LhARA radiobiology; meeting: 02Oct25; 14:00 BST

ZOOM: ​https://imperial-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/98220889714?pwd=SM90vOF7BKSXoU3mD9q7OwBQo4IVB3.1

Present: CD, EM, JP, DA, AFr, TP, TP(Jnr), RW, MH, JMcG, KL

Agenda

1. Minutes and actions:

• CD: Upload Technical Summary
  • Done
• MH: Send Calvin the CAD of the cell carousel
  • Done
• DA: Investigate increasing Mylar window thickness
  • Done
• JP: Consumables plan
  • Done
• CW: Check service and testing of hoods
  • Stands?
• JMcG/KL: Remove old calendar invites
  • Done
• KL/CD: Update angular divergence in LLO
  • Stands

2. Strathclyde : BT, ED, RW
   

• Processing the RCF from Phase 1
  • All the RCF scanned on the relevant scanner now
  • Calvin, Nick and Robbie to meet to discuss
  • Robbie to send the RCF data to Tony as well - he can calculate the calibration curve
  • Once we understand the dose:
    • Organise Robbie, Emma and Jason to discuss irradiation plan
• Alter PMQ/target mounts
  • ~5cm closer after moving the mounts
• Add position referencing systems to PMQ drives
  • Robbie has built this in
• Install cell rotation mount
  • Fine alignment and checking rotation works correctly still to be done
• Further updates:
• TP now setup to switch on quite quickly. Can pump it down easily

3. Simulation CD, DA, AFr:
   

• Results of an Au foil in the beamline
  • Mean dose drops by a factor of 10 minimum
  • Diaza to sample transverse distribution at several points along the beamline
  • Source production to be improved
• Calvin to investigate defocussing the quads further

• Practicality of implementing a scattering foil
  • For Biology
    • Reduced mean dose only a problem if still aiming to do FLASH
  • Physically
    • SCAPA have an arm to use to place the foil in
    • The simplest position is in the vacuum tube (or maybe entry to tube)
      • Robbie to provide the viable positions of the foil in the beamline for simulations
    • Can obtain 10um Gold easily (Goodfellas)
    • Chris Spindloe to be the help if the transverse size needs to be reduced down

4. BioPrep EM, JP:
   

• Dry-run
  • Delayed due to hood availability
  • To be done at the beginning of the actual run.
  • Should not cause a delay to the actual run if the dry run cannot be completed
• Dates for actual run
  • 27th Oct - 21st Nov
  • Emma on annual leave 24th to 31st Oct
  • Jason tied up on the week of 10th. Might be available on week of 3rd.
  • Dates can be pushed back if necessary
• Plan for run
  • First week is obtaining proton focus again
  • Next two weeks is irradiation

5. Beam Diagnostics KL, CD:
   

• Show RCF holder idea
  • Could do with something to fix the holder to the cell carousel
  • Robbie and Calvin to sit down and discuss this
• Ken update on a sparse beam diagnostic
  • Jessel Patel is a good man to talk to at RAL about this
  • Ken going to chase Chris and try and find money too

6. DoNM

• 16th October

7. AoB

• Tony's baby has officially joined LhARA!

Summary of actions

• CD/RW/ND: Meet to discuss RCF calibration
• RW: Send TP RCF data
• RW: Fine tune installation of cell carousel
• DA: Sample simulated beamline more frequently
• CD: Investigate defocussing to improve uniformity
• CD/RW: Design RCF holder
• KL: Discuss sparse diagnostic at CLF

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