Proton Irradiation

Led by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), a research team has successfully tested the irradiation of tumors with laser protons for the first time. Credit: HZDR / Juniks / Image Credit: Scitechdaily

Fast protons’ irradiation is a less invasive and more effective cancer treatment than X-rays. Nonetheless, in order to achieve milestones in the modern proton therapy use and overcome the use of large particle accelerators, experts have been investigating alternative accelerator concepts has now successfully tested irradiation with laser protons on animals.

The journal Nature Physics reports a new way of cancer cure to have been discovered by physicists of Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). More effective than the previous well-known and commonly used to treat cancer, X-rays.

This method of treatment is considered to be a breakthrough in anti-cancer scientific research; and it might become the best and leading way to cure such a complex disease. Grouped protons penetrate the tissue and destroy the cancer cells: the method uses a high-power laser to provide short light pulses which are fired at a metallic or a plastic foil. Flushes activity ratio knocks electrons out of the foil. It creates a strong electric field bundling protons into pulses and expediting them into high energies.

Such a world-shattering invention needs laser-based proton accelerators to undertake a full-length process as laser-accelerated proton pulses require to have a tremendous intensity.

Journal Reference:

Kroll, F.-E. Brack, C. Bernert, S. Bock, E. Bodenstein, K. Brüchner, T. Cowan, L. Gaus, R. Gebhardt, U. Helbig, L. Karsch, T. Kluge, S. Kraft, M. Krause, E. Lessmann, U. Masood, S. Meister, J. Metzkes-Ng, A. Nossula, J. Pawelke, J. Pietzsch, T. Püschel, M. Reimold, M. Rehwald, C. Richter, H.-P. Schlenvoigt, U. Schramm, M.E.P. Umlandt, T. Ziegler, K. Zeil, E. Beyreuthe. Tumor irradiation in mice with a laser-accelerated proton beam. Nature Physics, 2022 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-022-01520-3