1064†nm InGaAs metamorphic laser power converts with over 44% efficiency.

InGaAs metamorphic laser power converters (LPCs) have the potential to deliver electrical energy over distances of several kilometers. In this study, metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was used to grow InGaAs-based LPCs with an absorption wavelength of 1064 nm. At step thicknesses of 2800 nm, overshoot thicknesses of 6000 nm, reverse component and thicknesses of 2.4% and 700 nm, respectively, a surface roughness of 6.0 nm and InGaAs (24%) lattice relaxation of 93.7% of the InGaAs metamorphic buffer were obtained. The I-V characteristics of LPCs with 10 × 10 mm2 apertures were investigated as a function of laser power and temperature. The maximum conversion efficiency of 44.1% and 550 hours of continuous stable operation at 4 W were demonstrated. Under 1064 nm laser illumination of 4 W, the temperature coefficients for the conversion efficiency and open-circuit voltage were -0.1%abs/°C and -1.6 mV/°C, respectively, and the LPC output power fluctuation was less than 0.5% during 216 hours of continuous temperature change from 20 to 100°C.

High-performance laser power converts for direct-energy applications.

Six-junction GaAs laser power converts (LPCs) were designed and fabricated. Each subcell is vertically connected by p++-AlGaAs: C/n++-AlGaAs: Si: Te (1:2) tunnel junction with good thermal stability and a record peak tunneling current density of 1867 A/cm2. The I-V characteristics of LPCs with an aperture of 10×10 mm2 were investigated as a function of laser power and temperature. Maximum conversion efficiency and output power of 57.7% and 15.4 W, respectively, and a continuous stable operation at 22.9 W for over 550 hours were demonstrated. The temperature coefficient of conversion efficiency and open-circuit voltage were -0.197%abs/°C and -8.15 mV/°C, respectively, under 808 nm laser illumination of 21.0 W. Furthermore, an array of 100 large-scale (41×46 mm2) LPCs with an output power of 179 W under 1 kW laser irradiation at 20 m wireless transmission was developed.

An updated network meta-analysis of EGFR-TKIs and combination therapy in the first-line treatment of advanced EGFR mutation positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a standard care option in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. TKI-based combination treatment modes show encouraging outcomes. However, it remains unknown which is the optimal treatment as the first-line regimen for these patients on overall survival (OS). Materials and methods: Randomized controlled trials and meeting abstracts that investigated EGFR-TKIs alone or in combination as front-line care for patients with NSCLC were systematically searched in relevant databases and reviewed. Fixed and random effects network meta-analysis models were used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS), OS, overall response rate, and grade three and higher adverse events (AEs). Surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRAs) were used to rank treatment effects. Results: Eighteen studies covering six treatments and involving a total of 4389 patients were included in this network meta-analysis. On OS, the top three treatment were first-generation EGFR-TKIs (1G EGFR-TKIs) plus chemotherapy (SUCRA, 88.1%), osimertinib (SUCRA, 65.8%) and second-generation EGFR-TKIs (2GEGFR-TKIs) (SUCRA, 63.3%). On PFS, the top three treatments were osimertinib (SUCRA, 96.0%), 1G EGFR-TKIs plus chemotherapy (SUCRA, 67.1%), and 1G EGFR-TKIs plus antiangiogenesis (SUCRA, 48.2%). Two types of TKI-based combination therapy have significantly higher risk of grade three and higher AEs than TKI alone. Conclusion: 1G EGFR-TKIs plus chemotherapy and osimertinib seem to be the two better options as first-line care in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR-mutation. Osimertinib caused the lowest incidence of AEs. However, TKIs-based combination therapy significantly increased AEs.

Validation and testing of a novel pencil-beam model derived from Monte Carlo simulations in carbon-ion treatment planning for different scenarios.

PURPOSE: The calculation ability of the newly-proposed accurate beam model, the double Gaussian-logistic (DG-L) model, was validated in both homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms to provide helpful information for its future application in clinical carbon-ion treatment planning system (TPS). METHODS: MatRad was used as the new algorithm test platform. Based on Monte Carlo (MC) method, the basic database in matRad was generated, then comparative dosimetric analyses between the single Gaussian (SG), double Gaussian (DG) and DG-L models against the MC recalculations were performed on the treatment plans of a cubic water phantom, a TG119 phantom and a liver patient scenario. Absolute dose differences, dose-volume histograms (DVHs) and global γ-index analyses derived from the treatment plans were evaluated. RESULTS: Calculated with the DG-L model, the deviations of the target dose coverage (D95) for the cubic water phantom, the TG119 phantom and the liver patient case against the MC recalculations could be reduced from -2.5%, -4.6% and -6.4% to -0.3%, -2.0% and -4.5% respectively compared to the SG model, while the γ pass rates (3%/3mm) could be enhanced from 98.0%, 90.6% and 90.1% to 99.8%, 95.7% and 91.6%, respectively. The novel beam model also shows improved performance compared with the DG model, without substantially increasing the computation time. CONCLUSIONS: The DG-L model could effectively improve the dose calculation accuracy and mitigate the delivered dose deficiency in target volumes compared to the SG and DG models. The lateral heterogeneities should be considered for its future implementation in a clinical TPS.