Intermediate LET-like effect in distal part of proton Bragg peak revealed by track-ends imaging during super-Fricke radiolysis

Upstream of the efficiency of proton or carbon ion beams in cancer therapy, and to optimize hadrontherapy results, we analysed the chemistry of Fricke solutions in track-end of 64-MeV protons and 1.14-GeV carbon ions. An original optical setup is designed to determine the primary track-segment yields along the last millimetres of the ion track with a sub-millimetre resolution. The Fe3+-yield falls in the Bragg peak to (4.9 ± 0.4) × 10-7 mol/J and 1.9 × 10-7 mol/J, under protons and carbon ions respectively. Beyond the Bragg peak, a yield recovery is observed over 1 mm for proton beams. It is attributed to the intermediate-LET of protons in this region where their energy decreases and energy distribution becomes broader, in relation with the longitudinal straggling of the beam. Consequently to this LET decrease in the distal part of the Bragg peak, Fe3+-yield increases. For the first time, this signature is highlighted at the chemical level under proton irradiation. Nevertheless, this phenomenon is not identified for carbon ion beams since their straggling is lower. It would need a greater spatial resolution to be observed.

In situ and time-resolved infrared detection of the reactivity induced by electrons in polymer films

The real time and in situ analysis of chemical reactions such as polymerization reactions, polymer degradation, and oxidation of polymers is of utmost importance. Surprisingly, only few experimental tools allowing this are available. To bridge this gap, we have developed a new experimental setup coupling a 60 keV electron gun with an infrared spectrometer operating in the mid-IR region (800-4000 cm^-1) and associated with the rapid scan mode. The measurements are performed using the infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy approach. We worked here with 0.5-25 ms pulses for which the dose per pulse ranges from 4 to 200 kGy. Combining pulse electrons with rapid scan analysis enables performing experiments with a time resolution of 80 ms (and above). Therefore, this new platform can, for instance, give direct insights into reaction mechanisms at stake during the degradation of polymers. First results on a bisphenol A polycarbonate irradiated under vacuum enabling the validation of this new setup and also the recording of time-resolved spectra are presented. Reaction mechanisms are then proposed.

Aliphatic/aromatic systems under irradiation: influence of the irradiation temperature and of the molecular organization

With the aim of understanding the electronic excitation, charge or reactive species transfers occurring during irradiation, we studied the role of the aromatic content on ethylene/styrene random copolymers (PES) and on cyclohexane/benzene glasses (amorphous organic solids). Radiation-induced modifications were monitored in situ, at the molecular level, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Irradiations were performed under a vacuum, and thanks to in situ measurements, oxidation was avoided. We followed both the C═C bond creation in the aliphatic moiety and the destruction of the aromatic moiety. The influence of the irradiation temperature was investigated by irradiating samples at room temperature and at 11 K. At such a low temperature, long-range migration hardly occurs and its influence is considerably reduced or could even vanish. Therefore, low temperature irradiation gives insight on the relative influence of reactive species transport and electronic excitation and charge transport. We found that the effect of lowering the PES irradiation temperature from room temperature to 11 K is small, indicating a minor role for the reactive species transport. Moreover, the two chosen systems allow the examination of the relative magnitude of intra- and intermolecular transfers. We demonstrate that, under conditions where reactive species are almost frozen, intermolecular transfers are very efficient.