Neutron dosimetry with a pair of TLDs for the Elekta Precise medical linac and the evaluation of optimum moderator thickness for the conversion of fast to thermal neutrons

Marziyeh Behmadi; Sara Mohammadi; Mohammad Ehsan Ravari; Aghil Mohammadi; Mahdy Ebrahimi Loushab; Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi; Mitra Ghergherehchi

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Feb 2024)

Neutron dosimetry with a pair of TLDs for the Elekta Precise medical linac and the evaluation of optimum moderator thickness for the conversion of fast to thermal neutrons

Marziyeh Behmadi,
Sara Mohammadi,
Mohammad Ehsan Ravari,
Aghil Mohammadi,
Mahdy Ebrahimi Loushab,
Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi,
Mitra Ghergherehchi

Affiliations

Marziyeh Behmadi: Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
Sara Mohammadi: Medical Physics Department, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Mohammad Ehsan Ravari: Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
Aghil Mohammadi: Energy Engineering and Physics Department, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Mahdy Ebrahimi Loushab: Department of Physics, Faculty of Shahid Rajaee, Quchan Branch, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Quchan, Iran
Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi: Medical Physics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Corresponding author. Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mitra Ghergherehchi: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 56, no. 2
pp. 753 – 761

Abstract

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Introduction: In this study, TLD 600 and TLD 700 pairs were used to measure the neutron dose of Elekta Precise medical linac. To this end, the optimum moderate thickness for the conversion of fast to thermal neutrons were evaluated. Materials and methods: 241Am-Be and 252Cf sources were simulated to calculate the optimum thicknesses of the moderator for the conversion of maximum fast neutrons (FN) into thermal neutrons (TN). Pair TLDs were used to measure F&TN doses for three different field sizes at four depths of the medical linac. Results: The maximum thickness of the moderator was optimized at 6 cm. The measurement results demonstrated that the TN dose increased with the expansion of field size and depth. The FN dose, which was converted TN, exhibits behaviors comparable to the TN due to its nature. Conclusion: This study presents the optimum thickness for the moderator to convert FN into TN and measure F&TN using TLDs.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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