Monte Carlo simulation and experimental evaluation of photoneutron spectra produced in medical linear accelerators

Author

Ongaro, C. ; Rodenas, J. ; Leon, A. ; Perez, J. ; Zanini, A. ; Burn, K.

Volume

4

fYear

1999

fDate

1999

Firstpage

2531

Abstract

Linear accelerators for the cancer radiotherapy generally make use of high-energy photon beam. If the photon energy is greater than 6-7 MeV, neutrons are generated by a photonuclear reaction in the accelerator head. The neutron spectrum and yield at the patient plane must be known in order to optimize the treatment and limit secondary malignancies. The spectrum of neutrons generated by the (γ,n) reaction in the SL20I ELEKTA multileaf accelerator has been obtained at the patient plane with a Monte Carlo simulation. The calculated spectrum has been checked out against experimental measurements performed, in different positions at the patient plane, with a passive bubble spectrometer

Keywords

Monte Carlo methods; linear accelerators; neutron spectra; radiation protection; radiation therapy; Monte Carlo simulation; SL20I ELEKTA multileaf accelerator; cancer radiotherapy; medical linear accelerators; patient plane; photoneutron spectra; Cancer; Iron; Linear accelerators; Medical treatment; Monte Carlo methods; Neutrons; Optical collimators; Particle beams; Solid modeling; Spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Particle Accelerator Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the 1999

Conference_Location

New York, NY

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5573-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PAC.1999.792756

Filename

792756