Electron and photon beams from a 50 MeV racetrack microtron.
The quality of broad high energy photon and electron beams can be improved considerably by the scanning of elementary narrow beams. Dose distributions produced in this way have advantages with respect to improved dose gradients and therapeutic ranges for electrons and lower surface doses, increased depth doses and half value depths for photons. The possibility of giving the whole therapeutic dose in a single local pulse of short duration is discussed as a new method to protect superficial tissues.
D004583:Electrons; D004601:Elementary Particles; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000295:instrumentation; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation