissioning in 2016, we have already used it to polarize 35Ar beam with the aim to determine more precisely the Vud matrix element of the CKM quark mixing matrix [2]. Soon, we plan to perform nuclear structure studies by measuring angular beta-gamma coincidences in order to assign spins and parities of nuclear excited states in regions of the nuclear chart, where observations are especially challenging for nuclear theory [3].
The transfer of our expertise to chemistry and biology concerns beta-detected Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), which is up to 10 orders of magnitude more sensitive than conventional NMR [3]. This is thanks to a much higher degree of spin polarization and a much more efficient resonance detection via beta-decay asymmetry. We aim at using it for the studies of the interaction of proteins and DNA with metal ions, such as Na, Cu, Zn, which are crucial in many biological processes, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The first studies concern Na interaction with DNA G-quadruplex structures [4]. A further development concerns gamma-detected Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which can combine the strengths of the high sensitivity of PET and SPECT techniques with high spatial resolution of MRI by using polarized beams of longer-lived gamma-decaying nuclei. The first nuclei we aim at polarizing here are long-lived isomers of Xe [5].
In this talk I will introduce asymmetry of beta and gamma decay, will mention principles of laser polarization and the experimental setup, and will concentrate on the first applications of beta-NMR in chemistry and biology and gamma-MRI in medical diagnosis.

[1] M. Kowalska et al., J. Phys G. 44 (2017) 084005; W. Gins et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 925, 24 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.01.082
[2] W Gins, PhD Thesis (2019), KU Leuven, https://cds.cern.ch/record/2654181?ln=en
[3] M Madurga, M Kowalska, et al., ISOLDE Scientific Proposal (2017) https://cds.cern.ch/record/2288198?ln=en
[4] M Kowalska et al, ISOLDE Scientific Proposal (2018), https://cds.cern.ch/record/2299798?ln=en
[5] R. Engel, master thesis, U Oldenburg, https://cds.cern.ch/record/2638538?ln=en

Speaker: Magdalena Kowalska (UNIGE, CERN)

15:05 Spheroids as a model for tumor radiosensitivity and radiolabeling tests

Spheroids are multicellular and tissue –like structured in vitro 3D models which mimic microenvironment in vivo. Unlike common 2D in vitro cell models, spheroids reflect the cellular milieu and the pathophysiological conditions inside tumor nodules. Recently they are widely used in drug testing and radiation studies. Results obtained from 3D cell spheroids can be better translated to in vivo animal studies or clinical trials. In this presentation I will tell about technical issues related to spheroid generation, comparison of molecular properties of spheroids with simple 2D cell couture techniques and application of spheroids in radiobiology. Most of results will be related with melanoma cancer diagnostic and treatment.

Speaker: Ewa Stepien (Jagiellonian University, Dept. of Medical Phisics)

Spheroids as a model for tumor radiosensitivity.pptx

15:30 Biological dose calculations with variable RBE for proton therapy using Monte Carlo code FRED

The Monte Carlo (MC) codes are extensively used to support proton therapy clinical practice due to high accuracy of dose calculations in heterogeneous media. The MC platforms offer different methods to model radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) and to calculate biological dose (constant RBE, biophysical and phenomenological models). Such functionality allows to quantify the influence of the variable RBE on biological dose distribution in human body.  

Currently available clinical treatment planning systems (TPS) for proton beam therapy (PBT) allow for biological dose calculation only with constant RBE=1.1. The recent studies show that the use of RBE=1.1 can lead to inaccurate calculations of biological dose deposited in patient body (Giovannini et al. Radiation Oncology (2016) 11:68, Chen et al. Phys. Med. Biol. (2018) 63 195001), mostly because of diverse tissue radiosensitivity and proton beam quality.

The GPU-accelerated MC code FRED (Fast paRticle thErapy Dose evaluator) offers dose calculation with various RBE models (McNamara, Carabe, Wedenberg) accounting for variation of linear energy transfer (LET) of proton beam and RBE model parametrization. FRED was experimentally validated in the Krakow PBT centre showing maximum dose difference up to 2% with respect to measurements. Based on treatment plans of head and neck patients treated in Krakow, we compare biological dose distributions calculated with FRED MC using different RBE models in order to systematically quantify physical and biological dose uncertainties accounting for variable RBE. The dose delivered to the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated.

The quantification of dose uncertainties in PBT using FRED code and RBE models will be discussed. The information about the influence of variable RBE on dose deposited in patients can eventually improve the quality of PBT treatment.

Speaker: Jan Gajewski (Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences)

J-PET 2019 - J.Gajewski.pdf

15:50 Radiation doses for patients during a dual-energy contrast-enhanced spectral mammography

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common women malignancies. Nowadays mammography and ultrasound examinations are basic methods used in screening programs. Mammography provides early microcalcification recognition, crucial for further cancer diagnosis.
High progress in the development of new mammography devices e.g. new flat panel detectors, compression paddles, spectral modes (CESM – Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography) and new type of X-Ray tubes gives a variety of new diagnostic modules available for clinical use.
The aim of this study was to compare doses given to the patients during conventional mammography with doses obtained from dual-energy contrast-enhanced spectral mammography. The comparison of entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) and mean glandular dose (MGD) values for both options are discussed in the paper, respectively.
In the study 482 women diagnosed with screening mammography between 2011 and 2014 were respectivetly enrolled. The first group of 250 patients was examined using a fully digital mammo unit, GE Senographe Essential. The second group of 232 patients were examined using the same digital mammography device developed by GE Healthcare with the option of dual-energy CESM acquisition (SenoBright®).
For our group of patients and for an average breast thickness of 45mm (43 - 52 mm), median MGD is 6.6 mGy (values of MGD for a low-energy acquisition and high-energy acquisition were equal to 5.1 mGy and 1.5 mGy, respectively) for CESM compared to 1.2 mGy for Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM). Moving up to 72 mm average breast thickness, MGD for CESM is nearly 7.5 times higher than for FFDM - medians of 12 mGy and 1.6 mGy, respectively.
Our preliminary data show that CESM might be a new diagnostic tool allowing an accurate detection of malignant breast lesions, giving results similar to those received from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However due to higher levels of radiation exposure during CESM, one should take risk factor into account.
Each method has its own benefits with respect to specific applications which are further discussed.

Speaker: Kamil Kisielewicz (Centre of Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute Krakow Branch)

Kamil Kisielewicz Jagiellonian symposium CESM.pdf

16:10 Coffee break

16:40 Challenges in the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

The use of neutron capture reactions in the cancer therapy was proposed already in 1936, four years after the discovery of neutron. Up to now this kind of cancer treatment is widely used for tumors with a poor response to traditional therapies (surgery, γ radiotherapy or chemotherapy). The use of 10B selectively absorbed by the cancer cells provide high dose delivery to the malignancy with a substantially smaller irradiation of the healthy surrounding tissues. Despite of the rich history feasibility studies and clinical trials of this therapy are still carried out all over the world. In this talk we present selected open questions in view of the BNCT development in Poland, in particular on the new neutron sources and dose monitoring systems.

Speaker: Michał Silarski (Jagiellonian University)

Jagiellonian_symposjum_26-06-2019.pdf

17:00 Neutron Capture Enhanced Particle Therapy (NCEPT): A new frontier in cancer treatment

Neutron capture enhanced particle therapy (NCEPT) is a radical new paradigm in radiotherapy being developed by an international team led by researchers at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

NCEPT combines the precision of particle therapy with the cancer-specific targeting capability of neutron capture therapy (NCT). NCEPT captures internally generated slow (thermal) neutrons, produced at and around the target volume to (Figure 1):

1. Enhance the dose to target
2. Reduce the dose to normal tissue
3. Simultaneously target out-of-field satellite lesions

Figure 1: Conformal delivery of planned radiation dose to the target volume with particle beam (red); the resulting thermal neutron field (white) is utilised to (1) Enhance the dose at target and (2) deliver a comparable dose to satellite lesions via targeted delivery of a neutron capture agent.

NCEPT leverages low toxicity $^{10}$B and $^{157}$Gd-enriched neutron capture agents which concentrate in cancer cells, already approved or under development for other medical applications.

Simulations and experiments on cancer cells have yielded extremely compelling results, indicating that NCEPT achieves equivalent cancer cell control with between $\frac{1}{3}$ and $\frac{1}{5}$ of the radiation dose compared to helium and carbon ion therapy alone.

Speaker: Mitra Safavi-Naeini (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO))

NCEPT_Jagiellonian.pptx.pdf

17:25 The proton Boron Capture Therapy activity and the NEPTUNE project

Recently an increase of protontherapy effectiveness for irradiations occurring in the presence of 11B atoms has been observed. A role in this effect should be played by the high-LET alpha particles mainly generated by the p(11B,a)2a channel, which has a cross section of the order of 1 barn at very low incident proton energy. However, analytical calculations indicate that the number of alphas produced is too low to yield the observed biological effects.
The Italian INFN institute recently funded a project called NEPTUNE (Nuclear process-driven Enhancement of Proton Therapy UNraVeled) with the main aim to study and understand this radiobiological effect.
The main objectives of NEPTUNE will be the consolidation of these results, extending them to include another nuclear reaction between protons and 19F and focusing on understanding all the physical and biological mechanisms involved. Physical characterization of the radiation field will be performed with tissue-equivalent detectors of various types, all based on micro- and nanodosimetric techniques. At the same time, biological measurements will be performed for different cell lines using several endpoints. New biological approaches will be to considered to study the problem from different points of view, which could reveal mechanisms not yet considered. All experimental data will be compared with predictions from analytical and Monte Carlo models.

Speaker: Pablo Cirrone (INFN-LNS)

17:50 Radiotherapy, Radio-Diagnostics and Radiation Protection – How do They Differ?

Differences between radiotherapy (RT), radio-diagnostics (RD) and radiation protection (RP) will be discussed with respect to their general aims, doses, dose-rates and volumes involved, and their dominant biological mechanisms. In RT the objective is to deliver a curative dose as high as reasonably achievable to a rather small target volume, in order to completely inactivate the metastasized cells within that volume, while maintaining the exposure of neighbouring critical organs or healthy tissues as low as possible (the “AHARA” principle). In RD and RP, conversely, the objectives are to obtain a clinically valid diagnostic image (RD), to realize exposures of radiation workers within their practices (RP), or to maintain the exposure of the general public (RP), with a dose as low as reasonably achievable (the ALARA principle). In particular, specified dose limits are not to be exceeded in RP, but not in medical exposures (RT or RD). Consideration of doses and exposed masses (or volumes, if density is accounted for) is important, as dose –the ratio of energy absorbed (in Joules) and mass of absorber (in kilogrammes) - being the ratio of two extensive (additive) quantities, is an intensive (generally not additive) quantity. In RT, exposing a target volume of , say, 1 kg to 60 Gy (typically in 30 week-day fractions of 2 Gy each) by penetrating radiation (e.g. gamma-rays) will inactivate all cells in the small, precisely irradiated, target volume. Within the context of RP, a high dose and dose-rate whole-body exposure (say, 60 kg) to 5 Gy of such penetrating radiation within minutes or hours, will fatally affect about 50% of the so exposed human population. An added complication in such exposures is the dose- and radiation quality-dependent relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of different types of radiation, such as protons or heavier ions. In all exposures, dose-rate is also relevant, since it is related to the time scales of biological mechanisms of inactivation and of rapid repair of radiation damage at the cellular and subcellular levels. Much slower are radiation-induced effects (such as repair) at higher systemic levels of the human organism, including recognition and possible elimination of radiation-mutated malignant cells by the immune system. The initial physical stages of interaction of ionizing radiation with human tissues take place within picoseconds, creating several radical species in the human cells. Here of particular interest are toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may be created by background radiation, but are predominantly created as inescapable by-products of breathing oxygen by man. The rate of ROS production by respiration overwhelms that by natural background radiation by some 6 orders of magnitude. Since the human ROS-quenching systems is able to effectively handle the respiration-caused ROS, it will also effectively quench natural-radiation-induced ROS species – so long as the cellular repair capacities are not overwhelmed by high dose-rate exposures. The typical dose-rate in RT is 1 Gy/min., while that of natural background radiation – some 2 mGy/year, i.e. is lower by some 9 orders of magnitude. Under RT conditions, cells in the target volume will not be able to quench ROS production at that rate, so cells will die. At higher biological levels, cancer may also be initiated by ionizing radiation and result in cancers months or years later. In most cases, malignant cells may be recognised and destroyed by the immune system, but some will evade such detection. The general relationship between dose and radiation-induced cancer is certainly not linear, and the present linear-non-threshold (LNT) based system of radiation protection may require modification to incorporate recent advances in understanding radiation effects in man.

Speaker: Michael P.R. Waligórski (Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences)

Waligorski-RT+RD+RP (3SympJag 2019).pdf

19:00 → 20:00 Public lecture

19:00 Fukushima Accident - 8 years after

Speaker: Ryugo Hayano (University of Tokyo)

Fukushima_Accident-8_years_after.pdf

Thursday, 27 June

08:00 → 08:30 Coffee a priori

08:30 → 13:05 Thursday: Medical imaging

Conveners: Ewa Stępien (Jegiellonian University, Dept. of Medical Physics) , Michael Waligórski (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN in Krakow)

08:30 The EXPLORER Project: Total-Body Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanners generate in vivo images of radiolabeled pharmaceutical distribution and kinetics, providing a powerful window into metabolism and physiology. However, current PET scanners for humans cover only 20-25 cm of the body axially at any one time, which leads to long scan times, relatively high radiation dose, poor signal quality and largely limits their ability to kinetically model radiotracer distribution to single organs of the body. The goal of the EXPLORER project, which was first conceived of in 2005, was to develop the world’s first total-body PET/CT scanner that covers the entire body at once and offers the promise of a step-change in molecular imaging research and clinical practice.

Construction of the EXPLORER scanner, consisting of over 500,000 individual detector elements and more than 50,000 photosensors and channels of electronics, was recently completed. The scanner has a total axial field of view of 194 cm, and a bore diameter of 76 cm with a reconstructed spatial resolution better than 3 mm, a time-of-flight resolution of 430 psecs and also incorporates a high-performance CT scanner (80 detector-row, 160 slice) for anatomic registration.

First human applications of the scanner have already demonstrated the ability to acquire extremely high-quality images with standard acquisition protocols, the ability to image very fast (tomographic images of the entire human body in as little as 1 second), and the ability to acquire diagnostic quality images with less than 1/10th the standard radiation dose. The first total-body dynamic studies in which the distribution of a radiolabeled compound is followed in every tissue and organ of the body from the time of injection also will be presented. The world’s first EXPLORER scanner has been installed at UC Davis where it will be used both for biomedical research and clinical studies.

Speaker: Simon Cherry (University of California, Davis)

09:05 Performance characterization and human imaging experience with the long axial field-of-view PennPET Explorer Whole-body Imager

The current generation of commercial PET scanners has excellent performance and diagnostic image quality, but the system sensitivity and dynamic imaging capability are limited by the scanner’s axial length. In recent years there has been an interest in developing whole-body PET scanners with much longer AFOV that not only increase the system sensitivity but can also image the whole-body of a patient without bed translation. An important outcome of very high sensitivity is the potential to significantly reduce routine clinical scan times which can be beneficial in reducing patient motion artifacts and increase patient throughput. Alternately, the injected dose can be reduced that is beneficial in areas such as pediatric imaging and serial imaging of patients for monitoring response to therapy. Whole-body imaging with large axial coverage will allow one to perform dynamic imaging for pharmacokinetic studies over multiple organs. In this presentation we will present ongoing progress in our development and performance characterization of the PennPET Explorer imager. We will also present our early human imaging experience demonstrating the promise of longer axial FOV systems for both clinical and research investigations.

Speaker: Suleman Surti (University of Pennsylvania)

Prof.sulman.pptx

09:30 PET2020: a one compact and cost-efficient high resolution Body PET scanner

The aim of the SphynX project is to build and explore the potential of a new unique integrated High resolution Total Body Time-of-flight Positron Emission Tomography (PET2020) scanner as a research tool for physiology in plants, large animals and humas. The system is oriented towards visualizing and understanding molecular processes in large living subjects (1-2 m length and 65 cm diameter) . This is a completely new PET system pushing the technical limits of detection and spatial resolution for in-vivo molecular imaging of large living subjects. These goals are met by switching to monolithic detector technology with excellent spatial resolution and Depth-of-Interaction.

Because of its very high sensitivity it can also be used for Ultra Low dose imaging. The system will be the first to visualize water and CO2 transport in complete plants of this size and will be used to study influence of climate change and stress factors. For veterinary research it will be used to monitor the effects of therapies like psychofarmaca and neuromodulation. Larger animals like cats, dogs, rabbits and pigs are interesting natural model for human disease as these species develops disorders comparable with human diseases.

Speaker: Stefaan Vandenberghe

Vandenberghe_edited.pdf

09:55 Short break

10:05 Towards modular total-body PET from plastic scintillators

All currently used PET scanners are based on crystal scintillators readout, where detectors are placed radially in rings surrounding a patient's body. J-PET group is working on scanner utilizing plastic scintillators to detect gamma quanta. Since light attenuation of plastics is much lower than the one of crystals, modules with plastic scintillators can be orientated along patients body. First full scale prototype of J-PET scanner was already assembled and is providing data for both medical and fundamental physics studies. The next modular prototype is commissioned now. Modularity will make the change of chamber geometry and portability of whole system possible. In this contribution a general design and current status of the assembly of the modular J-PET will be presented as well as expected performance of total-body PET scanner based on simulations.

Speaker: Szymon Niedźwiecki (Jagiellonian University)

10:25 FTAB - small form factor and versatile board for J-PET detector

A design of electronics for detector system frequently requires to incorporate a few different stages: signal amplification, sampling in voltage or time domain and finally producing a packet containing all required data. Normally each of this stage is incorporated into a single module. However nowadays, in attempt of miniaturization of existing systems, these stages are being meld. During this talk a Front-End, TDC and Acquisition Board (FTAB) will be presented. This compact board, which size is just 16x7 cm, is capable of measuring 102 fast analogue signals. It measures times when signals are crossing predefined thresholds, which are set individually for each channel. The average RMS of time measurements amounts to 30 ps. Digitized signals are then combined to form a packet, which is sent through 6Gb/s optical connection. The talk will focus on demonstrating the FTAB architecture, its versatile capabilities and resent results.

Speaker: Marek Pałka

ftab_mp.pdf

10:45 Application of innovative technologies in PET imaging

Total-body PET scanners impose elevated requirements on data processing systems. Considering significant increase of the number of data channels and the resolution of this data questions arise if the classic computing platforms are still suited for imaging.
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) are relatively new devices that can break the hegemonie of CPUs and GPUs in high performance computing systems. They offer unique capabilities like true-real-time processing, natural parallelism and vast amount of computing resources enclosed in a single chip.
The talk will focus on application of FPGA devices in the entire data processing pipeline of a PET scanner: from digitized signal to the reconstructed image.

Speaker: Grzegorz Korcyl (Jagiellonian University)

jpet_general_2019_gk.pptx

11:05 Coffee break

11:30 Biomedical application of Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy - in vitro studies of alive normal and cancer cell lines and tissues

Abstract
Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) allow to examine structure of materials at nano and sub-nanometer level. This technique is based on the lifetime and production intensity of ortho-positronium atoms in free volumes of given structures. Recent studies shown it can be used for studies of biological structures [1-5] and morphometric imaging as proposed in patent [6].
Results of the first experiment with alive melanocytes and melanoma cell culture in vitro will be presented. PALS, viability and microscopic studies were performed on normal and cancer cells cultures, before and after measurement conducted in condition close to ones in human body (eg. in 37 C deg. ). As a result, it was proved that PALS can be successfully used for studies of living organisms, their dynamics and its relation to the cells morphology.
Studies with human tissue will also be presented. Research were conducted on cardiac myxoma (benign hart tumour) with adipose mediastinal tissue as a control and later with myxoma cells extracted from the tissue, to compare between these two models. All these studies shown significant differences in o-Ps lifetime between normal and cancer cells.
This experiment show perspective for biomedical application of PALS technique, giving insights in determination of early and advanced stages of carcinogenesis by observing changes in biomechanical parameters between normal and tumour cells. Simultaneous investigations of PALS and PET can be performed with the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) [6-9] which is a multi-purpose detector used for investigations with positronium atoms in life-sciences as well as for development of medical diagnostics. J-PET is capable of imaging of properties of positronium produced inside the human body [1, 10].

References:
[1] Kubicz E. et al, Nukleonika 60, 749 (2015)
[2] Jasińska B. et al, Acta Phys. Polon. B 47, 453 (2016)
[3] Jasińska B. et al., Acta Phys. Polon. A. 132, 1556 – 1558 (2017).
[4] Jean Y. C. et al, Applied Surface Science 252, 3166–3171 (2006)
[5] Liu G. et al, Phys. stat. sol. (c) 4, No. 10 (2007)
[6] Moskal P. et al., Patent No: US 9851456; PL 227658; PCT/EP2014/068374.
[7] Moskal P., Zoń N. et. al, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 775, 54 – 62 (2015)
[8] Moskal P. et al, Phys. Med. Biol. 61, 2025-2047 (2016)
[9] Kamińska D. et al. Eur. Phys. J. C 76:445 (2016)
[10] Moskal P. et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 64 055017 (2019).
[11] Gajos A. et al., Advances in High Energy Phys., ID 8271280, 10 pages, (2018).

Speaker: Ewelina Kubicz (Jagiellonian University)

Sympozium_2019 _EKubicz.pdf

11:50 The study of human tissue by the positron and positronium probes

The Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) was used to investigate the uterine leiomyomatis, ovary, oviduct and normal tissues taken from patients after surgery, hysterectomy. The pilot studies have shown that a positron probe, commonly used in the PET imaging, may be useful in identifying not only the position of affected tisssue, but also the degree and type of these disease. Significant differences between normal and diseased tissues in all PALS parameters (lifetimes and intensities) were observed. For all studied patients it was found that the values of the free annihilation and orthopositronium lifetime are larger for the tumorous tissues than for the healthy ones.

Speaker: Bożena Zgardzińska (Institute of Physics, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University)

12:15 How to distinguish between different kind of lesions in PET scan

Two the most known techniques based on positron-electron annihilation are PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and PALS (Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy).
PET is a commonly recognized diagnostic method enabling imaging of the metabolism of chosen substances in the living organism. The PET imaging is based on an annihilation of the positron emitted by radiofarmaceutical with an electron from the body of the patient into two quanta with energy of 511 keV each. One of the most important applications is imaging of patients tumour location and size and aiming at the search for the possible metastases as metabolism rate rises significantly in these places and in effect the number of annihilating positrons.
In contrary PALS allows to follow of processes leading to positron annihilation, including creation and decay the positronium states. It is known that o-Ps lifetime value reflects size of the free spaces in which it is trapped. In a vacuum o-Ps annihilate emitting three photons, in the dense media some part of o-Ps can annihilate in pick-off process via the two photon emittion. In effect 3 fraction can reflect changes in tissues alteration.
It is proposed to include the new imaging method in PET scan based on positronium properties, i.e. directly reconstruct lifetime spectra in respective area of the body or prepare the new method based on tree photon to two photon annihilation rate.
Preliminary investigation preformed on real healthy and altered human tissues using PALS clearly indicates that it is possible to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues and between different kind of lesions of the some organ using techniques based on positron annihilation.

Speaker: Bożena Jasińska (Institute of Physics, Maria Curie Sklodowska University)

12:40 Positronium imaging with total-body PET scanners

During the positron emission tomography about 40% of positrons annihilations occur through the creation of positronium which may be trapped within and between molecules. Positronium decays in the patient body are sensitive to the nanostructure and metabolism of the tissues. This phenomenon is not used in the present PET diagnostics, yet it is in principle possible to use environment modified properties of positronium as diagnostic biomarkers for cancer therapy. First in-vitro studies show differences of positronium mean lifetime and production probability in the healthy and cancerous tissues, indicating that they may be used as indicators for in-vivo cancer classification. Here we present a method of positronium lifetime imaging in which the lifetime and position of positronium atoms is determined on an event-by-event basis. The method requires application of β+ decaying isotope emitting prompt gamma (e.g. 44Sc). We discuss the possibility of determining the time and position of positronium annihilation based on the three photons originating from the decays of ortho-positronium in the free intramolecular spaces as well as based on the back-to-back photons originating from the interaction of positronium with the surrounding atoms and bio-active molecules. The prompt gamma is used for the determination of the time of the formation of positronium. We estimate that with the total-body PET scanners the sensitivity of the positronium lifetime imaging, which requires coincident registration of the back-to-back annihilation photons and the prompt gamma is comparable to the sensitivities for the metabolic imaging with standard PET scanners.

References:
[1] P. Moskal et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 64 (2019) 055017

[2] P. Moskal, B. Jasinska, E. Stepien, S. Bass, Nature Physics Review, invited comment, in print

[3] P. Moskal et al., U.S. Patent US 9,851,456 (2017), PL 227658 (2013)

Speaker: Paweł Moskal (Jagiellonian University)

2019_Moskal_Jagiellonian_Symposium_3.pptx

13:05 → 14:30 Lunch

14:30 → 17:35 Thursday: Medical imaging

Convener: Suleman Surti (University of Pennsylvania)

14:30 STIR: an Open Source library for PET and SPECT image reconstruction: status and future

STIR (Software for Tomographic Image Reconstruction) is Open Source software providing a Multi-Platform Object-Oriented framework for data manipulations in tomographic imaging. Currently, the emphasis is on image reconstruction in emission tomography (PET and SPECT). Motion correction and parametric imaging is also supported. STIR is implemented in C++ but provides both a Python and MATLAB interface. STIR has an active developer community. This talk will give an overview of current and upcoming features. We will also discuss the relation with the Synergistic Image Reconstruction Framework (SIRF) project.

Speaker: Kris Thielemans (University College London)

Thielemans_Jagiellonian2019_STIR_status_and_future.pptx

14:55 Overview of the J-PET analysis and simulation software

Modern TOF-PET scanner systems require high-speed computing resources for efficient data processing, monitoring and image reconstruction. In this article we present the data flow and software architecture for the novel total-body TOF-PET scanner developed by the J-PET collaboration. The reconstruction framework, Monte Carlo simulations tools together with several software activities dedicated for image reconstruction and new imagining techniques will be presented.

Speaker: Wojciech Krzemień (National Centre for Nuclear Research)

Wojciech_Krzemien.pdf

15:15 GATE for medical physics, therapy and imaging. A new Compton-Camera module

GATE is a Geant4 application dedicated to medical physics applications. This open-source software is developed by the international OpenGATE collaboration initially [1] for nuclear medicine (SPECT, PET). Since the release V6 [2], GATE was extended to a broader range of simulations in the field of medical physics, in particular for dosimetry applications [3]. This unique platform allows users to conveniently share code of Geant4 simulations while also allowing simple simulation scripting via macro files. GATE has been used to perform a wide range of radiation therapy dosimetry simulations, including external photon therapy, hadrontherapy (proton, carbon, helium), internal radionuclide therapy, and various imaging applications: not only PET, SPECT and CT, but also proton-CT, prompt-Gamma imaging or Compton-Camera.

Recently, a new extension of GATE has been proposed to perform simulations of Compton cameras. The developed module is designed so that the interaction information of the particles in the specified detector volumes is stored and digitized to simulate their response. Several digitization processors have been implemented to reproduce the performance of the most commonly employed detectors such as strip detectors, pixelated and monolithic scintillator crystals. Additional tools have been included to facilitate the access to ground-truth information with the aim of recovering the ideal Compton kinematics and characterizing the possible sources of degradation in an experimental device. The module has been successfully validated against experimental data taken with a Compton Camera prototype based on LaBr3 continuous crystals coupled to SiPMs, built at IFIC-Valencia. On the other hand, the developed tools have proven to be helpful to identify and reduce the different sources of degradation found in the acquired data. The versatility of the module has been proven through a preliminary simulation study of the comparison between the performance of two different prototypes.

During the presentation, a short overview of GATE capabilities will be given, followed by a description of the new Compton Camera module, that will be available in the next GATE release.

References
[1] Jan S., … Morel C. GATE: a simulation toolkit for PET and SPECT. Phys Med Biol. Oct 7;49(19):4543-61. 2004
[2] Jan S., … Buvat I. GATE V6: a major enhancement of the GATE simulation platform enabling modelling of CT and radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol. 21; 56(4):881-901. 2011
[3] Sarrut D. et al. “A review of the use and potential of the GATE Monte Carlo simulation code for radiation therapy and dosimetry applications.” Med Phys, 41(6):064301. Jun 2014.

Speaker: Ane Etxebeste (Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Centre Léon Bérard, France.)

3rd Jagiellonian Symposium_2019_Etxebeste_v1.pdf

15:35 3D reconstruction of point-like sources in a J-PET scanner using total variation regularization

In this presentation we provide a comparative studies of two image reconstruction algorithms for positron emission tomography (PET): a novel reconstruction method based on the concept of total variation (TV) regularization and a reference time-of-flight filtered back-projection (TOF-FBP) technique. The methods are validated using experimental data of the Jagiellonian-PET (J-PET) scanner from measurement of six point-like sources. The reconstruction of the three-dimensional (3D) image of the point-like source, so called point spread function (PSF), is crucial for the estimation of spatial resolution of J-PET detector. The spatial resolution of the J-PET scanner was determined by estimation of full width half maximum in transverse and longitudinal directions of PSF at six position inside the scanner volume. The comparison results shown superior spatial resolution of reconstructed images from the proposed TV-based method in respect to the TOF-FBP algorithm. Simultaneously, reconstruction time in proposed technique was approximately 2.5 times shorter than required by reference method.

Speaker: Lech Raczyński (National Centre for Nuclear Research)

Lech_Raczynski.pdf

15:55 Coffee break

16:25 Single-event based TOF FBP image reconstruction in J-PET

We report the results of a modified time-of-flight (TOF) filtered back projection (FBP) image reconstruction method, employed for the Jagiellonian PET (J-PET) scanners of differing geometries. Additional dimension imposed by TOF in projection space significantly reduces the number of coincidences per bin, which affects performance. However, high temporal resolution of J-PET substantiates analytical TOF-based techniques that operate in image space with the most likely position (MLP) of positronium annihilation. It is shown that FBP could be represented as a sum of single-event reconstructions, each performed around MLP within a limited volume by the truncation of radiotracers using TOF and filtering kernels. Such approach resembles kernel density estimation (KDE) applied to MLP with non-symmetrical spherical kernel and, likewise, is highly scalable with the perspective of being employed for real time imaging. For 1-mm spherical source, simulated inside 3-layer 50-cm long J-PET scanner using GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission), the estimated transverse spatial resolution was about 4-6 mm, which is better than for KDE and conventional non-TOF FBP from STIR software package. Axial resolution of ~20 mm were similar for all three methods, which is consistent with temporal properties of tube photomultipliers utilised for the readout in J-PET.

Speaker: Roman Shopa (National Centre for Nuclear Research, Poland)

Shopa_presentation.pdf

ShopaR_proc.pdf

ShopaR_proc.zip

16:45 Investigation of the Effect of Axial Ring Splitting for Cost Reduction of Total Body PET Scanners

Introduction

In 2016 the development of Total Body PET (TB-PET) system with a $2$ m long axial FOV at UCDavis (California) and a $70$ cm-$1,4$ m
long axial FOV at UPENN (Philadelphia) has been initiated and United imaging (together with UCDavis) has
recently launched the first Total Body PET system for clinical imaging (FDA approved).

The aim of this work is to try to find a more cost effective way to build a TB-PET scanner.
In particular we investigated the possibility of a chess-like arrangement of detectors, by splitting the ring detectors into an even detectors ring and an odd.
Effectively by reducing the number of detectors by half and extending the axial FOV as much.

Material and Methods

GATE Monte Carlo simulations were incorporated for the simulation process and tools from STIR image reconstruction toolkit for the sinogram processing and image reconstruction.

Three configurations were considered. A long axial FOV scanner (axial length 626 mm), a split ring configuration, where interchangeably rings miss either the odd or the even detectors (axial length 1252 mm) and finally a TB PET scanner with full rings (axial length $1252$ mm). The configurations are named: Config.A, Config.B and Config.C, correspondingly. The three configurations are illustrated in figure (\url{https://figshare.com/s/2f6c1a09a38c2916f86d}).

Briefly, the system model is composed by blocks with $8 \times 8$ LYSO crystals with size $4\times 4$ mm$^2$.
Each system module either had one block (config.A), a combination of block and gap (config.B) or two blocks (config.C).

For the comparison and evaluation of the three configurations an adaptation of the NEMA NU-2012 protocol, was used.
In particular the count losses phantom which in the standard protocol has length of 700 mm was extended to 1500 mm, in order to provide a fair comparison between the long scanners and highlight the benefits of the longer axial length.

Results

In terms of number of detected prompts config. C was found far more efficient, as it shares the longest length with config. B but without gaps.
The config. A was found slightly better than config. B. Showing that the axial expansion of the scanner does not fully compensate for the introduction of the gaps (Figure: (\url{http://figshare.com/s/2bab7a8ca4cd906a7452}).

As illustrated in Fig.\url{https://figshare.com/s/e51b4924e0a7ad7b5972} in terms of kcps the NECR of Config. C is superior to the rest of configurations.
However the peak is located in a lower activity concentration than the rest.
Comparison between Config. B and A. reveals that the NECR of config. A is quite better, something that was not hinted by the number of detected prompts.
This shows that the true events loss, due to the gaps is proportionally more significant than for the scattered and random events, which are less affected.

In Fig~\url{https://figshare.com/s/e51b4924e0a7ad7b5972} the NECR of the PET scanner with classic axial FOV (240 mm), was included in order to highlight the benefits in sensitivity of the long scanners over the shorter.

Further, this is shown in Fig.~\url{https://figshare.com/s/22a517d33c10156a0c59} where reconstructed images (OSEM 12sub. 60 iterations), of the short scanner and Config. A., are demonstrated. The acquisition was of a normal FDG biodistribution of 10 seconds. In addition, to the wider FOV the longer scanner offers substantially smoother image.

Conclusions

An alternative, cost efficient design for the TB-PET scanner using a chess-like pattern of detectors was evaluated, in terms of count losses and compared to a compact configuration having the same number of detectors and a configuration with the same axial length and double the detectors.
It was found that although the impact on the counting ability of the scanner is not significant the NECR is significantly reduced. This hints that the detected true events suffer greater losses than the random and scattered. Of course, this does not undermine the benefits of the increased FOV.

Future work

Our ability to reconstruct images of long PET scanner reaches the 700mm. We plan to further extend that using more efficient memory management.

Speaker: Nikos Efthimiou (University of Hull)

Investigation of the Effect of Axial Ring Splitting.pptx

17:05 Simulating J-PET detector on NVidia Ray Tracing Hardware

Image reconstruction in PET tomography requires a good description of the detector response usually in the form of the system matrix or kernel. This is normally not possible to calculate exactly. One alternative is to use Monte-Carlo methods. However standard simulation software like Geant or GATE is to slow to obtain the system matrix of the detector with good accuracy in a reasonable time. To this end, we have used a custom build software running on NVidia GPU using CUDA. Last year NVidia released a new line of graphics cards (RTX) with hardware support for ray tracing. This seems a perfect tool for simulation of the interaction of particles in the detector. In this talk, I will present the results we have obtained on this new hardware.

Speaker: Piotr Białas (Jagiellonian University)

Piotr_Bialas.pdf

17:20 A method for time calibration of PET systems using fixed beta-plus radioactive source

A method for time calibration of PET systems using fixed sources will be presented. Process of calibration of the J-PET detector [1-5] will be shown as an example.

References
[1] P. Moskal et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A764, 317 (2014)
[2] P. Moskal et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A775, 54 (2015)
[3] P. Moskal et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 61, 2025 (2016)
[4] Sz. Niedzwiecki et al., Acta Phys. Polon. B48, 1567 (2017)
[5] P. Kowalski et al., Phys. Med. Biol. 63, 165008 (2018)

Speaker: Kamil Dulski (UJ)

Kamil_Dulski.pdf

17:35 → 18:35 Discussion on simulation and image reconstruction methods for large axial field-of-view TOF-PET scanners

Convener: Wojciech Krzemień (National Centre for Nuclear Research)

Friday, 28 June

08:00 → 08:30 Coffee a priori

08:30 → 12:15 Friday: Positronium in matter

Conveners: Paweł Moskal (Jagiellonian University) , Bożena Zgardzińska (Institute of Physics, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University)

08:30 Shapes of the free volume holes in amorphous polymers as estimated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Intermolecular spaces in polymer chains form the so called free volume, a useful concept to understand mechanical and transport properties of polymers. Quantification of the free volume can be obtained theoretically, using appropriate lattice models, as well as experimentally, through suitable probes. Among these, positronium (Ps) has become widespread due to the non-destructive character of the technique, the capability of Ps to preferentially localize inside the free volume holes and the correlation between the Ps lifetime and the size of the holes. In most of the investigations the cavity is approximated to a sphere. However, this may bias the evaluation of the free volume fraction. We show that by coupling results from Ps lifetime and specific volume measurements for amorphous polymers at equilibrium and the predictions of the Simha-Somcynsky equation of state it is possible to shed light on the dimension of the holes, on their morphology as well as on their expansion with temperature. In fact, in spite of their irregular shape, non-spherical cavities are generally found to give a better agreement between the theoretical free volume fraction and the experimental results.

Speaker: Giovanni Consolati (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano)

Consolati Krakow 28_06_2019.ppt

08:55 The accumulation effect in positron implantation profiles and annihilation characteristics

The implantation of energy positrons into the matter is rarely considered in positron annihilation spectroscopy because it is based on the annihilation of thermalized positrons.
However, in the case of a medium that exhibits inhomogeneity, the implantation process may affect the measured annihilation characteristics, for example, positron lifetime spectrum or Doppler broadening of annihilation line. Our latest theoretical and experimental investigations of implantation profiles in stacks of various metallic foils revealed a characteristic accumulation of positrons in a film of denser metal. This effect seems to be obvious because differences in the linear absorption coefficient values cause specific segregation of positrons, they are accumulated in a denser region. This leads the fraction of positrons that annihilate in the denser region is higher than its fractional volume. This effect was clearly demonstrated in the case of epoxy resin samples with embedded heavy metal microparticles. Monte Carlo simulations supported experimental dependencies.

Our recent studies have shown that the effect of accumulation depends on the size of particles deposited in the medium. This suggests that also the diffusion of thermilized positons plays a role in the effect of accumulation, certainly when the particles have a diameter of a nanometer. A model of diffusion of positrons with the accumulation effect will be presented. Its predictions will be discussed.

Speaker: Jerzy Dryzek (Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN)

09:20 Digital spectrometer for coincidence Doppler broadening spectroscopy: application for study of positron annihilation in flight

A novel digital coincidence Doppler broadening (DCDB) spectrometer enables to achieve an extremely low background in the spectrum. This is crucial for investigation of rare annihilation events as positron annihilation in flight or 3-gamma decay of positronium. In the present work the DCDB spectrometer was employed for investigations of annihilation in flight phenomenon using (i) monoenergetic positrons in a variable energy slow positron beam, (ii) fast positrons emitted by 68Ge/68Ga positron generator and (iii) fast positrons emitted by 44Ti/44Sc positron generator.
An energetic positron implanted into a solid matter loses rapidly its kinetic energy by elastic and inelastic collisions with electrons and reaches quickly thermal equilibrium with the surrounding medium. As a consequence positrons are annihilated predominantly in the thermalized state. However, a small fraction of positrons is annihilated before reaching the thermal equilibrium. These annihilation-in-flight events differ significantly from annihilations of thermalized positrons because in case of annihilation-in-flight events the positron momentum is significant and exceeds the momentum of electrons.
The annihilation-in-flight contribution in a two dimensional gamma ray energy spectrum fills a ‘cup-like’ area delimited by a hyperbolic curve imposed by the conservation of momentum and energy in the annihilation process and a ‘cut-off line’ corresponding to the kinetic energy of positrons. With decreasing positron energy the area of annihilation-in-flight contributions becomes smaller and smaller and finally it disappears completely for slow positrons with energies below ~100 eV. Energetic positrons are able to penetrate the Coulomb potential of the nucleus and annihilate with the deep core electrons. Hence, analysis of the outer edge of the hyperbolic annihilation-in-flight contribution in the two-dimensional energy spectrum provides information about the momentum distribution of core electrons in the target.

Speaker: Jakub Cizek (Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University)

Cizek-talk-6.pptx

09:45 Positron scattering and annihilation in organic molecules

Linking between positron scattering in the gas phase (i.e. cross sections) and positron annihilation in the liquid phase (i.e. positron lifetimes) remain still poorly understood. In organic molecules, like hydrocarbons, a strong enhancement of the annihilation rate in the gas phase in positron traps was observed already several years ago but this has not been yet “translated” into cross sections [1].
Problems of incongruence remain both on experiments and the theory. Some recent experiments in gas phase suffered from a poor angular resolution at low energies, therefore cross sections are underestimated, see the discussion in [2]. Another source of errors is wrong energy scaling, see [3] for the discussion.
In experimental studies of positron lifetimes in liquids the main uncertainty is the branching ration between ortho and para-positronium: without assuming a correct branching ratio the numerical analysis may produce stray results. A recent theory [4] put some constraints on the analysis of lifetime spectra, enabling to re-evaluate previous experimental data [5].
From the theoretical side, it is difficult to account for the strong correlation between the impinging positron and the molecular electrons. Recently, we have introduced an empirical scaling factor in order to correct for these shortcomings and applied it successfully for positron scattering in benzene [6].
We present a combined comparison of low-energy cross sections in the gas phase (a review of different experiments and the present theory) and re-analyzed positron lifetimes in small organic molecules: acetylene, methanol, benzene and cyclohexane. An agreement in the gas phase is very promising, while lifetimes show to be strongly influenced by the presence of dissolved oxygen and show significant temperature dependences. A discussion will be given.

This work is supported by the grant 2014/15/D/ST2/02358 of the Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Center Poland) and by computer grants from the computer centers WCSS (Wroclawskie Centrum Sieciowo- Superkomputerowe, Politechnika Wroclawska) and TASK (Trójmiejska Akademicka Sieć Komputerowa, Gdańsk).

References:
[1] G.F. Gribakin, J.A. Young, and C.M. Surko, Rev. Mod. Phys. 82 (2010) 2557
[2] G.P. Karwasz, A. Karbowski, Z. Idziaszek, R. S. Brusa, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B, 266/3 (2008) 471
[3] G. P. Karwasz, R. S. Brusa, and D. Pliszka, IOP Publishing, Journal of Physics: Conference Series,
199 (2010) 012019
[4] G. Marlotti Tanzi, F. Castelli, and G. Consolati, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (2016) 033401
[5] A. Karbowski, K. Fedus, K. Służewski, J. Bruzdowska, and G. Karwasz, Acta Phys. Pol. A 132
(2017)1466.
[6] J. Franz and M. Franz Eur. Phys. J. D, submitted (2019).

Speaker: Grzegorz Karwasz (Nicolaus Copernicus Univeristy)

Karwasz_Krak_2019.ppt

10:10 Coffee break

10:40 Positron study of liquids confined in nanovoids

Water confined in spaces of nanometer size do not form ice crystals at lowered temperature. Instead, it remains stable in a supercooled and amorphous state. This allows to reach the “no man’s land”, i.e. deeply supercooled state of water, which is hardly accessible for experiments on bulk water. On the other hand, studies under conducted under the "negative" pressure (i.e. below the saturated vapor pressure) provide interesting information concerning behavior of water. Favorably, such conditions can easily be achieved for confined water, where the double metastable area (in relation to steam and ice) becomes completely stable due to the capillary condensation effect. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) allows to observe phase transitions of nanoconfined water from the supercooled liquid to the plastic-like phase, and then to the amorphous glass-like phase. The temperature shift of the phase transitions with the change of the negative pressure is observed. In addition, the positron lifetime observed at different pressures is clearly different. This suggests that the properties of each phase change due to the increase in the curvature of the meniscus on the liquid surface or the weakening of the water’s interaction with the pore walls. Understanding this effect should allow for the extrapolation of the obtained results to the expected values for bulk water. Therefore, the results obtained for water are compared with the ones for nano-confined n-heptane, which should allow to distinguish water-specific effects from those that are common to all liquids.

Speaker: Radek Zaleski (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University)

11:05 Using plastic scintillators to disentangle antiprotons annihilations from positron and positronium annihilations in AEgIS

The AEgIS experiment, currently in progress at the CERN Antiproton Decelerator (AD), aims at producing antihydrogen (and ultimately measuring the effects of the Earth gravitational field on it) with an innovative method based on the charge exchange reaction between an antiproton ($\bar{ p}$) and a highly-excited positronium atom:
$$ \bar{ p}+\mathrm{Ps}^* \rightarrow \bar{H}^* + e^- $$ While positronium (Ps) is produced by positrons implantation on a mesoporous silica target and subsequently excited to a Rydberg state (Ps*) via double step laser excitation, antiprotons are kept in a multi-ring Penning-Malmberg trap with a part of the electrodes replaced by a thin mesh, to let Ps$^*$ in, and situated close to the region where Ps* is created. After a summary of the current AEgIS status and of the milestones achieved so far by the Collaboration (from the antiprotons side as well as from the positronium side) and after a short description of the diagnostic tools developed to monitor particle manipulations, we will focus on the system of external plastic scintillators slabs, surrounding the 1 T superconducting magnet cryostat, read out by photomultipliers that were calibrated and equalised to be exploited as a whole detector with useful granularity to consistently detect single antiparticle annihilations. The whole set consists of 12 arc-shaped slabs, made by EJ-200 general-purpose plastic scintillator, each of them being 1 cm thick, 10 cm wide, $\sim$150 cm in length, situated as close as possible to the apparatus to maximise the overall solid angle (that was around 20\% for annihilations near the antiproton trap region). The slabs were read from both sides by two independent, high-gain photomultipliers to avoid spurious signals and to have good efficiency despite the light attenuation in the slabs.

In particular, periodic calibrations campaigns with cosmic rays and a detailed analysis of the system (also through a Geant4 simulation) has let us have the system constantly under control and therefore allowed us to identify antiprotons annihilations with good sensitivity and virtually unitary specificity over the significant background of positron/positronium annihilations.
This has also made it possible to use the system of external plastic scintillators for antihydrogen annihilations tagging.

Speaker: Nicola Zurlo (Brescia University and INFN, sezione di Pavia)

plastic scintillators by Nicola Zurlo for aegis collaboration.pdf

11:30 A search for massless dark photons in positronium decays

The existence of dark matter has been established by different cosmological observations, however its origin is still unknown. Many candidates have been proposed among which the most popular ones are probably Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Despite intensive searches in accelerators and in direct detection experiments, WIMPs have not yet been observed. An interesting alternative, are hidden sectors. This class of models includes the possibility of a new force mediated by a massive vector gauge U(1) boson, called dark photon.
Interestingly, if the new U(1) gauge symmetry is unbroken, the massless dark photon can be searched for in positronium decays. Here we present the latest results of such an experiment.

Speaker: Paolo Crivelli (ETH Zurich (CH))

Crivelli_Cracow19.pdf

11:55 Glass transition in smectic e phase of alkyl-isothiocyanato-biphenyls

In recent years, Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) has been extensively utilized in the studies of free volume characteristics in polymers but also low molecular weight glass formers. Efforts are made to connect the temperature changes of the o-Ps lifetime with changes of structure and dynamics in such systems. This can shed light on the nature of the glass transition which continues to be a subject of many studies. However, the phenomenon of vitrification in mesophases having partial long-range positional and/or orientational ordering of molecules is much less studied. Moreover, the majority of glass transition models concern only isotropic liquids.
In this presentation we report on application of the two order parameter model of glass transition proposed by Tanaka [1] to description of temperature dependencies of ortho-positronium lifetime and intensity of this component obtained for two members of 4-n-alkyl-4-isothiocyanatobiphenyl homologous series with 4 and 6 carbon atom in the alkyl chain [2,3]. The PALS dependencies will be compared with the results of the dielectric spectroscopy and quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) measurements in search of the glass transition signatures.

[1] H. Tanaka, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 10( 1998) L207
[2] E. Dryzek, E. Juszyńska, R. Zaleski, B. Jasińska, M. Gorgol, M. Massalska-Arodź,
Phys. Rev. E, 88 (2013) 022504 (2013)
[3] E. Dryzek, E. Juszyńska-Gałązka, Phys. Rev. E 93 (2016) 022705

Speaker: Ewa Dryzek (Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Kraków, Poland)

12:15 → 13:35 Lunch

13:35 → 16:40 Friday: New detection technologies

Conveners: Shinji Okada (RIKEN) , Kristian Piscichia (Centro Fermi, LNF (INFN))

13:35 Development of new heavy and efficient scintillators for medical imaging and radiation detection

H.J. Kim1, Gul Rooh2, Q.V. Phan1, Arshad Khan1, Sang Jun Kang3 , Jakrapong Kaewkhao4
1Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Korea
Email: hongjoo@knu.ac.kr
2 Department of Physics, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan,23200, Pakistan
3 College of Liberal Arts, Semyung University, Jechon 27136, Korea
4 Center of Excellence in Glass Technology and Materials Science (CEGM), Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand

Inorganic scintillators are widely used materials for the detection of different radiations in the field of radiation detection, medical imaging, security inspection, nuclear and high-energy-physics, and well-logging for oil and gas exploration. In recent years, more attention is devoted in the discovery of new scintillators characterized by excellent energy resolution and high light yield under γ-ray excitation, fast decay time, high density and high Z-number. Most of the popular scintillators shown excellent scintillation properties, however one cannot find a single scintillator among these materials which can fulfill the demands of the mentioned applications. Therefore, the quest for an ideal scintillator is still going on.
In this presentation I will present our work on the new single crystal growth of cerium or europium doped Tl based crystal as well as Tl based intrinsic scintillators grown by using Bridgman technique. Due to the high Z-number and density of Tl ion most of our grown scintillator shows high effective Z-number and density. Therefore, these scintillators are supposed to be ideal for the detection of x- and gamma-rays. Since the f-d transition is favored for Ce or Eu doped scintillator, we expect fast decay time and high light output. Under 661 keV γ-rays excitation, the light outputs of the investigated samples are found to be < 60,000 photons/MeV for various Ce or Eu concentrations with different materials.
Since they contains high Z material, Tl, they can be used to efficiently detect gamma rays or x-rays in many applications such as radiation detection and medical imaging such as computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Also Li and Gd contained crystals could be promising candidates for neutron detection.

Reference
1. H.J. Kim, G. Rooh, H. Park, S. Kim, J. Lumin. 164, 86 (2015).
2. H.J. Kim, G. Rooh, H. Park, S. Kim, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 57, 439 (2016).
3. H.J. Kim, G. Rooh, S. Kim, J. Lumin. 186, 219 (2017)
4. H.J. Kim et al., J. Lumin., 186 (2017) 219–222.
5. H.J. Kim et al., NIMA., 849 (2017) 72–75.
6. G. Rooh et al., Opt. Mater., 73 (2017) 523.
7. H.J. Kim et al., Opt. Mater., 82 (2018) 8
8. Q.V. Phan et al., JAC, 766 (2018) 326

Speaker: Hong Joo Kim (Kyungpook National University)

Poland19_hjkim.pdf

13:55 Luminescence behaviors of Sm3+ doped high density tungsten gadolinium borate scintillating glass

Sm-activated scintillating glasses with high WO3 concentration up to 42.5 mol% were studied in this work. The effects of Sm2O3 concentration on the density, transmission and various (photo-, X-ray induced-, proton- and temperature dependent-) luminescence properties have been investigated. The glasses possess a high density that is more than 6.00 g/cm3. From the transmission spectra, glass samples show the several absorption peaks in visible light and near-infrared region, which confirm Sm3+ ion in glass matrices. Energy transfer from Gd3+ to Sm3+ takes place in the glasses which resulted to the strongest emission around 600 nm of Sm3+ (4G5/2→6H7/2) in the photo-, X-ray induced- and proton luminescence spectra. The optimum concentration of Sm2O3 for WO3-Gd2O3˗B2O3 glass is 1.0 mol% which performed the highest emission intensity in these three types of luminescence spectra. In 1.0 mol% doped glass, the decay time under pulse X-ray excitation was measured and found to be 0.29 ms. The temperature dependent luminescence in a range of 10 K – 300 K of 1.0 mol% doped glass was measured under uv-laser excitation. The emission intensity of glass increased 4 times from with decreasing of temperature. In this work, the fabricated WO3-Gd2O3˗B2O3 glasses doped with Sm2O3 show the strong visible luminescence under visible light, X-ray and proton excitation. This glasses perform a potential for applications in the high energy / nuclear physics, radiation monitoring and homeland security.

Speaker: Jakrapong Kaewkhao (Physics Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand)

Luminescence_behaviors_of_Sm3_doped_high_density_tungsten_gadolinium_borate_scintillating_glass_.pptx

14:15 Synthesis And Characterization Of The Plastic Scintillators For The Total-Body J-PET Scanner

Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a PET scanner based on plastic scintillators [1]. The aim of the J-PET Collaboration is to build a modular, light and portable PET scanner for the total body examination. Currently we are building prototype modules consisting of 500 and 1000 mm long plastic scintillator strips with silicon photomultipliers coupled at both ends [2].

Result of styrene and vinyltoluene polymerization will be presented. The time-temperature cycles were established for polymerization in small cylinders as well as for polymerization in the glass mold allowing to manufacture long plastic scintillator strips. A new method developed for the fast quality control of plastic scintillator strips was successfully applied during J-PET prototype building and will be introduced. The new scintillator was manufactured via bulk polymerization of vinyltoluene and the optimal concentration of the 2-(4-styrylphenyl)benzoxazole wavelength shifter [3]. The light yield for the best sample was established to be equal 10 000 photons per MeV. Obtained plastic scintillators were optimized for short rise and decay times needed in time of flight PET detectors. The rise time and decay time of the developed plastic scintillator were determined to be 0.5 ns and 1.9 ns, respectively.

With high technical attenuation length (TAL) more photons propagating along scintillator strip is reaching silicon photomultipliers at both ends thus increasing time resolution of the J-PET scanner. The aim of TAL measurement is to determine technical light attenuation length value of commercially available plastic scintillator strips and selecting the best type for J-PET scanner construction. A few models of plastic scintillators obtained from different manufacturers were tested. All strips have the same rectangular cross-section and dimensions 6x24x1000 mm^3. TAL determination method is based on fast scanning of scintillator strip by UV lamp with 365 nm wavelength of maximum emission and reading light signal by silicon photodiode. Results of TAL measurements will be compared to manufacturer’s specifications.

[1] J-PET: P. Kowalski et al., Phys. Med. Biol., 63 (2018) 165008
[2] J-PET: P. Moskal et al., Phys. Med. Biol., 61 (2016), 2025-2047
[3] J-PET: A. Wieczorek et al., PLoS ONE, 12:11: e018672 (2017), 1-16

Speaker: Łukasz Kapłon (Jagiellonian University)

2019.06.28 Synthesis And Characterization Of The Plastic Scintillators.pptx

14:35 FTM detector for fast timing applications

Recently introduced, the FTM detector is conceived as a high-rate capable Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) designed for applications requiring fast timing such as high luminosity accelerators and medical imaging. The FTM structure consists of alternating drift and gain regions, using resistive coatings, such that signals from each multiplication stage can be read out by the external readout electrodes through capacitive coupling. Simulations showed that a time resolution below 300 ps can be reached with a 16-layers FTM operated at 3 kV/cm drift and 130 kV/cm amplification fields in Ar:CO$_{2}$ 70:30 gas mixture. Extensive simulations of different parameters such as geometry, collection efficiency and gain have been performed aiming at optimizing the detector.

Speaker: Yasser Maghrbi (American University of the Middle East, Kuwait)

talk_krakow_june28_Yasser.pdf

14:55 Coffee break

15:25 Recent progress and prospects of the LEPS2/BGOegg experiment at SPring-8

High statistics data of hadron photoproduction have been collected by the BGOegg experiment at the SPring-8 LEPS2 beamline, where a photon beam with high degree of linear polarization is available in the tagged energy range of 1.3-2.4 GeV. The experiment is equipped with an “egg”-shaped electromagnetic calorimeter, which comprises of 1,320 BGO crystals covering the polar angles of 24-144 degrees, and associated charged particle detectors. With a liquid hydrogen target of 54 mm thickness, we measured the differential cross sections and photon beam asymmetries of single meson photoproduction processes (e.g. \pi^0, \eta, \omega) for the studies of baryon resonance spectroscopy. New experimental results will be shown with the extension to the high energy region for which the photon beam asymmetries have not been well measured. In addition, we will report on the progress of our analyses about the \eta^\prime meson mass in a Carbon nucleus target, investigated by a) the two \gamma invariant mass spectroscopy for the medium modification signal and b) the \eta^\prime-mesic nuclei search in the missing mass spectrum of a high momentum proton. The future prospects of the BGOegg experiment will be also presented as we have embarked on the system upgrade.

Speaker: Norihito Muramatsu (ELPH, Tohoku University)

3JSmura_public.pdf

15:50 Hyperon studies and development of Forward tracker for HADES detector

The HADES detector is a versatile detector specialized for dilepton and strangeness measurements at GSI/FAIR [1]. It has been recently updated by an electromagnetic calorimeter, and a new RICH photon detector. In this year an additional Forward Detector (FD) will be installed. It will extend an acceptance of HADES at forward angles ( 0 to 6.5 degree ) essential for many reactions channels. The Straw Trackers are currently assembled by the Krakow and FZ Juelich teams, based on developments for the PANDA Forward Tracker [2]. As this detector will operate in a field-free region the particle identification has to be performed based on dE/dx and time-of-flight measurements. Additionally, the straw tube tracking stations will be used for reconstruction of off-vertex decays. The increase of acceptance will play a significant role in studies of N(π)+N and p+A reactions where this detector is essential for exclusive channels and PWA analyses of hyperon production and decays like for example Λ→p π, Λ (Σ) → Λ e+e- (hyperon transition form-factors) and Ξ- → Λ π-. In the present contribution the feasibility studies of hyperon reconstruction together with performance of the tracking detectors obtained in various test will be presented.

Speaker: Narendra Rathod (The Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University)

3rd_Jagiellonian_University_Symposium.pptx.pdf

16:05 Measurement of $\pi^{0}\pi^{+/-}$ photoproduction off the deuteron and D-butanol targets

The research work of Nuclear and Particle Physics group at University of Basel is centered around Hadron Physics sector. Photoproduction of Mesons provides an efficient tool for the study of decays of nucleon resonances and the excitation spectrum of hadrons tells us about the internal degrees of freedom. Thus to know the internal structural details of nucleons and mesons, investigation of excited nucleon states via photoproduction of mesons and the modification of the properties of nucleon resonances and mesons are being studied quite extensively.
Our group is involved in some international collaborations among which the research works related to photon induced meson production are carried out in Crystal Ball A2 with MAMI(Mainz) and Crystal Barrel ELSA(Bonn) collaborations.
In the presentation, research involved in the Crystal Ball experiment in MAMI as well as my analysis work including few preliminary results in the context of photoproduction of double pions with unpolarized and polarized deuteron targets will mainly be discussed.

Speaker: Debdeep Ghosal (University of Basel)

dghosal_3rdJagiellonian.pdf

krakow_ghosal_22.pdf

16:20 SIDDHARTA-2 is going on DAFNE: exciting period for kaonic atoms!

I shall present the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment aiming to measure for the first time the kaonic deuterium transitions at the DAFNE collider.SIDDHARTA-2 is being installed on DAFNE in spring 2019. I shall review the future plans and discuss prospectives for kaonic atoms physics.

Speaker: Catalina Curceanu (LNF-INFN)

catalina-Symp-Cracovia-June2019.ppt

16:40 → 17:00 Closing of the conference

19:00 → 23:00 Barnparty in Collegium Barnium