Abstract
Simulation software for medical linear accelerators that can be used in a teaching environment was developed. The components of linear accelerators were modeled to first order accuracy using analytical expressions taken from the literature. The expressions used constants that were empirically set such that realistic response could be expected. These expressions were programmed in a MATLAB environment with a graphical user interface in order to produce an environment similar to that of linear accelerator service mode. The program was evaluated in a systematic fashion, where parameters affecting the clinical properties of medical linear accelerator beams were adjusted independently, and the effects on beam energy and dose rate recorded. These results confirmed that beam tuning adjustments could be simulated in a simple environment. Further, adjustment of service parameters over a large range was possible, and this allows the demonstration of linear accelerator physics in an environment accessible to both medical physicists and linear accelerator service engineers. In conclusion, a software tool, named SIMAC, was developed to improve the teaching of linear accelerator physics in a simulated environment. SIMAC performed in a similar manner to medical linear accelerators. The authors hope that this tool will be valuable as a teaching tool for medical physicists and linear accelerator service engineers.PACS number: 87.55Gh, 87.56bd
Highlights
INTRODUCTION & THEORYMedical linear accelerators are commonly used in radiotherapy in order to create high-energy MV radiation beams with well-established therapeutic, practical, and radiation safety benefits
While medical physicists typically receive a basic training on the high level principles of linear accelerator functionality, this training often lacks the hands-on component that is required to develop a deeper understanding of basic electrical adjustments
The purpose of this work is to realistically simulate the effects of electrical adjustments pertaining to the dose rate of medical linear accelerators in real time using an ordinary personal computer and graphical user interface. We suggest that this new approach to linear accelerator simulation can have significant educational benefits to medical physicists and linear accelerator service personnel, but may be useful to other professionals in radiotherapy, such as radiation oncologists and therapists
Summary
Medical linear accelerators are commonly used in radiotherapy in order to create high-energy MV radiation beams with well-established therapeutic, practical, and radiation safety benefits While medical physicists typically receive a basic training on the high level principles of linear accelerator functionality, this training often lacks the hands-on component that is required to develop a deeper understanding of basic electrical adjustments. This is often due to limited access to radiotherapy linacs that are in clinical operation, and more importantly, due to the fact that these machines typically can only be adjusted within a narrow set of parameters to maintain clinical operation
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