Monte Carlo calculation of beam quality correction factors in proton beams using PENH.

Monte Carlo calculation of beam quality correction factors in proton beams using PENH.
Phys Med Biol. 2019 Aug 15;:
Authors: Gomà C, Sterpin E
Abstract
This work calculates beam quality correction factors (<i>k<sub>Q</sub></i>) in both modulated and unmodulated proton beams using the Monte Carlo code PENH. The latest ICRU 90 recommendations on key data for ionizing-radiation dosimetry were adopted to calculate the electronic stopping powers and to select the mean energy to create an ion pair in dry air (<i>W</i><sub>air</sub>). For modulated proton beams, <i>k<sub>Q</sub></i> factors were calculated in the middle of a spread-out Bragg peak, while for monoenergetic proton beams they were calculated at the entrance region. Fifteen ionization chambers were simulated. The <i>k<sub>Q</sub></i> factors calculated in this work were found to agree within 0.8% or better with the experimental data reported in the literature. For some ionization chambers, the simulation of proton nuclear interactions were found to have an effect on the <i>k<sub>Q&...

Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology - August 14, 2019 Category: Physics Authors: Gomà C, Sterpin E Tags: Phys Med Biol Source Type: research