PENELOPE: An algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of the penetration and energy loss of electrons and positrons in matter
01 May 1995-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms (North-Holland)-Vol. 100, Iss: 1, pp 31-46
TL;DR: In this paper, a mixed algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of relativistic electron and positron transport in matter is described, where cross sections for the different interaction mechanisms are approximated by expressions that permit the generation of random tracks by using purely analytical methods.
Abstract: A mixed algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of relativistic electron and positron transport in matter is described. Cross sections for the different interaction mechanisms are approximated by expressions that permit the generation of random tracks by using purely analytical methods. Hard elastic collisions, with scattering angle greater than a preselected cutoff value, and hard inelastic collisions and radiative events, with energy loss larger than given cutoff values, are simulated in detail. Soft interactions, with scattering angle or energy loss less than the corresponding cutoffs, are simulated by means of multiple scattering approaches. This algorithm handles lateral displacements correctly and completely avoids difficulties related with interface crossing. The simulation is shown to be stable under variations of the adopted cutoffs; these can be made quite large, thus speeding up the simulation considerably, without altering the results. The reliability of the algorithm is demonstrated through a comparison of simulation results with experimental data. Good agreement is found for electrons and positrons with kinetic energies down to a few keV.
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University of Manchester1, KEK2, CERN3, Imperial College London4, University of Cantabria5, Stanford University6, Northeastern University7, TRIUMF8, Helsinki Institute of Physics9, Kobe University10, Spanish National Research Council11, Karolinska Institutet12, Qinetiq13, Naruto University of Education14, European Space Agency15, Ritsumeikan University16, University of California, Santa Cruz17
TL;DR: GeGeant4 as mentioned in this paper is a software toolkit for the simulation of the passage of particles through matter, it is used by a large number of experiments and projects in a variety of application domains, including high energy physics, astrophysics and space science, medical physics and radiation protection.
Abstract: Geant4 is a software toolkit for the simulation of the passage of particles through matter. It is used by a large number of experiments and projects in a variety of application domains, including high energy physics, astrophysics and space science, medical physics and radiation protection. Its functionality and modeling capabilities continue to be extended, while its performance is enhanced. An overview of recent developments in diverse areas of the toolkit is presented. These include performance optimization for complex setups; improvements for the propagation in fields; new options for event biasing; and additions and improvements in geometry, physics processes and interactive capabilities
6,063 citations
Cites methods from "PENELOPE: An algorithm for Monte Ca..."
...This functionality allows a user, for example, to undertake precise tracking for all muons, or for any tracks with energy above a given threshold, while tracking electrons in a calorimeter more coarsely....
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01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: The PENELOPE as mentioned in this paper computer code system performs Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport in arbitrary materials for a wide energy range, from a few hundred eV to about 1 GeV.
Abstract: The computer code system PENELOPE (version 2008) performs Monte Carlo simulation of coupled
electron-photon transport in arbitrary materials for a wide energy range, from a few hundred eV to
about 1 GeV. Photon transport is simulated by means of the standard, detailed simulation scheme.
Electron and positron histories are generated on the basis of a mixed procedure, which combines
detailed simulation of hard events with condensed simulation of soft interactions. A geometry package
called PENGEOM permits the generation of random electron-photon showers in material systems
consisting of homogeneous bodies limited by quadric surfaces, i.e., planes, spheres, cylinders, etc. This
report is intended not only to serve as a manual of the PENELOPE code system, but also to provide the
user with the necessary information to understand the details of the Monte Carlo algorithm.
1,675 citations
University of Michigan1, Ottawa Hospital2, University of California, Los Angeles3, Mayo Clinic4, University of California, San Francisco5, National Research Council6, Stanford University7, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center8, Fox Chase Cancer Center9, Carleton University10, McGill University11, Virginia Commonwealth University12
TL;DR: The purpose of this report is to set out the salient issues associated with clinical implementation and experimental verification of MC dose algorithms, and to provide the framework upon which to build a comprehensive program for commissioning and routine quality assurance of MC-based treatment planning systems.
Abstract: The Monte Carlo (MC) method has been shown through many research studies to calculate accurate dose distributions for clinical radiotherapy, particularly in heterogeneous patient tissues where the effects of electron transport cannot be accurately handled with conventional, deterministic dose algorithms. Despite its proven accuracy and the potential for improved dose distributions to influence treatment outcomes, the long calculation times previously associated with MC simulation rendered this method impractical for routine clinical treatment planning. However, the development of faster codes optimized for radiotherapy calculations and improvements in computer processor technology have substantially reduced calculation times to, in some instances, within minutes on a single processor. These advances have motivated several major treatment planning system vendors to embark upon the path of MC techniques. Several commercial vendors have already released or are currently in the process of releasing MC algorithms for photon and/or electron beam treatment planning. Consequently, the accessibility and use of MC treatment planning algorithms may well become widespread in the radiotherapy community. With MC simulation, dose is computed stochastically using first principles; this method is therefore quite different from conventional dose algorithms. Issues such as statistical uncertainties, the use of variance reduction techniques, theability to account for geometric details in the accelerator treatment head simulation, and other features, are all unique components of a MC treatment planning algorithm. Successful implementation by the clinical physicist of such a system will require an understanding of the basic principles of MC techniques. The purpose of this report, while providing education and review on the use of MC simulation in radiotherapy planning, is to set out, for both users and developers, the salient issues associated with clinical implementation and experimental verification of MC dose algorithms. As the MC method is an emerging technology, this report is not meant to be prescriptive. Rather, it is intended as a preliminary report to review the tenets of the MC method and to provide the framework upon which to build a comprehensive program for commissioning and routine quality assurance of MC-based treatment planning systems.
591 citations
TL;DR: The history of the correction for wall attenuation and scatter in an ion chamber is presented as it demonstrates the interplay between a specific problem and the development of tools to solve the problem which in turn leads to applications in other areas.
Abstract: Monte Carlo techniques have become ubiquitous in medical physics over the last 50 years with a doubling of papers on the subject every 5 years between the first PMB paper in 1967 and 2000 when the numbers levelled off. While recognizing the many other roles that Monte Carlo techniques have played in medical physics, this review emphasizes techniques for electron-photon transport simulations. The broad range of codes available is mentioned but there is special emphasis on the EGS4/EGSnrc code system which the author has helped develop for 25 years. The importance of the 1987 Erice Summer School on Monte Carlo techniques is highlighted. As an illustrative example of the role Monte Carlo techniques have played, the history of the correction for wall attenuation and scatter in an ion chamber is presented as it demonstrates the interplay between a specific problem and the development of tools to solve the problem which in turn leads to applications in other areas.
377 citations
Cites methods from "PENELOPE: An algorithm for Monte Ca..."
...The PENELOPE code package has a detailed treatment of cross sections for low-energy transport and a flexible geometry package which allows simulation of accelerator beams (Baro et al 1995, Salvat et al 1996, Sempau et al 2001)....
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01 Nov 1997-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms
TL;DR: In this paper, an algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport is described, where electron and positron tracks are generated by means of PENELOPE, a mixed procedure developed by Baro et al.
Abstract: An algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation of coupled electron-photon transport is described. Electron and positron tracks are generated by means of PENELOPE, a mixed procedure developed by Baro et al. [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 100 (1995) 31]. The simulation of photon transport follows the conventional, detailed method. Photons are assumed to interact via coherent and incoherent scattering, photoelectric absorption and electron-positron pair production. Photon interactions are simulated through analytical differential cross sections, derived from simple physical models and renormalized to reproduce accurate attenuation coefficients available from the literature. The combined algorithm has been implemented in a FORTRAN 77 computer code that generates electron-photon showers in arbitrary materials for the energy range from ∼1 GeV down to 1 keV or the binding energy of the L-shell of the heaviest element in the medium, whichever is the largest. The code is capable of following secondary particles that are generated within this energy range. The reliability of the algorithm and computer code is demonstrated by comparing simulation results with experimental data and with results from other Monte Carlo codes.
367 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, a review of advances in the study of solid surfaces and thin films using variable-energy positron beams is presented, with more emphasis on the most recent measurements and interpretations than on the chronology of various developments.
Abstract: Recent advances in the study of solid surfaces and thin films using variable-energy positron beams are reviewed. In the first part the authors discuss the process of positron moderation and technical aspects of positron beam production and application. The second part is (roughly) organized in sections that apply to increasing time scales appropriate to the positron-solid interaction. These are (a) first encounter and scattering effects, (b) energy loss and stopping profiles, (c) diffusion of thermalized positrons, (d) positron-surface interactions, and (e) studies of defects near surfaces and interfaces. The review is written with more emphasis on the most recent measurements and interpretations than on the chronology of various developments.
1,339 citations