title: An experimental and Monte Carlo investigation of the energy dependence of alanine/EPR dosimetry: II. Clinical electron beams.
abstract: The energy dependence of alanine/EPR dosimetry for 8, 12, 18 and 22 MeV clinical electron beams was investigated by experiment and by Monte Carlo simulations. Alanine pellets in a waterproof holder were irradiated in a water phantom using an Elekta Precise linear accelerator. The dose rates at the reference point were determined following the TG-51 protocol using an NACP-02 parallel-plate chamber calibrated in a (60)Co beam. The EPR spectra of irradiated pellets were measured using a Bruker EMX 081 EPR spectrometer. Experimentally, we found no significant change in alanine/EPR response to absorbed dose-to-water over the energy range 8-22 MeV at an uncertainty level of 0.6%. However, the response for high-energy electrons is about 1.3 (+/-1.1)% lower than for (60)Co. The EGSnrc Monte Carlo system was used to calculate the ratio of absorbed dose-to-alanine to absorbed dose-to-water and it was shown that there is 1.3 (+/-0.2)% reduction in this ratio from the (60)Co beam to the electron beams, which confirms the experimental results. Alanine/EPR response per unit absorbed dose-to-alanine was also investigated and it is the same for high-energy electrons and (60)Co gamma-rays.
authors.affiliation: Ionizing Radiation Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa K1A OR6, Canada. Grace.Zeng@rmp.uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: D W O
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Klassen
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D000409:Alanine