Application of a Pencil Ionization Chamber (0.34 cm(3) Volume) for Co-60 Beams: Experimental and Monte Carlo Results

作者：Neves Lucio P^*; Perini Ana P; Fernandez Varea Jose M; Caldas Linda V E

来源：IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2013, 60(2): 746-750.

DOI：10.1109/TNS.2012.2229294

• Co-60 beams dosimetry
• ionization chamber
• Monte Carlo simulation
• radiotherapy

Ionization chambers are the most utilized dosimeters for precise measurements of absorbed dose, as required e. g., in radiotherapy. The most common type, for this application, is the Farmer type with a wall made of PMMA and/or graphite. With the aim to test new materials and configurations of ionization chambers, using low-cost and easily-available components, this work presents the study of a device developed at the Calibration Laboratory of IPEN (Sao Paulo). This dosimeter is a pencil-type cylindrical ionization chamber, with a wall of PVC coated with graphite, for routine use in Co-60 beams. Following international recommendations, several characterization tests were conducted, and all achieved results were found to fulfill those recommendations. The influence of the chamber components on its response was also studied using the PENELOPE Monte Carlo code. According to the obtained results, this prototype presents potential usefulness for routine dosimetric procedures in radiotherapy.

• 出版日期2013-4