title: Solid state microdosimetry.
abstract: A review of solid state microdosimetry is presented with an emphasis on silicon-based devices. The historical foundations and basics of microdosimetry are briefly provided. Various methods of experimental regional microdosimetry are discussed to facilitate a comparison with the more recent development of silicon microdosimetry. In particular, the performance characteristics of a proportional gas counter and a silicon microdosimeter are compared. Recent improvements in silicon microdosimetry address the issues of requirement specification, non-spherical shape, tissue equivalence, sensitive volume definition (charge collection complexity) and low noise requirements which have previously impeded the implementation of silicon-based microdosimetry. A prototype based on silicon-on-insulator technology is described along with some example results from clinical high LET radiotherapy facilities. A brief summary of the applications of microdosimetry is included.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaider
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection; D011874:Radiometry; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012666:Semiconductors; D012825:Silicon; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon