title: Optical images of dose distributions in Gel-Fricke: dosimetric performances of the gel.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to examine the dosimetric performances of the radiochromic Fricke-Agarose-Xylenol Orange gel by optical measurements in order to perform dose reconstructions, in view of a future development for 3-D maps. Optical images and dose-response curves of the gel were obtained by a CCD-based device, originally designed for reading radiochromic films, that was modified to meet the optical properties of the dosemeter. With a resolution of 0.18 x 0.18 mm the optimum range of doses in which per cent uncertainty is lower than 2% was 3-10 Gy. The minimum detectable dose, estimated as the absorbed dose corresponding to 3 SD above background, was 0.1 Gy. With a resolution of 1.98 x 1.98 mm the optimum range of doses in which per cent uncertainty is lower than 2% was 0.3-10 Gy. The minimum detectable dose, estimated as the absorbed dose corresponding to 3 SD above background, was 0.015 Gy. The comparison with alanine dosemeters in the dose range 7-10 Gy showed agreement within a few per cent and the same agreement was observed for the comparison with TLD in the range 1-3 Gy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology and Health and INFN Sanità Group, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adorante
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ranghiasci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guidoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viti
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008904:Miniaturization; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005782:Gels