Monte Carlo simulation of some gel dosimeters' behaviour in photonic radiation field: research on attenuation coefficient

Abstract

In this study, a model of MCNP based on Monte Carlo method was developed to calculate the mass attenuation coefficients of 15 gel dosimeters, namely LMD1, LMD2, PAG, nPAG, nMAG, VIPAR, PABIG, MAGAT, MAGAS, PAGAT, PRESAGE, BANG-1, BANG-2, BANG-3 and MAGIC at 10–1332.5 keV photon energies. In order to validate the model, the obtained results of simulation work were compared with data of XCOM. It was observed that the results were in high accordance with data of XCOM program. Accordingly, the model can be used in dosimetry, medicine and industry for various polymers and materials. Furthermore, on one hand, parameters of radiation transport in developing new gel dosimeters and materials can be calculated and assessed using the proposed model before clinical application and on the other hand, the data obtained by simulation can be used to analyze the behavior of gel dosimeters in photon radiation fields. In this regard, among 15 gel dosimeters studied here, LMD1 and PRESAGE showed the best and worst performance in comparison with other gel dosimeters, respectively. Other gel dosimeters had a poor performance, especially in energy range of 10–50 keV. Their relative mass attenuation coefficient difference with the value of water was less than 1.4%.