TL and OSL dosimetric characterization of different luminescent materials for clinical electron beams application in TSEB treatments

Abstract

Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) play an important role in radiotherapy for the dosimetry of ionizing radiation. This type of dosimeter presents advantages that makes them a useful tool for measurements in anthropomorphic phantoms and in vivo dosimetry. Several dosimetric materials have been used in the radiotherapy sectors such as LiF, μLiF, CaSO4:Dy. The OSL dosimetry has also been widely applied using Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3:C). These dosimeters have advantages over TLDs due to their high sensitivity, extensive linearity in response to the dose, faster reading, possibility of multiple readings and the need to perform the heat treatment of the samples. The aim of this work was to compare and characterize, using TL and OSL techniques, different luminescent dosimeters (LiF, μLiF, CaSO4:Dy and Al2O3:C) to be applied in clinical electron beam used to TSEB treatments. Measurements were performed in order to study the applicability of these detectors as easy-to-take alternatives to calibration and measurements of TSEB treatments. Parameters such as dose-response curves; average sensitivity to radiation, intrinsic efficiency and energy and angular dependences were evaluated. The results show good agreement within CaSO4:Dy and TLD-100 measurements and, applying energy and angle dependence factors over the other two materials, all the four detectors can be applied as alternative easy-to-take dosimetric tools for commissioning and quality assurance of 6 MeV clinical electron beams used in TSEB treatments.