UV Camera Ionizing Radiation Beam Position Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the location and monitoring of high-energy ionizing radiation beams are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and do not enable real-time monitoring, making it difficult to ensure accurate targeting and safety in applications like radiation oncology and nuclear power industries.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing UV-sensitive cameras to capture the fluorescence emitted by ionizing radiation interacting with atmospheric nitrogen, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of beam position without direct interaction with the beam, and employing a feedback mechanism to steer the beam accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional dosimeter methods are used to determine beam location, then beam position can be mapped, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive requiring post-experiment manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical dosimeter placement and reading system with an optical imaging system. UV-sensitive cameras capture fluorescence emissions from nitrogen molecules ionized by the radiation beam, converting a manual mechanical measurement process into an automated optical detection process that provides real-time beam position data without physical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fluorescence-emitting nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere as an intermediary medium. These molecules serve as a natural fluorescent tracer that converts invisible ionizing radiation into visible UV light, enabling indirect visualization of the beam path without direct interaction with the radiation itself.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical alignment methods are used to determine beam location, then beam position can be assessed, but real-time monitoring is not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring by capturing fluorescence emissions as they occur during beam operation. The UV-sensitive cameras continuously record the beam position throughout the experiment, enabling dynamic tracking and immediate feedback rather than discrete post-experiment measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where beam position is continuously monitored via fluorescence imaging and this information is used to adjust beam steering in real-time. The system processes imaging data and feeds it back to control mechanisms, enabling adaptive beam positioning during operation.
3Measurement precision
If direct interaction with the ionizing beam is required for detection, then beam position can be measured, but safety risks increase and operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses atmospheric nitrogen molecules as an intermediary that converts invisible ionizing radiation into detectable UV fluorescence. This indirect detection method allows observation of the beam path without placing detectors in the direct path of high-radiation beams, reducing safety risks and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful invisible ionizing radiation into beneficial visible UV light through fluorescence emission. The ionizing beam that poses safety risks is transformed into a visible fluorescent trail that can be safely observed and measured by UV-sensitive cameras, turning a hazard into a diagnostic tool.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time monitoring and control of ionizing radiation beams, eliminating the need for post-experiment dosimeter manipulation and ensuring accurate targeting and safety in various applications by providing a direct and efficient method to detect and assess radiation fields.
Implementation Method 1
Intensely ionizing beams of radiation stimulate the emission of ultra violet (UV) light through the ionization and recombination of naturally occurring isotopes in the atmosphere, including nitrogen and nitrogen-containing compounds. UV light is generated from the prompt-fluorescence decay of nitrogen in the atmosphere following atomic excitation caused by energetic electrons from photons or protons.
Implementation Method 2
Intensely ionizing beams of radiation stimulate the emission of ultra violet (UV) light through the ionization and recombination of naturally occurring isotopes in the atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to capture images of fluorescence generated by ionizing radiation and determine a position of a beam of ionizing radiation generating the fluorescence from the captured images. In one embodiment, the fluorescence is the result of ionization and recombination of nitrogen in air.