Microdosimetry of Megavoltage Photon and Electron Beams

Experimental techniques were developed for obtaining microdosimetric spectra on hospital-based linear accelerators. Microdosimetry spectra were measured for Cobalt-60 photons, 10 and 15 MV bremsstrahlung x-rays and 12 to 20 MeV electrons. The x-ray and electrons were produced at ultra-low dose rates (50-200 micro-gray/hour), which enabled direct measurements of lineal energy distributions with a conventional Rossi -type gas proportional counter. Extensive measurements were made to insure that the dosimetric properties of the low dose rate beams are nearly identical to those produced under high dose rate clinical conditions. Analytical procedures were developed to correct measured lineal energy spectra for pulse pileup. The lineal energy spectra for 10 MV X-rays and electrons differ significantly from Cobalt-60 photons with the dose average lineal energy (y(,D)) being lower than Cobalt-60 photons by 15 to 20% and 20 to 30%, respectively. The values of y(,D) for Cobalt gamma rays and 15 MV X-rays are comparable. The calculated spectrum assuming CSDA predicted the peak and the shoulder of the experimental spectra, but was unable to predict the exact shape.