First Prompt Gamma Timing Measurements with Carbon Ions

The Prompt Gamma Timing (PGT) method provides the assessment of particle range by measuring the time of flight between the primary particle and PG detection. This non-invasive and real-time approach is a tool to monitor the therapy’s effectiveness and reduce uncertainties in treatment planning. We report the first PGT results obtained with carbon ion beams at the sub-clinical rate at the CNAO (Pavia, IT). The experimental setup relies on a silicon strip sensor to measure the transit time of the primaries and a detector based on a monolithic LaBr3-crystal coupled to a Silicon PhotoMultiplier matrix. Homogeneous and in-homogeneous phantoms have been irradiated with carbon ion beams of energy equal to $398 \mathrm{MeV} / \mathrm{u}$. The obtained results are promising, and further tests are foreseen to address clinical rates and prove the applicability of this approach to clinics.