Determination of Electron Depth-Dose Curves for Water, ICRU Tissue, and PMMA and Their Application to Radiation Protection Dosimetry

For monoenergetic electrons in the energy range between 60 keV and 10 MeV, normally incident on water, 4-element ICRU tissue and PMMA phantoms, depth-dose curves have been calculated using the Monte Carlo method. The phantoms' shape was that of a rectangular solid with a square front face of 30 cm x 30 cm and a thickness of 15 cm; it corresponds to that recommended by the ICRU for use in the procedure of calibrating radiation protection dosemeters. The depth-dose curves have been used to determine practical ranges, half-value depths, electron fluence to maximum absorbed dose conversion factors, and conversion factors between electron fluence and absorbed dose at depths d corresponding to 0.007 g.cm-2, 0.3 g.cm-2, and 1.0 g.cm-2. The latter data can be used as fluence to dose equivalent conversion factors for extended parallel electron beams.