Electron backscattering from low Z thick absorbers

Feasibility of photoelectron sources with sharp lines of stable energy between 20 and 80 keV

Photo-absorption of γ-rays in thin Al, Co, Ti, and Mo convertors was examined with the aim to produce quasi monoenergetic photoelectrons having an energy spread of 0.5-4.7eV about mean kinetic energies at discrete values between 18632 and 80321eV. The photoelectron rates were estimated for commercial photon sources of (241)Am, (119m)Sn, (125m)Te and (109)Cd with activities of 0.55-3.7GBq. Photoelectrons ejected by (241)Am γ- and X-rays from Co convertors were measured with two different electron spectrometers and obtained energy spectra were compared with Monte Carlo predictions.

Dosimetry of 106Ru eye applicators with a p-type silicon detector

Beta emitting 106Ru-applicators are used to treat choroidal melanoma. In order to improve the accuracy and simplify the dosimetry of these applicators, the suitability of using a p-type silicon semiconductor detector has been investigated. The detector is calibrated in a low energy electron beam. An important property of the detector for this application is that the linear scattering power of the epoxy resin that surrounds the silicon crystal is within 1% of that for water, in the energy interval of interest. Furthermore the variation in the mass collision stopping power ratio water to silicon is within 4% in this energy interval. The accuracy of the dose-rate measured with the detector is about 5% for this application.

Samarium-145: a new brachytherapy source

A new radiation source has been produced for brachytherapy, with radiation energies slightly above those of 125I, and a T1/2 of 340 d. This source, 145Sm, is produced by neutron irradiation of 144Sm (96.5% enriched). Decay is by electron capture with 140 K x-rays per 100 disintegrations in the energy region between 38-45 keV, plus 13 gamma-rays at 61 keV. These sources are encapsulated in Ti tubes, approximately 0.8 mm X 4.5 mm, and have been developed for temporary implantation in brain and ocular tumours. The 38-61 keV photons should make such sources easy to shield, while providing a dose distribution from source arrays somewhat more homogeneous than that from 125I. In addition, the 340 d half life of 145Sm permits its use for times significantly longer than that of 60 d 125I. While the 145Sm sources have been designed primarily for implantation in a brain tumour, they should be useful for almost any conventional brachytherapy application.

Modified general cavity theory applied to the calculation of gamma dose in 60Co thermoluminescence dosimetry

Burlin's general cavity theory for intermediate sized cavities incorporated two weighting factors: d, the average reduction in the electron fluence from the medium inside the cavity, and 1 - d, the average fractional build-up to equilibrium of the cavity-generated electron spectrum--both calculated for an average path length g of electrons crossing the cavity. A new weighting factor d' has been introduced expressing the fact that average path length for medium- and cavity-generated electrons are not equal and this leads to a modified general cavity expression. The new expression is applied to 60Co thermoluminescence dosimetry experimental results of other workers. For LiF TLD in all the media agreement with experiment is improved. There is a significant dependence of the theoretical results on the effective mass attenuation coefficient, indicating the need for further studies.