Characterization of a plastic scintillating detector for the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform ( SARRP )
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize a small plastic scintillator developed for high resolution, real‐time dosimetry of therapy and imaging x‐ray beams delivered by an image‐guided small animal irradiator. Materials and Methods A 1 mm diameter, 1 mm long polystyrene BCF‐60 scintillating fiber dosimeter was characterized with 220 kVp therapy and 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 kVp imaging beams on the Small Animal Research Platform (SARRP). Scintillator output, sensitivity (charge per unit dose), linearity, and 0.2‐mm resolution beam profile measurements were performed. A validated in‐house Monte Carlo (MC) model of the SARRP was used to compute detailed energy spectra at locations of dosimetry, and validated scintillator measurement with MC simulations. Mass energy‐absorption coefficients from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tables convolved with MC‐derived spectra were used in conjunction with Birks ionization quenching factors to correct scintillator output. An air kerma calibration method was employed to correct scintillator output for in‐air beam profile measurements with open, 5 × 5, and 3 × 3 mm2 square field sizes, and compared to MC simulations. Results Scintillator dose response showed excellent linearity (R2 ≥ 0.999) for all sensitivity measurements, including output as a function of tube current. Detector sensitivity was 2.41 μC Gy−1 for the 220 kVp therapy beam, and it ranged from 1.21 to 1.32 μC Gy−1 for the 40–80 imaging beams.…
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