The potential of polymer pencil-lead graphite for clinical electron beam dosimetry
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-11-2021
Abstract
The dosimetric capabilities of tissue equivalent rod-shaped polymer pencil lead graphite (PPLG) has been investigated using an Elekta HD Linac, evaluated for electrons from 6 to 15 MeV and doses in the range 0.5 Gy up to 20 Gy. These encompass the major irradiation value ranges used in electron radiation therapy procedures. Parameters concerning thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry have been investigated, including reproducibility, TL glow curve, the linearity of dose response, sensitivity, energy response and fading. The smaller diameter PPLG samples (0.3 mm) offer excellent dosimetric characteristics, superior to that of the 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 0.9 mm diameter rods. This study confirms that low-cost Pencil Lead-Graphite (PLG) dosimeters provide energy independent dose sensitive linear response over a wide dose range. The small physical size offers unchallenged point detector spatial resolution, also enjoying minimal rates of fading and insensitivity to room lighting. As such, PPLG offers a viable alternative to current commercial dosimeters, well suited to applications in radiotherapy.
Keywords
Pencil-lead graphite, Linac, Thermoluminescence properties, Electron dosimetry, Radiotherapy
Divisions
fac_med,Science
Funders
Sunway University Research, Malaysia [Grant No: GRTIN-RSF-SHMS-CBP-03-2020],Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint AbdulRahman University, Riyadh, Research Groups Program Grant [Grant No: RGP-1440-0016(2)]
Publication Title
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume
1010
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS