A novel method to assess the incident angle and the LET of protons using a compact single-layer Timepix detector

This study presents a method to evaluate the incident angle and linear energy transfer (LET) of protons using a compact single-layer hybrid pixel detector—Timepix. The study explores correlations between the track shape and the proton incidence angle for varying proton energies (89 MeV and 226.7 MeV) and angles (0° to 75°). Monte Carlo simulations using TOPAS were used to validate the experimental results. The detector, equipped with a 300 μm thick silicon sensor, was irradiated with a mono-energetic proton beam and the resulting cluster shapes analyzed to extract information about incident angles and LET values. A statistical model based on cluster elongation and deposited energy allowed for effective classification and angle estimation. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of using a single-layer Timepix device for angular and LET characterization in proton fields, which could support particle therapy quality assurance and beam monitoring applications.

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