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- González-Muñoz, Gloria, et al.
(författare)
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Monte Carlo simulation and analysis of proton energy-deposition patterns in the Bragg peak
- 2008
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Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : IOP Publishing. - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 53:11, s. 2857-75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The spatial pattern of energy depositions is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that modify the relative biological effectiveness of different radiation qualities. In this paper, we present data on energy-deposition properties of mono-energetic protons (1-20 MeV) and their secondary electrons in liquid water. Proton-impact ionization was described by means of the Hansen-Kocbach-Stolterfoht doubly differential cross section (DDCS), thus modelling both the initial energy and angle of the emitted electron. Excitation by proton impact was included to account for the contribution of this interaction channel to the electronic stopping power of the projectile. Proton transport was implemented assuming track-segment conditions, whereas electrons were followed down to 50 eV by the Monte Carlo code PENELOPE. Electron intra-track energy-deposition properties, such as slowing-down and energy-imparted spectra of electrons, were calculated. Furthermore, the use of DDCSs enabled the scoring of electron inter-track properties. We present novel results for 1, 5 and 20 MeV single-proton-track frequencies of distances between the nearest inter- (e(-)-e(-), e(-)-H+) and intra-track (e(-)-e(-), e(-)-H+, H+-H+) energy-deposition events. By setting a threshold energy of 17.5 eV, commonly employed as a surrogate to discriminate for elementary damage in the DNA, the variation in these frequencies was studied as well. The energy deposited directly by the proton represents a large amount of the total energy deposited along the track, but when an energy threshold is adopted the relative contribution of the secondary electrons becomes larger for increasing energy of the projectile. We found that the frequencies of closest energy-deposition events per nanometre decrease with proton energy, i.e. for lower proton energies a denser ionization occurs, following the trend of the characteristic LET curves. In conclusion, considering the energy depositions due to the delta electrons and at the core of the track, 1 MeV protons have an intrinsic capability of generating about five times more dual depositions within the characteristic 2 nm of the DNA-chain structure than 20 MeV protons.
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| 2. |
- Górka, Bartosz, 1977-
(författare)
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Development of tissue-equivalent CVD-diamond radiation detectors with small interface effects
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Due to its close tissue-equivalence, high radiation sensitivity, dose and dose-rate linearity, diamond is a very promising detector for radiation therapy applications. The present thesis focuses on the development of a chemical vapour deposited (CVD) diamond detector with special attention on the arrangement of the electrodes and encapsulation having minimal influence on the measured signal. Several prototype detectors were designed by using CVD-diamond substrates with attached silver electrodes.Interface effects in the electrode-diamond-electrode structure are investigated using the Monte Carlo (MC) code PENELOPE. The studies cover a wide range of electrode and diamond thicknesses, electrode materials and photon beam energies. An appreciable enhancement of the absorbed dose to diamond was found for high-Z electrodes. The influence of the electrodes diminishes with decreasing atomic number difference and layer thickness, so that from this point of view thin graphite electrodes would be ideal. The effect of encapsulation, cable and electrical connections on the detector response is also addressed employing MC techniques. For Co-60, 6 and 18 MV photon beam qualities it is shown that the prototypes exhibit energy and directional dependence of about 3% and 2%, respectively. By modifying the geometry and using graphite electrodes the dependencies are reduced to 1%.Although experimental studies disclose some limitations of the prototypes (high leakage current, priming effect and slow signal stabilisation), diamonds of higher quality, suitable for dosimetry, can be produced with better-controlled CVD process. With good crystals and a well-designed encapsulation, the CVD-diamond detector could become competitive for routine dosimetry. It is then important for correct dose determination to use a collision stopping power for diamond incorporating proper mean excitation energy and density-effect corrections. A new mean excitation energy of 88 eV has been calculated.
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