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

在过去的几十年里，在应用创新的物理和化学研究技术来诊断和保护具有文化遗产意义的文物方面做出了大量努力：教科文组织已将这一主题作为其未来计划的优先事项，而且在加拿大和魁北克，开发这一新兴领域的呼声很高(例如，2012年10月19日生效的《文化遗产保护法》)。因此，世界各地的许多团体目前正在探索开发诊断和保护文物的设备的可能性，其中主要挑战是在不造成损害的情况下获得最多的可用信息。最有效和最受青睐的诊断技术是先进的(也是昂贵的)质子诱导X射线和伽马发射(PIXE和PIGE)，它是基于传统质子加速器的使用。由于成本的原因，这项技术的获取非常有限，不幸的是，由于样品的长时间照射(每个探测点长达数十分钟)，这项技术还会对人工制品造成损害。这项提议旨在进行一项与基于激光加速质子的PIXE新技术的开发和商业化有关的市场研究。基于激光的质子加速具有更短的束团长度(通常是源处的ps)、非常高的通量(通常是每束10e13个粒子)和大的粒子能谱(最高可达几MeV)。因此，使用这种新的源可以在诊断技术上有不同的改进：(1)对给定发散的激光驱动质子源的更大体积的艺术品进行完整的化学分析(分析表面为平方厘米的数量级)；(2)更深和更精确的“逐层”分析，通过在非常短的时间尺度内将束流能量从几个MeV调到数十MeV来获得；(3)产生更高的准时剂量(取决于设备，在一次或多次拍摄中获得)；(4)在探测样品时，如果不是更小的话，也会引起类似的损害(由于质子束长度要短得多)。我们坚信，对这项新技术进行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.