Low-energy proton calibration and energy-dependence linearization of EBT-XD radiochromic films

In this work, we calibrate the newly developed EBT-XD radiochromic films (RCFs) manufactured by Gafchromicᵀᴹ using protons in the energy range of 4–10 MeV. Irradiation was performed on the 2 × 6 MV tandem linear accelerator located at the Université de Montréal. The RCFs were digitized using an Epson Perfection V700 flatbed scanner using both the red-green-blue and grayscale channels. The proton fluences were measured with Faraday cups calibrated in absolute terms. The linear energy transfer function within the active layer of the films was calculated using the mass stopping power tables coming from the PSTAR database from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow retrieval of the deposited dose. We find that the calibration curves for 7 and 10 MeV protons are nearly equivalent. The 4 MeV calibration curves exhibit a quenching effect due to the Bragg peak that falls close to the active layer. A linearization of this energy dependence was developed using a semiempirical parametric model to allow the generation of calibration curves for any incident proton energy within the present range. Excellent correspondence (<5% dose difference for the same netOD) of the 10 MeV calibration curves was noted when compared to existing high-energy proton (148.2 MeV) calibration curves reported in the literature. Our calibration extends the range of operation of EBT-XD films to low-energy proton beam dosimetry.

Uncontrolled Keywords

• Bragg peak
• calibration methods
• stopping power
• radiation detectors
• linear accelerators
• particle beams
• Faraday cup
• polymers
• radiation therapy