Construction and dosimetric characterization of a motorized scanning‐slit system for electron FLASH experiments

Background Beam scanning is a useful technique for the treatment of large tumors when the primary beam size is limited, which is the case with radiation beams used in FLASH radiotherapy. Purpose To optimize beam scanning as a dose delivery method for FLASH radiotherapy, it is necessary to first understand the effects of beam scanning on the FLASH effect. To do so, biological FLASH experiments need to be done using defined beam parameters with beam scanning and compared to the situation without beam scanning. In this regard, we propose implementation of a simple slit scanning system with an electron FLASH beam to obtain a scanned radiation field that closely resembles a static field. Methods A pulsed electron linear accelerator (linac) was used in combination with a scanning slit system in order to simulate a scanned electron beam. Three configurations that produced homogeneous lateral profiles and high enough doses per pulse for FLASH experiments were established. The optimal scanning parameters were found for each configuration by examining the flatness of the obtained lateral dose profiles. Using the optimal scanning parameters, the scanned FLASH beams were dosimetrically characterized and compared to non‐scanned open field beam. Results A final electron FLASH beam scanning configuration was found for a 1 mm wide slit at a distance of 350 mm from the linac and a 2 mm wide slit at distances of 350 and 490 mm from the linac. The lateral profiles for these final configurations were found to have a homogeneity that is comparable to the open field profiles. The percentage depth dose (PDD) values found for these final configurations closely matched (by a few percentage) the PDD of the open field beam. Conclusions Three electron FLASH beam scanning configurations achieved by the motorized slit system were found to produce radiation fields similar to a non‐scanned open field electron beam. These final configurations can therefore be used in future biological FLASH experiments to compare to non‐scanned beam experiments in order to optimize beam scanning as a technique permitting the treatment of larger tumors with FLASH radiotherapy.