Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Investigation of the Response of PAGAT Polymer Gel Dosimeter for Thermal Neutrons

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S.M Abtahi
M Shahriari
H Khalafi
M.H Zahmatkesh
Abstract
Two major advantages of polymer gel dosimeters are their ability to determine the integrated 3D dose distribution as well as their ability to the formed in different shapes. In this research, PAGAT gel dosimeter was irradiated by moderated fission neutrons in the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) thermal column, and the response of the gel was investigated as a change in the spin-spin relaxation rate of MR image of gel Phantoms. The linearity of the response (R2) versus the absorbed dose (D), sensitivity, dose resolution and minimum detectable dose (MDD) were investigated. For calibration of the gel response versus the dose rate, the foil activation analysis was made. In this method the flux map of the thermal column and by using flux to dose conversion factors, given by ANSI/ANS-6.1.1-1997, the flounce related to the absorbed dose map was obtained. To make sure that if there is any epithermal neutron in the thermal column a cadmium cover gold foil was set at the core nearest the thermal column. This study resulted in that PAGAT gel dosimeter can be used as a useful instrument for thermal neutron dosimetry. The sensitivity and MDD of the PAGAT gel dosimeter for thermal neutron was 0.01521±0.00552 Gy-1s-1 and 1.8 Gy, respectively.
 

Highlights

 

 

  1. 1.    Y.De. Deene, C. Hurley, A. Venning, K. Vergote, M. Mather, B.J. Healy, C. Baldock, “A basic study of some normoxic polymer gel dosimeters,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol. 47, 3441-3463 (2004).

 

  1. 2.    Y. De Deene, “Essential characteristics of polymer gel dosimeters,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 3, 34-57 (2004).

 

  1. 3.    Paul DeJeana, Rob Sendenb, Kim McAuleyb, Myron Rogersa, L. John Schreinera, “Initial experience with a commercial cone beam optical CT unit for polymer gel dosimetry II: Clinical potential,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 56, 183–186 (2006).

 

  1. 4.    M. Hilts, X-Ray computed tomography imaging of polymer gel dosimeters. in Preliminary Proceeding of DOSGEL 2006. Sherbrooke (Quebec), Canada: University of Sherbrooke (2006).

 

  1. 5.    A Crescenti Remo, Jeffrey C Bamber, Mike Partridge, Nigel L Bush, and Steve Webb, “Characterization of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient and its frequency dependence in a polymer gel dosimeter,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 52, 6747–6759 (2007).

 

  1. 6.    Y. De Deene, “Fundamentals of MRI measurements for gel dosimetry,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 3, 87-114 (2004).

 

  1. 7.    A.J. Venning, B. Hill, S. Brindha, B.J. Healy, C. Baldock, “Investigation of the PAGAT polymer gel dosimeter using magnetic resonance imaging,” Physics in Medicine and Biology Printed in the UK. Vol 50, 3875-3888 (2005).

 

  1. 8.    A. Jirasek, M. Hilts, C. Shaw, P. Baxter, “Experimental properties of THPC based normoxic polyacrylamide gels for use in x-ray computed tomography gel dosimetry,” In DOSGEL 2006. Sherbrook (Quebec), Canada: University of Sherbrook (2006).
  2. 9.    A. Jirasek, M. Hilts, C. Shaw, P. Baxter1, “Investigation of tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium chloride as an antioxidant for use in x-ray computed tomography polyacrylamide gel dosimetry,” Physics in Medicine and Biology  Printed in the UK. Vol 51, 1891–1906 (2006).

 

10. Glenn E Knoll, Radiation Detectibn and Measurement, Third ed, New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 744-751 (2000).

 

11. American National Standard, Neutron and Gamma-ray Flux-to-Dose Rate Factors. ANSI/ANS- 6.1.1 (1997).

 

12. C. Baldock, M. Lepage, S.A. Back, P.J. Murry, P.M. Jayasekera, et al, “Dose resolution in radiotherapy gel dosimetry: effect of echo spacing in MRI pulse sequence,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 449-460 (2001).

 

13. H. Gustavsson, A. Karlsson, S.A. Back, L.E. Olsson, P. Haraldsson, et al, “MAGIC-type polymer gel for three-dimensional dosimetry: intensity-modulated radiation therapy verification,” Medical Physics. Vol 30 (6), 1264-71 (2003).

 

14. Y. De Deene and C. De. Wagter, “Artefacts in multi-echo T2 imaging for high-precision gel dosimetry: III. Effects of temperature drift during scanning,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 2697-2711 (2001).

 

15. Y De Deene, R. Van de Walle, E. Achten, C. De Wagter, “Mathematical analysis and experimental investigation of noise in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging applied in polymer gel dosimetry,” Signal Processing. Vol 70, 85-101 (1998).

 

16. M. Lepage, P.M. Jayasekera, S.A. Back, C Baldock, “Dose resolution optimization of polymer gel dosimeters using different monomers,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 2665-2680 (2001).

17. Christian Bayredera, Dietmar Georg, Ewald Moser, Andreas Berg, “Basic investigations on the performance of a normoxic polymer gel with tetrakis-hydroxy-methyl-phosphonium chloride as an oxygen scavenger: Reproducibility, accuracy, stability, and dose rate dependence,” Medical Physics. Vol. 33, No. 7, 2506-2518 (2006).

 

18. Y De Deene and C Baldock, “Optimization of multiple spin-echo sequences for 3D polymer gel dosimetry,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 47, 3117-3141 (2002).

 

19. Y De Deene, P Hanselaer, C De Wagter, E Achten, W De Neve, “An investigation of the chemical stability of a monomer/polymer gel dosimeter,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 45, 859-878 (2000).

20. Y De Deene, K Vergote, C Claeys, C De Wagter1, “The fundamental radiation properties of normoxic polymer gel dosimeters: a comparison between a methacrylic acid based gel and acrylamide based gels,” PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY. Vol 51, 653-673 (2006).

 

21. Helen Gustavsson, Sven A° J Ba¨ck, Joakim Medin, Erik Grusell, Lars E Olsson, “Linear energy transfer dependence of a normoxic polymer gel dosimeter investigated using proton beam absorbed dose measurements,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 49, 3847-3855 (2004).

 

 

Keywords

Polymer Gel Dosimeter
PAGAT
Thermal Column
Neutron Flux
Radiation Doses
MRI

  1.  

     

    1. 1.    Y.De. Deene, C. Hurley, A. Venning, K. Vergote, M. Mather, B.J. Healy, C. Baldock, “A basic study of some normoxic polymer gel dosimeters,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol. 47, 3441-3463 (2004).

     

    1. 2.    Y. De Deene, “Essential characteristics of polymer gel dosimeters,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 3, 34-57 (2004).

     

    1. 3.    Paul DeJeana, Rob Sendenb, Kim McAuleyb, Myron Rogersa, L. John Schreinera, “Initial experience with a commercial cone beam optical CT unit for polymer gel dosimetry II: Clinical potential,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 56, 183–186 (2006).

     

    1. 4.    M. Hilts, X-Ray computed tomography imaging of polymer gel dosimeters. in Preliminary Proceeding of DOSGEL 2006. Sherbrooke (Quebec), Canada: University of Sherbrooke (2006).

     

    1. 5.    A Crescenti Remo, Jeffrey C Bamber, Mike Partridge, Nigel L Bush, and Steve Webb, “Characterization of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient and its frequency dependence in a polymer gel dosimeter,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 52, 6747–6759 (2007).

     

    1. 6.    Y. De Deene, “Fundamentals of MRI measurements for gel dosimetry,” Journal of Physics. Vol Conference Series 3, 87-114 (2004).

     

    1. 7.    A.J. Venning, B. Hill, S. Brindha, B.J. Healy, C. Baldock, “Investigation of the PAGAT polymer gel dosimeter using magnetic resonance imaging,” Physics in Medicine and Biology Printed in the UK. Vol 50, 3875-3888 (2005).

     

    1. 8.    A. Jirasek, M. Hilts, C. Shaw, P. Baxter, “Experimental properties of THPC based normoxic polyacrylamide gels for use in x-ray computed tomography gel dosimetry,” In DOSGEL 2006. Sherbrook (Quebec), Canada: University of Sherbrook (2006).
    2. 9.    A. Jirasek, M. Hilts, C. Shaw, P. Baxter1, “Investigation of tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium chloride as an antioxidant for use in x-ray computed tomography polyacrylamide gel dosimetry,” Physics in Medicine and Biology  Printed in the UK. Vol 51, 1891–1906 (2006).

     

    10. Glenn E Knoll, Radiation Detectibn and Measurement, Third ed, New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 744-751 (2000).

     

    11. American National Standard, Neutron and Gamma-ray Flux-to-Dose Rate Factors. ANSI/ANS- 6.1.1 (1997).

     

    12. C. Baldock, M. Lepage, S.A. Back, P.J. Murry, P.M. Jayasekera, et al, “Dose resolution in radiotherapy gel dosimetry: effect of echo spacing in MRI pulse sequence,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 449-460 (2001).

     

    13. H. Gustavsson, A. Karlsson, S.A. Back, L.E. Olsson, P. Haraldsson, et al, “MAGIC-type polymer gel for three-dimensional dosimetry: intensity-modulated radiation therapy verification,” Medical Physics. Vol 30 (6), 1264-71 (2003).

     

    14. Y. De Deene and C. De. Wagter, “Artefacts in multi-echo T2 imaging for high-precision gel dosimetry: III. Effects of temperature drift during scanning,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 2697-2711 (2001).

     

    15. Y De Deene, R. Van de Walle, E. Achten, C. De Wagter, “Mathematical analysis and experimental investigation of noise in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging applied in polymer gel dosimetry,” Signal Processing. Vol 70, 85-101 (1998).

     

    16. M. Lepage, P.M. Jayasekera, S.A. Back, C Baldock, “Dose resolution optimization of polymer gel dosimeters using different monomers,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 46, 2665-2680 (2001).

    17. Christian Bayredera, Dietmar Georg, Ewald Moser, Andreas Berg, “Basic investigations on the performance of a normoxic polymer gel with tetrakis-hydroxy-methyl-phosphonium chloride as an oxygen scavenger: Reproducibility, accuracy, stability, and dose rate dependence,” Medical Physics. Vol. 33, No. 7, 2506-2518 (2006).

     

    18. Y De Deene and C Baldock, “Optimization of multiple spin-echo sequences for 3D polymer gel dosimetry,” Physics in Medicine and Biology. Vol 47, 3117-3141 (2002).

     

    19. Y De Deene, P Hanselaer, C De Wagter, E Achten, W De Neve, “An investigation of the chemical stability of a monomer/polymer gel dosimeter,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 45, 859-878 (2000).

    20. Y De Deene, K Vergote, C Claeys, C De Wagter1, “The fundamental radiation properties of normoxic polymer gel dosimeters: a comparison between a methacrylic acid based gel and acrylamide based gels,” PHYSICS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY. Vol 51, 653-673 (2006).

     

    21. Helen Gustavsson, Sven A° J Ba¨ck, Joakim Medin, Erik Grusell, Lars E Olsson, “Linear energy transfer dependence of a normoxic polymer gel dosimeter investigated using proton beam absorbed dose measurements,” Phys. Med. Biol. Vol 49, 3847-3855 (2004).

     

     

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