title: Systematic evaluation of photodetector performance for plastic scintillation dosimetry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors' objective was to systematically assess the performance of seven photodetectors used in plastic scintillation dosimetry. The authors also propose some guidelines for selecting an appropriate detector for a specific application.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plastic scintillation detector (PSD) consisted of a 1-mm diameter, 10-mm long plastic scintillation fiber (BCF-60), which was optically coupled to a clear 10-m long optical fiber of the same diameter. A light-tight plastic sheath covered both fibers and the scintillator end was sealed. The clear fiber end was connected to one of the following photodetectors: two polychromatic cameras (one with an optical lens and one with a fiber optic taper replacing the lens), a monochromatic camera with an optical lens, a PIN photodiode, an avalanche photodiode (APD), or a photomultiplier tube (PMT). A commercially available W1 PSD was also included in the study, but it relied on its own fiber and scintillator. Each PSD was exposed to both low-energy beams (120, 180, and 220 kVp) from an orthovoltage unit and high-energy beams (6 and 23 MV) from a linear accelerator. Various dose rates were tested to identify the operating range and accuracy of each photodetector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all photodetectors, the relative uncertainty was less than 5% for dose rates higher than 3 mGy/s. The cameras allowed multiple probes to be used simultaneously, but they are less sensitive to low-light signals. The PIN, APD, and PMT had higher sensitivity, making them more suitable for low dose rate and out-of-field dose monitoring. The relative uncertainty of the PMT was less than 1% at the lowest dose rate achieved (0.10 mGy/s), suggesting that it was optimal for use in live dosimetry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For dose rates higher than 3 mGy/s, the PIN diode is the most effective photodetector in terms of performance/cost ratio. For lower dose rates, such as those seen in interventional radiology or high-gradient radiotherapy, PMTs are the optimal choice.
authors.affiliation: Département de Physique, de Génie physique et d'Optique, et Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada and Département de Radio-Oncologie et Axe oncologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHU de Québec, Québec, Québec G1R 2J6, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Physics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beddar
authors.affiliation: Département de Physique, de Génie physique et d'Optique, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada and Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Québec G1V 4G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guillemette
authors.affiliation: Département de Physique, de Génie physique et d'Optique, et Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada and Département de Radio-Oncologie et Axe oncologie du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, CHU de Québec, Québec, Québec G1R 2J6, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010969:Plastics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012588:Scintillation Counting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics