Showing papers by "Kristoffer Petersson published in 2017"

High dose-per-pulse electron beam dosimetry - A model to correct for the ion recombination in the Advanced Markus ionization chamber.

Abstract: The purpose of this work was to establish an empirical model of the ion recombination in the Advanced Markus ionization chamber for measurements in high dose rate/dose-per-pulse electron beams. In addition, we compared the observed ion recombination to calculations using the standard Boag two-voltage-analysis method, the more general theoretical Boag models, and the semiempirical general equation presented by Burns and McEwen. Two independent methods were used to investigate the ion recombination: (a) Varying the grid tension of the linear accelerator (linac) gun (controls the linac output) and measuring the relative effect the grid tension has on the chamber response at different source-to-surface distances (SSD). (b) Performing simultaneous dose measurements and comparing the dose-response, in beams with varying dose rate/dose-per-pulse, with the chamber together with dose rate/dose-per-pulse independent Gafchromic™ EBT3 film. Three individual Advanced Markus chambers were used for the measurements with both methods. All measurements were performed in electron beams with varying mean dose rate, dose rate within pulse, and dose-per-pulse (10(-2) ≤ mean dose rate ≤ 10(3) Gy/s, 10(2) ≤ mean dose rate within pulse ≤ 10(7) Gy/s, 10(-4) ≤ dose-per-pulse ≤ 10(1) Gy), which was achieved by independently varying the linac gun grid tension, and the SSD. The results demonstrate how the ion collection efficiency of the chamber decreased as the dose-per-pulse increased, and that the ion recombination was dependent on the dose-per-pulse rather than the dose rate, a behavior predicted by Boag theory. The general theoretical Boag models agreed well with the data over the entire investigated dose-per-pulse range, but only for a low polarizing chamber voltage (50 V). However, the two-voltage-analysis method and the Burns & McEwen equation only agreed with the data at low dose-per-pulse values (≤ 10(-2) and ≤ 10(-1) Gy, respectively). An empirical model of the ion recombination in the chamber was found by fitting a logistic function to the data. The ion collection efficiency of the Advanced Markus ionization chamber decreases for measurements in electron beams with increasingly higher dose-per-pulse. However, this chamber is still functional for dose measurements in beams with dose-per-pulse values up toward and above 10 Gy, if the ion recombination is taken into account. Our results show that existing models give a less-than-accurate description of the observed ion recombination. This motivates the use of the presented empirical model for measurements with the Advanced Markus chamber in high dose-per-pulse electron beams, as it enables accurate absorbed dose measurements (uncertainty estimation: 2.8-4.0%, k = 1). The model depends on the dose-per-pulse in the beam, and it is also influenced by the polarizing chamber voltage, with increasing ion recombination with a lowering of the voltage.

High dose-per-pulse electron beam dosimetry: Usability and dose-rate independence of EBT3 Gafchromic films.

Abstract: Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of Gafchromic EBT3 films for reference dose measurements in the beam of a prototype high dose-per-pulse linear accelerator (linac), capable of delivering electron beams with a mean dose-rate (Ḋm) ranging from 0.07 to 3000 Gy/s and a dose-rate in pulse (Ḋp) of up to 8·106 Gy/s. To do this, we evaluated the overall uncertainties in EBT3 film dosimetry as well as the energy and dose-rate dependence of their response. Material and Methods Our dosimetric system was composed of EBT3 Gafchromic films in combination with a flatbed scanner and was calibrated against an ionization chamber traceable to primary standard. All sources of uncertainties in EBT3 dosimetry were carefully analyzed using irradiations at a clinical radiotherapy linac. Energy dependence was investigated with the same machine by acquiring and comparing calibration curves for three different beam energies (4, 8 and 12 MeV), for doses between 0.25 and 30 Gy. Ḋm dependence was studied at the clinical linac by changing the pulse repetition frequency (f) of the beam in order to vary Ḋm between 0.55 and 4.40 Gy/min, while Ḋp dependence was probed at the prototype machine for Ḋp ranging from 7·103 to 8·106 Gy/s. Ḋp dependence was first determined by studying the correlation between the dose measured by films and the charge of electrons measured at the exit of the machine by an induction torus. Furthermore, we compared doses from the films to independently calibrated thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLD) that have been reported as being dose-rate independent up to such high dose-rates. Results We report that uncertainty below 4% (k=2) can be achieved in the dose range between 3 and 17 Gy. Results also demonstrated that EBT3 films did not display any detectable energy dependence for electron beam energies between 4 and 12 MeV. No Ḋm dependence was found either. In addition, we obtained excellent consistency between films and TLDs over the entire Ḋp range attainable at the prototype linac confirming the absence of any dose-rate dependence within the investigated range (7·103 to 8·106 Gy/s). This aspect was further corroborated by the linear relationship between the dose per pulse (Dp) measured by films and the charge per pulse (Cp) measured at the prototype linac exit. Conclusion Our study shows that the use of EBT3 Gafchromic films can be extended to reference dosimetry in pulsed electron beams with a very high dose-rate. The measurement results are associated with an overall uncertainty below 4% (k=2) and are dose-rate and energy independent. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the treatment plan evaluation process in radiotherapy through eye tracking.

Abstract: Background and purpose Treatment plan evaluation is a clinical decision-making problem that involves visual search and analysis in a contextually rich environment, including delineated structures and isodose lines superposed on CT data. It is a two-step process that includes visual analysis and clinical reasoning. In this work, we used eye tracking methods to gain more knowledge about the treatment plan evaluation process in radiation therapy. Materials and methods Dose distributions on a single transverse slice of ten prostate cancer treatment plans were presented to eight decision makers. Their eye movements and fixations were recorded with an EyeLink1000 remote eye-tracker. Total evaluation time, dwell time, number and duration of fixations on pre-segmented areas of interest were measured. Results The main structures receiving more and longer fixations (PTV, rectum, bladder) correspond to the main trade-offs evaluated in a typical prostate plan. Radiation oncologists made more fixations on the main structures compared to the medical physicists. Radiation oncologists fixated longer on the rectum when visited for the first time, while medical physicists fixated longer on the bladder. Conclusion Our results quantify differences in the visual evaluation patterns between radiation oncologists and medical physicists, which indicate differences in their decision making strategies.