Semiconductor dosimetry in modern external-beam radiation therapy

Authors

Anatoly B. Rosenfeld, University of WollongongFollow
Giordano Biasi, University of WollongongFollow
Marco Petasecca, University of WollongongFollow
Michael L. F Lerch, University of WollongongFollow
Giulio Villani
Vladimir Feygelman

RIS ID

146642

Publication Details

Rozenfeld, A., Biasi, G., Petasecca, M., Lerch, M., Villani, G. & Feygelman, V. (2020). Semiconductor dosimetry in modern external-beam radiation therapy. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 65 (16),

Abstract

© 2020 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Semiconductor dosimeters are ubiquitous in modern external-beam radiation therapy. They possess key features. The response, electronically available in real time, is stable and linear with absorbed dose for given irradiation conditions; the radiation-sensitive volume can be rather small in size, while retaining mechanical strength and high sensitivity. We describe three common semiconductor dosimeters: diodes, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors and diamonds. We discuss in detail their operation principles and applications in modern external-beam radiation therapy, primarily with megavoltage photon beams. We also explore their use in proton and heavy ion therapy, and in experimental radiotherapy techniques such as synchrotron-based micro-beam radiation therapy.