Reconsideration of the Iwasaki-Waggener iterative perturbation method for reconstructing high-energy X-ray spectra.

We have reviewed applicable ranges for attenuating media and off-axis distances regarding the high-energy X-ray spectra reconstructed via the Iwasaki-Waggener iterative perturbation method for 4-20 MV X-ray beams. Sets of in-air relative transmission data used for reconstruction of spectra were calculated for low- and high-Z attenuators (acrylic and lead, respectively) by use of a functional spectral formula. More accurate sets of spectra could be reconstructed by dividing the off-axis distances of R = 0-20 cm into two series of R = 0-10 cm and R = 10-20 cm, and by taking into account the radiation attenuation and scatter in the buildup cap of the dosimeter.

A convolution/superposition method using primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance: comparison of calculated and measured 10-MV X-ray doses in thorax-like phantoms.

We performed experimental studies on the convolution/superposition method reported in the former companion paper (Iwasaki in Radiol Phys Technol 4, 2011) using 10-MV X-ray beams from open-jaw-collimated fields. The method uses primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance. We made a comparison of calculations and measurements in water phantoms and thorax-like phantoms with respect to percentage depth dose curves, tissue-phantom ratio curves, and dose profiles.

A convolution/superposition method using primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance: a theoretical study on 10-MV X-ray dose calculations in thorax-like phantoms.

A convolution/superposition method is proposed for use with primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance. It should be noted that the number of energy bins is usually about ten, and that the reconstructed X-ray spectra can reasonably be applied to media with a wide range of effective Z numbers, ranging from water to lead. The study was carried out for 10-MV X-ray doses in water and thorax-like phantoms with the use of open-jaw-collimated fields.