Title :
Neutron activation processes simulation in an Elekta medical linear accelerator head
Author :
Juste, B. ; Miro, R. ; Verdu, G. ; Diez, S. ; Campayo, J.M.
Author_Institution :
Inst. for Ind., Radiophys. & Environ. Safety (ISIRYM), Polytech. Univ. of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Abstract :
Monte Carlo estimation of the giant-dipole-resonance (GRN) photoneutrons inside the Elekta Precise LINAC head (emitting a 15 MV photon beam) were performed using the MCNP6 (general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle code, version 6). Each component of LINAC head geometry and materials were modelled in detail using the given manufacturer information. Primary photons generate photoneutrons and its transport across the treatment head was simulated, including the (n, γ) reactions which undergo activation products. The MCNP6 was used to develop a method for quantifying the activation of accelerator components. The approach described in this paper is useful in quantifying the origin and the amount of nuclear activation.
Keywords :
Monte Carlo methods; biomedical equipment; giant resonances; linear accelerators; neutron-nucleus reactions; radiation therapy; (n, γ) reactions; Elekta Precise LINAC head; Elekta medical linear accelerator head; GRN; LINAC head geometry; MCNP6; Monte Carlo estimation; accelerator component activation; activation products; general-purpose Monte Carlo N-Particle code version 6; giant-dipole-resonance photoneutrons; manufacturer information; neutron activation processes simulation; nuclear activation; photon beam; primary photons; treatment head; voltage 15 MV; Head; Isotopes; Linear particle accelerator; Materials; Monte Carlo methods; Neutrons; Photonics;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2014 36th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Chicago, IL
DOI :
10.1109/EMBC.2014.6944260