• therapy
• proton
• particle
• fragmentation
• charged
• tumour

The aim of this thesis is the development and the characterization of dE/dx-TOF detector prototype, investigating critical parameters, such as the efficiency of the light collection and saturation effect. Specifically, the performances have been assessed in terms of time and energy resolutions. SiPMs from two different producers have been tested, coupled on both sides of 20 mm x 3 mm x 400 mm plastic scintillator bars. Therefore, two kinds of dE/dx-TOF detector prototype have been built. The experiment has been performed at Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO) in Pavia with proton beams in the range [60, 220] MeV and carbon ion beams in the range [115, 400] MeV/u. Time resolutions of the two prototypes are similar (at the level of ps), concerning energy resolution, one prototype showed an energy resolution better than the other (4-6%, 7-13%). The prototype with the best performances has been used to identify the fragments produced in a target by a 12C beam.