Production and dosimetric evaluation of an ion beam at the Aurora facility

A large fluence of ions (protons) was produced by using a single arm of the Aurora electron accelerator in a reversed polarity from its typical operation (405 MeV, 8 k Joules). A spatially and temporally homogeneous proton current density was produced over more than 300 cm/sup 2/. Electrons emitted from a tubular cathode impinged on a 2 mm polyethylene foil producing the protons, whose depth-dose deposition could be controlled by the A-K spacing. A variety of measurement techniques: (1) electromagnetic; (2) radiachromic-depth-dose; (3) diamond PCD; (4) calorimetric; and (5) proton time-of-flight were used to verify these results. These techniques are described and the results discussed and compared.