title: Beam properties and stability of a flattening-filter free 7 MV beam-an overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several works have recently focused on flattening-filter-free (FFF) beams of linear accelerators of various companies (in particular, Varian and Elekta), but no overview as yet exists for the flattening-filter free 7XU beam (Siemens Artiste).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dosimetric properties of the 7XU beam were measured in May and September 2011. We present depth dose curves and beam profiles, output factors, and MLC transmission and assess the stability of the measurements. The 7XU beam was commissioned in the Pinnacle[superscript three] treatment planning system (TPS), and modeling results including the spectrum are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percent depth dose curve of the 7XU beam is similar to the flat 6X beam line, with a slightly smaller surface dose. The beam profiles show the characteristic shape of flattening-filter free beams, with deviations between measurements of generally less than 1%. The output factors of the 7XU beam decrease more slowly than for the 6X beam. The MLC transmission is comparable but slightly less for the 7XU beam. The 7XU beam can be adequately modeled by the Pinnacle[superscript three] TPS, with successful dosimetric verification. The spectrum of the 7XU beam has lower photon fluence up to approximately 2.5 MeV and higher fluence beyond, with a slightly higher mean energy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 7XU beam has been commissioned for clinical use after successful modeling, stability checks, and dosimetric verification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland, Germany. yvonne.dzierma@uks.eu
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dzierma
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nuesken
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruebe
mesh_terms: D010315:Particle Accelerators; D017785:Photons