EXPERIMENTAL-VERIFICATION OF BREMSSTRAHLUNG PRODUCTION AND DOSIMETRY PREDICTIONS AS A FUNCTION OF ENERGY AND ANGLE

Measurements of energy deposition from bremsstrahlung production as a function of angle and beam energy (5-25 MeV) are shown to be in excellent agreement with Monte Carlo predictions. Dosimetry measurements are made and predicted in both equilibrated and underequilibrated radiation environments. In the latter ease the quality of the agreement requires an accurate prediction of both the photon and electron spectra produced by the primary electron beam. An improved empirical equation for predicting bremsstrahlung production is also presented. This empirical relation can be used to estimate doses without resorting to expensive calculational efforts, It also gives an analytical relationship for dose as a function of energy and angle for a converter optimized for bremsstrahlung production using 15.5 MeV electrons.