Design and Characterization of a Wideband Polyvinylidene Fluoride Ultrasound Sensor for Ionoacoustic based Particle Therapy Monitoring

Accurate localization of the Bragg peak is critical in proton therapy to ensure precise dose delivery to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Ionoacoustics is an emerging technique that exploits the acoustic signature of particle beams to make accurate range and dosimetric measurements. This work presents the modeling, design and experimental characterization of an ionoacoustic ultrasound sensor for Bragg peak localization in proton therapy. The study focuses on enhancing sensor performance through finite element method (FEM) simulations, analyzing both frequency response and time-domain behavior to optimize sensitivity and signal detection. Simulation results are validated on experimental acoustic test bench to assess the sensor’s response under controlled conditions. The combination of FEM modeling and experimental verification provides insights into improving sensor design for real-time, high-precision proton range verification.