The use of plane-parallel chambers in electron dosimetry without any cross-calibration

Abstract

Current dosimetry protocols from AAPM, DIN and IAEA recommend a cross-calibration for plane-parallel chambers against a calibrated thimble chamber for electron dosimetry. The rationale for this is the assumed chamber-to-chamber variation of plane-parallel chambers and the large uncertainty in the wall perturbation factor (pwall60Co)pp at 60Co for plane-parallel chambers.We have confirmed the results of other authors that chamber-to-chamber variation of the investigated chambers of types Roos, Markus, Advanced Markus and Farmer is less than 0.3%. Starting with a calibration factor for absorbed dose to water and on the basis of the three dosimetry protocols AAPM TG-51, DIN 6800-2 (slightly modified) and IAEA TRS-398, values for (pwall60Co)Roos of 1.024 ± 0.005, (pwall60Co)Markus of 1.016 ± 0.005 and (pwall60Co)Advanced Markus of 1.014 ± 0.005 have been determined. In future this will permit electron dosimetry with the above-listed plane-parallel chambers having a calibration factor ND,w60Co without the necessity for cross-calibration against a thimble chamber.