Ford Flashcards
mass rest of proton
938 MeV
frequency of gamma rays, xrays etc
gamma - 10^19 Hz
x-rays - 10^17 Hz
UV - 10^16 Hz
visible - 10^15 Hz
infrared - 10^ 14 Hz
thermal IR - 10^13 Hz
microwaves- 10^11 Hz
radio - 10^8 Hz
energy of wave
E = hv
lambda= h/p
E= pc
Plank constant
6.63 * 10^-34 m2kg/s
size of atom vs size of nucleus
atom is tens of nm
nucleus is 10^-15 m
Coulombs Law
F = kq1q2/r^2
ground state of hydrogen atom
13.6 eV
eV
1.6 *10^-19 J
charge of electron is 1.6 *10^-19 C
Coulomb constant
8.99*10^9 Nm2/C2
94.9 FM radio is what frequency?
94.9 MHz
mass of electron
9.11*10^-31 kg
magnetic force
F= qvB
centripetal force
F= mv^2/r
mass of proton
1.7*10^-27 kg
angular frequency
omega = v/r
f= omega/2pi
nuclei with Z> what are unstable
83
what elements are more neutron rich
higher Z
mass/energy of stable nucleus vs mass/energy of its parts
stable nucleus has lower mass/energy
where does beta minus decay occur
neutron rich nuclei
beta plus occurs for neutron poor nuclei
why is there a spectrum of energies for beta decay?
energy is shared with neutrino or anti-neutrino
half life of beta minus vs beta plus decay
beta-minus: long
beta-plus: short
how are neutron rich vs neutron poor isotopes made?
neutron rich: reactors (bombardment)
neutron poor: cyclotron
how to tell difference between beta plus and beta minus spectrum?
beta plus- no particles are created at very low energies and max energy is higher than that of beta-minus due to extra colomb force between nucleus and positron
mean life of radioactive source
1.44 * half life
activity of daughter is half life of parent is much longer than daugther
-activity of daughter about equal to activity of parent
Activity of daughter = parent activity (half life of parent)/(half life of parent - half life of daugther)
equation for mg Ra equivalent
(tau source/ tau Ra)* source activity
is beta in TG43 equation in rad or degrees?
radians
brachy inverse square law fall off- what source falls off fastest? Pt source, 3 mm, or 5 mm line
pt source falls off fastest, followed by 3 mm line and 5 mm line
range of electrons
half of its energy in MeV (cm)
binding energies of iodine:
K 33.168 keV
L1 5.188
L2 4.852
L3 4.557
M1 1.072
highest energy characteristic photon and auger electron for 30 kV incident photon
30 kV photon can ionize anything but k-shell
highest energy photon is L1-M1 = 4.12 keV
If this energy instead goes to auger, 4.12 - 1.072 = 3,04 keV is highest energy auger electron
offset between dose and kerma wrt energy
higher energy beams = higher energy electrons= longer range = bigger offset
why do higher energy beams have deeper dmax?
they produce higher energy electrons which travel further in the medium. It thus takes longer for equilibrium to be reached
how does linear attenuation coefficient depend on density?
increases linearly with density
-mass attenuation coefficient doesn’t depend on density
. How many HVLs of tungsten are required to attenuate a high-energy photon
beam down to 3% of its initial intensity?
(0.5)^n = 0.03
take ln of both sides and solve for n
is dmax deeper in lung than in water?
yes, because electron ranges are longer in lung
what does radiative stopping power depend on?
(Z/m)^2 and acceleration ^2 (ie Srad increases with energy)
this is in units of MeVcm^2/g
Z is of medium and m is of particle
what does collisional stopping power depend on?
decreases in higher Z material as there are less electrons to interact with
not a strong dependence on energy
what does stopping power of protons depend on
mostly collisional loss, radiative loss very small
-depends on Z of medium, z^2 of particle
-inversely proportional to velocity^2
-does not depend on particle mass
where does delta ray come from?
electron undergoes “hard” collision in which substantial amt of energy is transferred to electron
-delta ray can travel relatively long distance
- For an ionization chamber in a water tank, which lling gas will provide the
highest charge reading for a 6 MeV electron beam?
a. Air
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Methane
d. Approximately the same
The charge produced is from collisional losses. The collisional stopping powers for a 6 MeV electron in the above materials are, respectively, 1.870, 1.874,
2.474 MeV cm2/g, so methane should be the right answer. However, most of the
electron collision interactions are not in the gas itself but rather in the water
which then streams into the ion chamber. The readings, therefore, are approximately the same.
A 1 MeV electron beam interacts with a 1 × 1 × 1 cm block of material. Which type
of material will produce the highest exposure at 2 m from the block?
a. Muscle
b. Water
c. Aluminum
d. Tungsten
tungsten
The exposure at 2 m will be from bremsstrahlung photons. In higher Z materials the production of bremsstrahlung is much larger (much larger radiative
stopping power). If the block were very large, self-shielding may reduce the
ux of photons from a high-Z material.
what causes heating in the anode?
collisional losses of the electrons
key reason MV beams were developed
skin sparing
see chapter 8 diagrams in how linacs accelerate electrons
-oscillating voltage is applied to accelerating structures
-oscillation frequency is such that electron reaches the gap between cavities just as the voltage gradient is at its maximum
-frequencies are S or X band for linacs
-cavities are designed so that one wavelength of RF spans one cavity length- this means X band can be made more compact (however harder to make)
magnetron vs klystron
-magnetron is smaller, generates microwaves
-klystron is amplifier- amplifies W to MW- larger, bulky, and is stationary
how do magnetrons make microwaves?
-Cathode is heated- electrons boil off of it and accelerate towards anode
-magnetic field makes the electrons circle around the cathode instead of hit the anode directly
-electrons accelerating around the cathode produces microwaves which are picked up by the output antenna
why are linacs maintained at low vaccuum pressures/
to prevent arcing
-if there is no gas in system, there are no atoms to ionize and carry the current of a spark
-however, microwave generation system is exception as it has SF6 at high pressure
what is electron gun?
cathode through which electrons are emitted
what does modulator do?
introduces pulses into klystron/magnetron and also into gun
-electron system and RF system are switched on and off in synchrony with each other
what determines dose rate of linac?
-pulse repetition rate and current in peak of pulse
why is achromatic bending magnet used instead of 90 degree bending magnet (image pg 84)
-all electrons strike target at same position for achromatic
-otherwise, electrons strike target at different positions depending on their energy
achromatic = magnetic field increases going out radially from center. Therefore, as higher energy electrons travel through a larger orbit, they experience a larger magnetic force and are bent back to same location
-slalom magnet achieves same as achromatic but uses 3 magnet sectors- can make gantry head more compact
how is linac photon energy determined?
-not by flux of electrons but rather by energy of electron as it emerges from waveguide
-this is controlled by switching sections of the waveguide on or off
energy lost to heat in xray tube vs linac
The ratio of collisional stopping power in tungsten at 40 keV vs. 6 MeV is 3.17.
The implication of this is that relatively more energy is dissipated in collisional
losses in an X-ray tube vs. a linac. This energy goes into heating the anode.
More energy is converted to bremsstrahlung photons in a linac target (e.g. 6
MeV electrons) compared to an X-ray tube (e.g. 40 keV electron).
How does the copper housing of the linac target affect the spectrum of emerging
photons?
a. Hardens the beam
b. Softens the beam
c. Reduces overall output
d. Increases overall output
c. reduces overall output
The emerging photons are high energy and mostly undergo the Compton process in the copper surrounding the target. In this energy range, the Compton
cross-section is roughly independent of energy so the beam does not harden or
soften much, i.e. it does not preferentially lter out higher or lower energy photons. However, it does reduce the overall uence because it attenuates the beam.
Note that the very softest part of the spectrum (keV) energies will be ltered
What is the effect of not synchronizing the pulses of electrons from the gun with
the RF waves in the waveguide?
a. Lower energy electron emerging from the waveguide
b. Higher energy electron emerging from the waveguide
c. Lower average beam current
d. Higher average beam curren
a- lower energy electron emerges
If the electron bunches are not synchronized with the RF, they cross the gaps
when the potential between cavities is low. Therefore, they are not accelerated
efciently in the waveguide. The output decreases because high-energy electrons ultimately do not reach the the target
What would be the effect of increasing the overall magnetic eld in a 270°-bending magnet?
b. Target spot location moves away from the gun direction
c. Beam energy increases
d. Spot size decreases
A larger magnetic eld would bend the electrons more (i.e. into a tighter circle),
which theoretically should move the spot away from the gun.
equation for size of penumbra
W = source size (SSD-SCD)/scd
SCD is source to collimator distance
if penumbra is at some depth in the patient d, then SSD becomes SSD + d
-if SCD = SSD (ie collimator placed at skin) then penumbra at skin would be 0
tongue and groove effect
tongue and groove make dose fall-off less sharp than if these features were not present
why does tomo have increased output?
-no FFF
-85 cm SAD vs 100 cm
What are the key choices of linac operation that allow for the compact systems
such as TomoTherapy, CyberKnife, or Mobetron? Check all that apply.
a. High repetition rate
b. High frequency
c. Lower required MU
d. Low energy
high frequency and low energy
3 sources of penumbra
-source size
-shape of beam collimation device and transmission through edge of device
-scatter at edges of field- higher energy electrons can scatter further and thus penumbra are smeared out
size of horns for 10 MV vs 6 MV
horns are larger for 10 MV beam
depth of basal skin
0.07 mm
skin dose for FS 40X40 vs 10x10
2 x dose for 40x40
dose at skin is similar for different energies, slightly lower for high E
skin dose is increased if beam goes through couch or other device
why are there holes in thermoplastic mask?
decrease skin dose increase from plastic
maynord F factor
PDD2 = PDD1 * ((SSD2+dmax)/(SSD2+d))/((SSD1+dmax)/(SSD1+d))
equivalent FS for blocked field
FS unblocked * square root (1-f)
where f is fraction of field that is blocked
During an emergency treatment on the weekend, a PDD table is accidentally used
instead of a TMR table to calculate dose at a depth of 10 cm for an isocentric setup.
What is the approximate impact on the dose delivered?
a. Dose to isocenter 20% low
b. Dose to isocenter 10% low
c. Dose to isocenter 10% high
d. Dose to isocenter 20% high
PDD is smaller than TMR so the calculated MU will be larger than it would
have been if the TMR value were used. The delivered dose therefore will be
larger. The PDD differs by including an inverse square factor which for depth
of 10 is approximately 20%, i.e. (100/110)2
Sc for a blocked field
Sc will be for the “unblocked” field- i.e. the size of the collimator at iso
superposition convolution
convolve TERMA with kernal
-TERMA is total energy released in matter at each voxel. Considers attenuation, radiological pathlength
-kernel is calculated using MC and describes the contribution of terma in one voxel to neighbouring voxels
-kernels are also scaled based on density (ie in regions of lower density, kernel is larger because range of electrons is larger)
penumbra in inhomogeneities and for different energies
penumbra are wider in lung due to longer range of electrons and this effect is worse in high energy beam because electron range is longer
describe effect of bone on dose
-beam attenuation increases in bone due to higher density
-distal to bone there is increase in dose due to backscattered electrons
-within bone itself dose is not much different for 6 MV; at higher MV, pair production becomes significant and dose in bone increases
when are inhomogeneity effects worse?
small field
high energy
trick for remembering wedge direction
heels together, toes apart, like in tango
wedge angle
90- (hinge angle/2)
hinge angle is angle between 2 beams
For a treatment of breast cancer with two tangent eld (i.e. opposed oblique
beams), rank the following treatments in order of the smallest to largest hot spot
in the breast.
a. 6 MV, separation 15 cm
b. 6 MV, separation 25 cm
c. 15 MV, separation 15 cm
d. 15 MV, separation 25 cm
Order (smallest to largest hot spots): c, a, d, b. The hot spots in tissue are largest
for larger separation and lower energies. This is due to the PDD dropping off
more for larger separations and for lower energies.
where should ICRU reference dose be?
where dose can be accurately calculated
-not in build-up, steep gradient, or tissue interface
For IMRT, use dose-volume prescription and not dose to a pt since dose is not homogeneous
survival fraction for single fraction vs fractionated treatment
single fraction: SF = e^(-alpha D - beta D^2)
multiple fractions: SF = e^(-alpha D - beta* n*d^2)
advantages of compensators vs MLCs
-uses dose efficiently whereas with leaves, much of the beam is “wasted”
Rank the following treatment techniques in order from least to most MU required
to deliver the same dose to a target.
a. 3D-CRT
b. Step-and-shoot IMRT with MLC
c. Dynamic MLC IMRT
d. Compensator IMRT
Order is: a. 3D-CRT, d. Compensator IMRT, b. Step-and-shoot IMRT with
MLC, c. Dynamic MLC IMRT
compare 3DCRT DVH for OAR to VMAT DVH for OAR
The 3D-CRT plan delivers more doses to the OAR at the intermediate dose
levels. However, the situation is reversed at low-dose level, the VMAT plan
“spreading out the dose” more.
What advantage is provided by rotating the collimator away from zero degrees in
VMAT arcs?
With a rotation the leaves do not line up with each other. This prevents interleaf
leakages from overlapping exactly in the same place as the arc rotates around.
why is the elctron PDD not sharp, but instead spread out in depth?
higher energy electrons travel further and lower energy electrons travel less
-electrons scatter with air along the intervening path - some have lost energy
rules of thumb for electron PDD
R90 = E/3.3
R80 = E/3
R50 = E/2.33
Rp = E/2
higher energy beam has:
-deeper penetration
-higher surface dose
-more spread out fall-off
-broader region of dose max
surface dose is about 75+ E %
-Brems. contamination is 1-5 % of peak dose and is higher for high E electrons
what happens to electron PDD when FS < Rp?
-dmax closer to surace
-surface dose increases
electron beam penumbra
-penumbra for higher E is smaller than for lower E because higher E electrons are more forward directed
-as depth increases, penumbra become wide, especially for high energy beams. Higher isodose lines constrict, lower isodose lines bulge out
gap between applicator and patient for electron treatment
5 cm is typical
also leave 1 cm wider on each side than treatment area to account for penumbra
what effects happen when treating with electrons at extended SSDs?
-larger penumbra - more constriction and bulging
-output decreases- use virtual source for IS corrections
-light field no longer accurately tracks radiation field
what happens to electron beams with oblique incidence?
-dmax gets pulled closer to surface
-doses are higher on side where angle is sharper
ie dose lines pull closer to surface
what happens with inhomogeneities in electron beams?
-tissue prominence in beam center- dose under prominence is shifted up, regions on either side of prominence have more dose due to outscatter of electrons from prominence into these regions
–tissue defect- isodose lines under defect are shifted away from source. Inscatter of electrons from sides into region under the defect, creating hot spots on either side just inside edge of defect
Which energy and cutout combination might require a special measurement to
determine the PDD and MU to be used?
a. 6 MeV, 5 × 5 eld
b. 8 MeV, 10 × 10 eld
c. 12 MeV, 5 × 5 eld
d. 18 MeV, 10 × 10 eld
Lateral disequilibrium effects become important when the eld size becomes
smaller than the practical range of electrons (E/2). For a 12 MeV eld this is
approximately a 6 × 6 eld
When using an internal lead shield under the lip what would be the effect of
reversing the position of the low-Z absorber (i.e. absorber on the distal side of the
lead shield instead of the proximal side)?
a. Decreased dose to the gum mucosa distal to the shield
b. Increased dose to the gum mucosa distal to the shield
c. Decreased dose to the lip
d. Increased dose to the lip
The low-Z absorber is intended to prevent electrons from backscattering into
the tissue proximal to the shield. If the orientation is reversed the lip would
receive an extra dose. This dose increase could be as high as 70%.
where is brems. production highest in electron profile
along CAX b/c brems is more forward directed
volume of farmer vs scanning cs mini vs micro chamber
-0.6 cc
-0.125 cc
-0.06 cc
-0.006 cc
How much does the kQ factor in Problem 2 deviate if the incorrect PDD(10 cm) of
65% were used, i.e. the PDD for a 6 MV beam? Would the calibrated output be too
low or too high?
a. 2.2% low
b. 3.1% low
c. 2.1% high
d. 3.1% hig
From Fig 4 (or Table I) in TG-51 the factor at 65% is 0.993 for the chamber
model # NE2571. This value is higher than the one in Problem 2 by a factor
0.993/0.972 = 1.022.
Calibrated output will be 2.1% too low. Because of the high kQ the corrected
reading will be too high. In order to achieve 1 cGy/MU, the machine would
therefore be calibrated down to a lower reference dose
Kq decreases as % dd10x increases
How much will the dose calibration (cGy/MU) deviate if a 20 × 20 eld is accidentally used to measure output per TG-51 vs. a 10 × 10 eld for a 6 MV beam? (Refer
to the tables in Section 11.3.)
a. 0.96
b. 0.98
c. 1.025
d. 1.043
The ratio of doses for eld sizes 20 × 20 vs. 10 × 10 is TMR(20X20)/TMR(10X10) = 1.043.
Therefore, the measured dose will
be too large by a factor of 1.043. In order to achieve 1 cGy/MU, the machine
would therefore be calibrated down to a lower reference dose by a factor of
1/1.043 = 0.96.