title: Dosimetry of very high energy electrons (VHEE) for radiotherapy applications: using radiochromic film measurements and Monte Carlo simulations.
abstract: Very high energy electrons (VHEE) in the range from 100-250 MeV have the potential of becoming an alternative modality in radiotherapy because of their improved dosimetry properties compared with MV photons from contemporary medical linear accelerators. Due to the need for accurate dosimetry of small field size VHEE beams we have performed dose measurements using EBT2 Gafchromic® film. Calibration of the film has been carried out for beams of two different energy ranges: 20 MeV and 165 MeV from conventional radio frequency linear accelerators. In addition, EBT2 film has been used for dose measurements with 135 MeV electron beams produced by a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator. The dose response measurements and percentage depth dose profiles have been compared with calculations carried out using the general-purpose FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport code. The impact of induced radioactivity on film response for VHEEs has been evaluated using the MC simulations. A neutron yield of the order of 10(-5) neutrons cm(-2) per incident electron has been estimated and induced activity due to radionuclide production is found to have a negligible effect on total dose deposition and film response. Neutron and proton contribution to the equivalent doses are negligible for VHEE. The study demonstrates that EBT2 Gafchromic film is a reliable dosimeter that can be used for dosimetry of VHEE. The results indicate an energy-independent response of the dosimeter for 20 MeV and 165 MeV electron beams and has been found to be suitable for dosimetry of VHEE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Subiel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moskvin
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cipiccia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reboredo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DesRosiers
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Anania
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cianchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mostacci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiadroni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Giovenale
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belleveglia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pirro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaccarezza
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ersfeld
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mendonca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaroszynski
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004583:Electrons; D005373:Film Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D017785:Photons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011522:Protons; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D011522:Protons