Electron beam detection in radiotherapy using a capacitor dosimeter equipped with a silicon photodiode

Med Biol Eng Comput. 2023 Aug;61(8):2197-2205. doi: 10.1007/s11517-023-02870-7. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Abstract

In this study, a newly developed capacitor dosimeter was evaluated using electron beams commonly utilized in radiotherapy. The capacitor dosimeter comprised a silicon photodiode, 0.47-μF capacitor, and dedicated terminal (dock). Before electron beam irradiation, the dosimeter was charged using the dock. The doses were measured without using a cable by reducing the charging voltages using the currents from the photodiode during irradiation. A commercially available parallel-plane-type ionization chamber and solid-water phantom were used for dose calibration with an electron energy of 6 MeV. In addition, the depth doses were measured using a solid-water phantom at electron energies of 6, 9, and 12 MeV. The doses were proportional to the discharging voltages, and the maximum dose difference in the calibrated doses measured using a two-point calibration was approximately 5% in the range of 0.25-1.98 Gy. The depth dependencies at energies of 6, 9, and 12 MeV corresponded to those measured using the ionization chamber.

Keywords: Capacitor dosimeter; Electron radiotherapy; Photodiode; Silicon; Surface dose.

MeSH terms

  • Electrons*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Radiation Dosimeters
  • Radiometry
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Silicon*
  • Water

Substances

  • Silicon
  • Water