Thermoluminescence measurements of neutron dose around a medical linac

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry Vol. 101; no. 1-4; p. 493
• Main Authors: Barquero, R, Méndez, R, Iñiguez, M P, Vega, H R, Voytchev, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Electrons; Europium; Indicators and Reagents; Lithium; Neutrons; Nuclear Medicine - standards; Particle Accelerators; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Radiotherapy Dosage - standards; Spain; Spectrum Analysis - methods; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry - methods; Spain
• ISSN: 0144-8420
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a006035

The photoncutron ambient dose around a 18 MV medical electron lineal accelerator has been measured with LiF:Mg,Ti chips of 3 x 3 x 1 mm inside moderating spheres. During the measurements a water phantom was irradiated in a field of 40 x 40 cm2. Two methods have been considered for comparison. In the first, a TLD-600/TLD-700 pair at the centre of a 25 cm diameter paraffine sphere was used, with the system behaving as a rem meter. In the second method, TLD-600/TLD-700 pairs, bare and at the centre of 7.6, 12.7, 20.3, 25.4, and 30.5 cm diameter polyethylene Bonner spheres were used to obtain the neutron spectrum. This was unfolded using the BUNKIUT code with the SPUNIT algorithm and the UTA4 and ARKI response functions. The neutron dose was followed by multiplying the unfolded neutron spectrum by the ambient dose equivalent to neutron fluence conversion factors. Both methods result in 0.5 mSv x Gy(-1) m away from the isocentre.