Accuracy evaluation of distance inverse square law in determining virtual electron source location in Siemens Primus linac

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the inverse square law (ISL) method for determining location of virtual electron source (S_Vir) in Siemens Primus linac.

Background

So far, different experimental methods have presented for determining virtual and effective electron source location such as Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), Multiple Coulomb Scattering (MCS), and Multi Pinhole Camera (MPC) and Inverse Square Law (ISL) methods. Among these methods, Inverse Square Law is the most common used method.

Materials and methods

Firstly, Siemens Primus linac was simulated using MCNPX Monte Carlo code. Then, by using dose profiles obtained from the Monte Carlo simulations, the location of S_Vir was calculated for 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 MeV electron energies and 10 cm × 10 cm, 15 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm and 25 cm × 25 cm field sizes. Additionally, the location of S_Vir was obtained by the ISL method for the mentioned electron energies and field sizes. Finally, the values obtained by the ISL method were compared to the values resulted from Monte Carlo simulation.

Results

The findings indicate that the calculated S_Vir values depend on beam energy and field size. For a specific energy, with increase of field size, the distance of S_Vir increases for most cases. Furthermore, for a special applicator, with increase of electron energy, the distance of S_Vir increases for most cases. The variation of S_Vir values versus change of field size in a certain energy is more than the variation of S_Vir values versus change of electron energy in a certain field size.

Conclusion

According to the results, it is concluded that the ISL method can be considered as a good method for calculation of S_Vir location in higher electron energies (14 MeV).