Beam Diagnostics for Medical Accelerators*

The Optimization of Medical Accelerators (OMA) is the aim of a new European Training Network that has received 4 ME of funding within the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Union. OMA joins universities, research centers and clinical facilities with industry partners to address the challenges in treatment facility design and optimization, numerical simulations for the development of advanced treatment schemes, and beam imaging and treatment monitoring. This paper presents an overview of the network's research into beam diagnostics and imaging. This includes investigations into applying detector technologies originally developed for high energy physics experiments (such as VELO, Medipix) for medical applications; integration of prompt gamma cameras in the clinical workflow; identification of optimum detector configurations and materials for high resolution spectrometers for proton therapy and radiography; ultra-low charge beam current monitors and diagnostics for cell studies using proton beams. It also summarizes the network-wide training program consisting of Schools, Topical Workshops and Conferences that will be open to the wider medical and accelerator communities.