Establishing an Initial Electron Beam Model with Monte Carlo Simulation for a Single 6 MV X-ray Medical Linac Based on Particle Dynamics Characteristics

Objective:In this study,we try to establish an initial electron beam model by combining Monte Carlo simulation method with particle dynamic calculation(TRSV)for the single 6 MV X-ray accelerating waveguide of BJ-6 medical linac.Methods and Materials:1.We adapted the treatment head configuration of BJ-6 medical linac made by Beijing Medical Equipment Institute(BMEI)as the radiation system for this study.2.Use particle dynamics calculation code called TRSV to drive out the initial electron beam parameters of the energy spectrum,the spatial intensity distribution,and the beam incidence angle.3.Analyze the 6 MV X-ray beam characteristics of PDDc,OARc in a water phantom by using Monte Carlo simulation(BEAMnrc,DOSXYZnrc)for a preset of the initial electron beam parameters which have been determined by TRSV,do the comparisons of the measured results of PDDm,OARm in a real water phantom,and then use the deviations of calculated and measured results to slightly modify the initial electron beam model back and forth until the deviations meet the error less than 2%.Results:The deviations between the Monte Carlo simulation results of percentage depth doses at PDDc and off-axis ratios OARc and the measured results of PDDm and OARm in a water phantom were within 2%.Conclusion:When doing the Monte Carlo simulation to determine the parameters of an initial electron beam for a particular medical linac like BJ-6,modifying some parameters based on the particle dynamics calculation code would give some more reasonable and more acceptable results.