Laser-driven proton induced x-ray emission for enhanced cultural heritage preservation (Market Study)

在过去的几十年里，人们在应用创新的物理学和化学研究技术来诊断和保护文化遗产感兴趣的对象方面付出了巨大的努力：联合国教科文组织已将这一主题作为其未来计划的优先事项，加拿大和魁北克也强烈要求发展这一新兴领域（例如，2012年10月19日关于保护文化遗产的法律）。因此，世界各地的许多团体目前正在探索开发用于文物诊断和保护的设备的可能性，其中的主要挑战是在不造成损害的情况下获得最多的可用信息。最有效和最受欢迎的诊断技术是复杂的（和昂贵的）质子诱导X射线和伽马发射（PIXE和PIGE），这是基于使用传统的质子加速器。除了由于其成本而非常有限的访问之外，不幸的是，该技术由于对样品的长时间照射（每个探测点长达数十分钟）而引起对工件的损坏。该提案旨在对基于激光加速质子的新PIXE技术的开发和商业化进行市场研究。基于激光的质子加速具有以下优点：具有短得多的聚束长度（通常在源处为ps）、非常高的通量（通常每聚束10 e13粒子）和大的粒子能谱（范围高达几MeV）。因此，使用这种新的源允许在诊断技术中的不同改进：（1）给定发散激光驱动质子源，对更大体积的艺术品进行完整的化学分析（2）更深和更精确的“逐层”分析，可通过在非常短的时间尺度内将束能量从几MeV调整到几十MeV来获得;（3）并产生更高的准时剂量（取决于设备，在一次或多次发射中获得）;（4）在探测样品时引起类似的（如果不是更少的话）损伤（由于短得多的质子束长度）。我们坚信，对这项新技术的市场研究是非常及时的，将有助于了解加拿大利益相关者的创新潜力。

In the last few decades, a large effort has been put into applying innovative Physics and Chemistry research techniques for diagnostic and conservation of objects of interest for Cultural Heritage: The UNESCO has put this topic as a priority in its future programs and also in Canada and Quebec there is a strong claim to develop this emerging field (e.g. law on the preservation of Cultural Heritage from 19 October 2012). As such, many groups worldwide are currently exploring the possibility of developing equipment for the diagnostic and conservation of artifacts where the main challenge is to obtain the most information available without creating damage. The most efficient and favored diagnostic technique is the sophisticated (and expensive) Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma Emission (PIXE and PIGE), which is based on the use of a conventional proton accelerator. Besides being of very limited access due to its costs, unfortunately this technology provokes damage to the artifact due to the long irradiation of the sample (up to tens of minutes per probing point). This proposal aims at performing a market study related to development and commercialization of a new PIXE technique based on laser-accelerated protons. Laser-based proton acceleration has the advantage of having a much shorter bunch length (typically it is ps at the source), a very high flux (typically 10e13 particles per bunch) and a large particle energy spectrum (ranging up to a few MeV). As such, using this novel source allows for different improvements in the diagnostic technique: (1) a complete chemical analysis on a larger volume of the artworks given the divergent laser-driven proton source (analyzed surface in the order of cm2); (2) a deeper and more precise "layer by layer" analysis, obtainable by tuning the beam energy from few MeV to tens of MeV within a very short timescale; (3) and produces a higher punctual dose (depending on the facility, obtained in one or more shots); (4) provokes a similar if not less damage when probing the sample (due to the much shorter proton bunch length). We strongly believe that a market study for this new technology is extremely timely and will contribute to understand the innovation potential for the Canadian stakeholders.