title: A graphite calorimeter for absolute measurements of absorbed dose to water: application in medium-energy x-ray filtered beams.
abstract: The Italian National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology (ENEA-INMRI) has designed and built a graphite calorimeter that, in a water phantom, has allowed the determination of the absorbed dose to water in medium-energy x-rays with generating voltages from 180 to 250 kV. The new standard is a miniaturized three-bodies calorimeter, with a disc-shaped core of 21 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness weighing 1.134 g, sealed in a PMMA waterproof envelope with air-evacuated gaps. The measured absorbed dose to graphite is converted into absorbed dose to water by means of an energy-dependent conversion factor obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. Heat-transfer correction factors were determined by FEM calculations. At a source-to-detector distance of 100 cm, a depth in water of 2 g cm(-2), and at a dose rate of about 0.15 Gy min(-1), results of calorimetric measurements of absorbed dose to water, D(w), were compared to experimental determinations, D wK, obtained via an ionization chamber calibrated in terms of air kerma, according to established dosimetry protocols. The combined standard uncertainty of D(w) and D(wK) were estimated as 1.9% and 1.7%, respectively. The two absorbed dose to water determinations were in agreement within 1%, well below the stated measurement uncertainties. Advancements are in progress to extend the measurement capability of the new in-water-phantom graphite calorimeter to other filtered medium-energy x-ray qualities and to reduce the D(w) uncertainty to around 1%. The new calorimeter represents the first implementation of in-water-phantom graphite calorimetry in the kilovoltage range and, allowing independent determinations of D(w), it will contribute to establish a robust system of absorbed dose to water primary standards for medium-energy x-ray beams.
authors: Istituto Nazionale di Metrologia delle Radiazioni Ionizzanti, Centro Ricerche ENEA Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Santa Maria di Galeria, Roma, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pinto
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pimpinella
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Quini
authors: M
authors: M
authors: D'Arienzo
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Astefanoaei
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Loreti
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Guerra
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation; D002138:Calibration; D002151:Calorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D006108:Graphite / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite