X-ray treatment at 5 MeV and above

There is agreement in the scientific community that X-ray treatment of food at 7.5 MeV can be safe. Possible process improvements for treating at higher than 5 MeV X-rays have been re-visited. Monte Carlo methods have been applied to simulate the X-ray conversion process and to calculate dose distributions in homogeneous phantoms. Experimental data obtained using X-rays produced with a Rhodotron TT200 at 5 and 10 MeV verifies a representative set of data which is calculated with the presented method. With this qualified Monte Carlo tool, calculations at 7.5 MeV incident electron energy were performed. The analysis gives special attention to higher photon yield, improved product penetration, as well as surface and edge effects. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.