A method to correct for temperature dependence and measure simultaneously dose and temperature using a plastic scintillation detector

Phys Med Biol. 2015 Oct 21;60(20):7927-39. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/20/7927. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Abstract

Plastic scintillation detectors (PSDs) work well for radiation dosimetry. However, they show some temperature dependence, and a priori knowledge of the temperature surrounding the PSD is required to correct for this dependence. We present a novel approach to correct PSD response values for temperature changes instantaneously and without the need for prior knowledge of the temperature value. In addition to rendering the detector temperature-independent, this approach allows for actual temperature measurement using solely the PSD apparatus. With a temperature-controlled water tank, the temperature was varied from room temperature to more than 40 °C and the PSD was used to measure the dose delivered from a cobalt-60 photon beam unit to within an average of 0.72% from the expected value. The temperature was measured during each acquisition with the PSD and a thermocouple and values were within 1 °C of each other. The depth-dose curve of a 6 MV photon beam was also measured under warm non-stable conditions and this curve agreed to within an average of -0.98% from the curve obtained at room temperature. The feasibility of rendering PSDs temperature-independent was demonstrated with our approach, which also enabled simultaneous measurement of both dose and temperature. This novel approach improves both the robustness and versatility of PSDs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cobalt Radioisotopes*
  • Humans
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Photons*
  • Plastics / chemistry*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Scintillation Counting / instrumentation*
  • Scintillation Counting / methods*
  • Temperature
  • Water

Substances

  • Cobalt Radioisotopes
  • Plastics
  • Water