253 research outputs found
MRI/TRUS data fusion for brachytherapy
BACKGROUND: Prostate brachytherapy consists in placing radioactive seeds for
tumour destruction under transrectal ultrasound imaging (TRUS) control. It
requires prostate delineation from the images for dose planning. Because
ultrasound imaging is patient- and operator-dependent, we have proposed to fuse
MRI data to TRUS data to make image processing more reliable. The technical
accuracy of this approach has already been evaluated. METHODS: We present work
in progress concerning the evaluation of the approach from the dosimetry
viewpoint. The objective is to determine what impact this system may have on
the treatment of the patient. Dose planning is performed from initial TRUS
prostate contours and evaluated on contours modified by data fusion. RESULTS:
For the eight patients included, we demonstrate that TRUS prostate volume is
most often underestimated and that dose is overestimated in a correlated way.
However, dose constraints are still verified for those eight patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This confirms our initial hypothesis
Observing the Suppression of Superconductivity in RbEuFe4As4 by Correlated Magnetic Fluctuations
In this Letter, we describe quantitative magnetic imaging of superconducting vortices in RbEuFe4As4 in order to investigate the unique interplay between the magnetic and superconducting sublattices. Our scanning Hall microscopy data reveal a pronounced suppression of the superfluid density near the magnetic ordering temperature in good qualitative agreement with a recently developed model describing the suppression of superconductivity by correlated magnetic fluctuations. These results indicate a pronounced exchange interaction between the superconducting and magnetic subsystems in RbEuFe4As4, with important implications for future investigations of physical phenomena arising from the interplay between them
High resolution magnetic microscopy based on semi-encapsulated graphene Hall sensors
The realization of quantitative, noninvasive sensors for ambient magnetic imaging with high spatial and magnetic field resolution remains a major challenge. To address this, we have developed a relatively simple process to fabricate semi-encapsulated graphene/hBN Hall sensors assembled by dry transfer onto pre-patterned gold contacts. 1 lm-sized Hall cross sensors at a drive current of 0.5 lA exhibit excellent room temperature sensitivity, SI 700 V/AT, and good minimum detectable fields, Bmin ¼ 0.54 G/Hz0.5 at a measurement frequency of 1 kHz, with considerable scope for further optimization of these parameters. We illustrate their application in an imaging study of labyrinth magnetic domains in a ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet film
Characterisation of the muon beams for the Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment
A novel single-particle technique to measure emittance has been developed and used to characterise seventeen different muon beams for the Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment (MICE). The muon beams, whose mean momenta vary from 171 to 281 MeV/c, have emittances of approximately 1.2–2.3 π mm-rad horizontally and 0.6–1.0 π mm-rad vertically, a horizontal dispersion of 90–190 mm and momentum spreads of about 25 MeV/c. There is reasonable agreement between the measured parameters of the beams and the results of simulations. The beams are found to meet the requirements of MICE
2024 roadmap on magnetic microscopy techniques and their applications in materials science
Considering the growing interest in magnetic materials for unconventional computing, data storage, and sensor applications, there is active research not only on material synthesis but also characterisation of their properties. In addition to structural and integral magnetic characterisations, imaging of magnetisation patterns, current distributions and magnetic fields at nano- and microscale is of major importance to understand the material responses and qualify them for specific applications. In this roadmap, we aim to cover a broad portfolio of techniques to perform nano- and microscale magnetic imaging using superconducting quantum interference devices, spin centre and Hall effect magnetometries, scanning probe microscopies, x-ray- and electron-based methods as well as magnetooptics and nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging. The roadmap is aimed as a single access point of information for experts in the field as well as the young generation of students outlining prospects of the development of magnetic imaging technologies for the upcoming decade with a focus on physics, materials science, and chemistry of planar, three-dimensional and geometrically curved objects of different material classes including two-dimensional materials, complex oxides, semi-metals, multiferroics, skyrmions, antiferromagnets, frustrated magnets, magnetic molecules/nanoparticles, ionic conductors, superconductors, spintronic and spinorbitronic materials
Demonstration of cooling by the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment
The use of accelerated beams of electrons, protons or ions has furthered the development of nearly every scientific discipline. However, high-energy muon beams of equivalent quality have not yet been delivered. Muon beams can be created through the decay of pions produced by the interaction of a proton beam with a target. Such ‘tertiary’ beams have much lower brightness than those created by accelerating electrons, protons or ions. High-brightness muon beams comparable to those produced by state-of-the-art electron, proton and ion accelerators could facilitate the study of lepton–antilepton collisions at extremely high energies and provide well characterized neutrino beams1,2,3,4,5,6. Such muon beams could be realized using ionization cooling, which has been proposed to increase muon-beam brightness7,8. Here we report the realization of ionization cooling, which was confirmed by the observation of an increased number of low-amplitude muons after passage of the muon beam through an absorber, as well as an increase in the corresponding phase-space density. The simulated performance of the ionization cooling system is consistent with the measured data, validating designs of the ionization cooling channel in which the cooling process is repeated to produce a substantial cooling effect9,10,11. The results presented here are an important step towards achieving the muon-beam quality required to search for phenomena at energy scales beyond the reach of the Large Hadron Collider at a facility of equivalent or reduced footprint6
Transverse Emittance Reduction in Muon Beams by Ionization Cooling
Accelerated muon beams have been considered for next-generation studies of
high-energy lepton-antilepton collisions and neutrino oscillations. However,
high-brightness muon beams have not yet been produced. The main challenge for
muon acceleration and storage stems from the large phase-space volume occupied
by the beam, derived from the muon production mechanism through the decay of
pions from proton collisions. Ionization cooling is the technique proposed to
decrease the muon beam phase-space volume. Here we demonstrate a clear signal
of ionization cooling through the observation of transverse emittance reduction
in beams that traverse lithium hydride or liquid hydrogen absorbers in the Muon
Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE). The measurement is well reproduced by the
simulation of the experiment and the theoretical model. The results shown here
represent a substantial advance towards the realization of muon-based
facilities that could operate at the energy and intensity frontiers.Comment: 23 pages and 5 figure
First demonstration of ionization cooling by the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment
High-brightness muon beams of energy comparable to those produced by
state-of-the-art electron, proton and ion accelerators have yet to be realised.
Such beams have the potential to carry the search for new phenomena in
lepton-antilepton collisions to extremely high energy and also to provide
uniquely well-characterised neutrino beams. A muon beam may be created through
the decay of pions produced in the interaction of a proton beam with a target.
To produce a high-brightness beam from such a source requires that the phase
space volume occupied by the muons be reduced (cooled). Ionization cooling is
the novel technique by which it is proposed to cool the beam. The Muon
Ionization Cooling Experiment collaboration has constructed a section of an
ionization cooling cell and used it to provide the first demonstration of
ionization cooling. We present these ground-breaking measurements.Comment: 19 pages and 6 figure
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