An empirical investigation on radionuclides production in medical linear accelerator treatment room using HPGe detector

Abstract

High energy photons (10-20 MeV) that originate form medical linear accelerator in Radiotherapy treatment room, produce neutron. The produced neutrons id absorbed with different materials in the accelerator, the environment and even patient body that produced radioactive materials. These radioactive materials may pose a risk of radiation exposure to the radiotherapists who go to the treatment room frequently between patients. This process may cause internal radiation exposure in addition to external radiation exposure. In this research after the expose of 18 MV X-Ray by medical accelerator (Varian 2300C/D), the spectrum of accelerator head was collected by portable HPGe detector and 19 radioisotopes were recognized.

Keywords

• portable high purity ge detector
• medical linear accelerator
• radiotherapy
• treatment room
• radiation protection