title: Spektr: a computational tool for x-ray spectral analysis and imaging system optimization.
abstract: A set of computational tools are presented that allow convenient calculation of x-ray spectra, selection of elemental and compound filters, and calculation of beam quality characteristics, such as half-value layer, mR/mAs, and fluence per unit exposure. The TASMIP model of Boone and Seibert is adapted to a library of high-level language (Matlab) functions and shown to agree with experimental measurements across a wide range of kVp and beam filtration. Modeling of beam filtration is facilitated by a convenient, extensible database of mass and mass-energy attenuation coefficients compiled from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The functions and database were integrated in a graphical user interface and made available online at http:// www.aip.org/epaps/epaps.html. The functionality of the toolset and potential for investigation of imaging system optimization was illustrated in theoretical calculations of imaging performance across a broad range of kVp, filter material type, and filter thickness for direct and indirect-detection flat-panel imagers. The calculations reveal a number of nontrivial effects in the energy response of such detectors that may not have been guessed from simple K-edge filter techniques, and point to a variety of compelling hypotheses regarding choice of beam filtration that warrant future investigation.
authors.affiliation: Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada. jsiewerd@uhnres.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Siewerdsen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Waese
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaffray
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface