Perturbation effect of parallel-plate ionization chambers on buildup dose measurements in transverse magnetic fields.

The aim of this study is to investigate the perturbation effect of parallel-plate ionization chambers on the buildup dose measurement in transverse magnetic fields, using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The NACP-02 and ROOS parallel-plate chambers and a PTW31010 cylindrical chamber were modeled for buildup dose measurement in magnetic fields, using the EGSnrc/cavity code. The irradiation condition was set to a 10 × 10 cm field in a water phantom at a source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 100 cm, using 6-MV photon spectrum. Magnetic fields of 0 0.35, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 T were applied perpendicularly to the direction of the photon beam. The overall perturbation factor P for the ionization chambers in the magnetic fields was also calculated. The dose to water was enhanced with increasing the magnetic field strength at a depth of less than 1 cm. Over a depth of 1.5 cm, there was no significant difference in the depth doses with and without magnetic field in water. The maximum depth dose (%) for the NACP-02 and ROOS chambers at 1.5 T was higher up to 12% and 14% than the maximum depth dose at 0 T, respectively. The depth dose curves of a PTW31010 chamber have a similar tendency to those of water. The P values for each chamber were the largest at the phantom surface. The transverse magnetic field has a greater effect on the dose response of the NACP and ROOS chambers than that of the PTW31010 chamber in the buildup region.