Analysis of Photonuclear Activation Effect of High-energy Medical Linear Accelerators — Measurement of Spatial Dose Distribution and Temporal Decay Curve, and Assessment of Personnel Dosimetry

The characteristics of activation after high-energy X-rays have been generated by medical linear accelerators were measured using an ionization chamber. Radiation doses increased with rising X-ray energy, based on 10 MV, 15 MV, and 18 MVX-ray measurements. When the total irradiation dose was changed, radiation dose increased with total irradiation dose. When the collimator opened, the radiation dose at a position 15 cm from the isocenter reached about the maximum, which was 2.2 times the dose at the isocenter. The radiation dose became about 0.3 times its level at a position 40 cm from the isocenter, in the outer irradiation field. The dose distribution in the treatment room became almost the same dose extending from the isocenter to 200 cm. Radiation dose decreased gradually while moving away from the target on the treatment beam axis. But it increased again as it approached the floor face. The occupational exposure dose, which was presumed from measurements of the radiation dose 50 cm from the isocenter, was about 0.9 mSv during a year, assuming 600 MU for 1 person, 8 people a day, and 245 days a year. Radiation dose changed with X-ray energy in the machine used, and it was a geometrical constituent in the treatment room. It is important to understand the characteristics of radiation generated by medical linear accelerators.