Since portal images are created by megavoltage, forward-directed bremsstrahlung beams, their image quality is inferior to that of images produced by kilovoltage beams. In this study, characteristics of orthogonal bremsstrahlung photons produced by megavoltage electron beams were studied and their suitability for radiotherapy imaging was evaluated. Orthogonal bremsstrahlung beams with kilovoltage effective energies can be obtained from megavoltage electrons striking low atomic number targets. A 10 MeV electron beam emerging out of the research port of a Varian Clinac-18 linac was made to strike carbon, aluminum and copper targets. Percentage depth dose and attenuation measurements of forward and orthogonal beams were performed, and experimental results were compared with Monte Carlo-calculated findings. Images of simple contrast objects taken using the orthogonal bremsstrahlung beams showed superior contrast levels in comparison to those produced by the forward beams.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.99203 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Sarfehnia, Arman. |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Medical Radiation Physics.) |
| Rights | © Arman Sarfehnia, 2006 |
| Relation | alephsysno: 002541495, proquestno: AAIMR28527, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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