Modeling the head of PRIMUS linear accelerator for electron-mode at 10 MeV for different applicators.

Objective: This study is to validate the utilization of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to model the head of Primus linear accelerator, thereafter, using it to estimate the energy fluence distribution (EFD), the percentage depth dose (PDD), and beam profiles.

Materials and Methods: The BEAM NRC code that is based on the EGS NRC code has been used for modeling the linear accelerator head for 10 MeV electron beam with different applicator sizes (10 × 10, 15 × 15, and 20 × 20 cm 2 ). The phase space was acquired from BEAM NRC at the end of each applicator and then used as an input file to DOSXYZ NRC and BEAMDP to calculate the EFD, PDD, and beam profiles.

Results: There were a good consistency between the outcomes of the MC simulation and measured PDD and off-axis dose profiles that performed in a water phantom for all applicators. The PDD for the applicators proved to be favorable as a direct comparison of R 100 , R 90 , R 80 , and R 50 yielded results of < 2 mm, while it was 6 mm in R 100 for the applicator 15 × 15 cm 2 . The discrepancies in the surface doses (<3%) showed a quick decline in the build-up region and differences reached 0% within the first 2.4 mm. For the beam profiles comparison, the differences ranged from 2% (2 mm) to 3% (6 mm) for all applicators.

Conclusion: Our examination demonstrated that the MC simulation by BEAM NRC code was accurate in modeling the Primus linear accelerator head.

(© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.)