• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.106-108
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• 2002

Recent advances in radiation transport algorithms, computer hardware performance, and parallel computing make the clinical use of Monte Carlo based dose calculations possible. Monte Carlo treatment planning requires accurate beam information as input to generate accurate dose distributions. The procedures to obtain this accurate beam information are called "commissioning", which includes accelerator head modeling. In this study, we would like to investigate how much accurately Monte Carlo based dose calculations can predict the measured beam data in various conditions. The Siemens 6MV photon beam and the BEAM Monte Carlo code were used. The comparisons including the percentage depth doses and off-axis profiles of open fields and wedges, output factors will be presented.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Purpose: Although ionization chambers are widely used to measure beam commissioning data, point-by-point measurements of all the profiles with various field size and depths are time-consuming tasks. As an alternative, we investigated the feasibility of a linear diode array for commissioning a treatment planning system. Methods: The beam data of a Varian TrueBeam^® radiotherapy system at 6 and 10 MV with/without a flattening filter were measured for commissioning of an Eclipse Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA) ver.15.6. All of the necessary beam data were measured using an IBA CC13 ionization chamber and validated against Varian "Golden Beam" data. After validation, the measured CC13 profiles were used for commissioning the Eclipse AAA (AAA_CC13). In addition, an IBA LDA-99SC linear diode array detector was used to measure all of the beam profiles and for commissioning a separate model (AAA_LDA99). Finally, the AAA_CC13 and AAA_LDA99 dose calculations for each of the 10 clinical plans were compared. Results: The agreement of the CC13 profiles with the Varian Golden Beam data was confirmed within 1% except in the penumbral region, where ≤2% of a discrepancy related to machine-specific jaw calibration was observed. Since the volume was larger for the CC13 chamber than for the LDA-99SC chamber, the penumbra widths were larger in the CC13 profiles, resulting in ≤5% differences. However, after beam modeling, the penumbral widths agreed within 0.1 mm. Finally the AAA_LDA99 and AAA_CC13 dose distributions agreed within 1% for all voxels inside the body for the 10 clinical plans. Conclusions: In conclusion, the LDA-99SC diode array detector was found to be accurate and efficient for measuring photon beam profiles to commission treatment planning systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.119-120
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• 2002

The aim is to urge the need of elaborate commissioning of 3D RTP system from the firsthand experience. A 3D RTP system requires so much data such as beam data and patient data. Most data of radiation beam are directly transferred from a 3D dose scanning system, and some other data are input by editing. In the process inputting parameters and/or data, no error should occur. For RTP system using algorithm-bas ed-on beam-modeling, careless beam-data processing could also cause the treatment error. Beam data of 3 different qualities of photon from two linear accelerators, patient data and calculated results were commissioned. For PDD, the doses by Clarkson, convolution, superposition and fast superposition methods at 10 cm for 10${\times}$10 cm field, 100 cm SSD were compared with the measured. An error in the SCD for one quality was input by the service engineer. Whole SCD defined by a physicist is SAD plus d$\sub$max/, the value was just SAD. That resulted in increase of MU by 100${\times}$((1_d$\sub$max//SAD)$^2$-1)%. For 10${\times}$10 cm open field, 1 m SSD and at 10 cm depth in uniform medium of relative electron density (RED) 1, PDDs for 4 algorithms of dose calculation, Clarkson, convolution, superposition and fast-superposition, were compared with the measured. The calculated PDD were similar to the measured. For 10${\times}$10 cm open field, 1 m SSD and at 10 cm depth with 5 cm thick inhomogeneity of RED 0.2 under 2 cm thick RED 1 medium, PDDs for 4 algorithms were compared. PDDs ranged from 72.2% to 77.0% for 4 MV X-ray and from 90.9% to 95.6% for 6 MV X-ray. PDDs were of maximum for convolution and of minimum for superposition. For 15${\times}$15 cm symmetric wedged field, wedge factor was not constant for calculation mode, even though same geometry. The reason is that their wedge factor is considering beam hardness and ray path. Their definition requires their users to change the concept of wedge factor. RTP user should elaborately review beam data and calculation algorithm in commissioning.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.43-46
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• 2004

The commissioning of a treatment planning system of model-based dose calculation algorithm requires a lot of parameters to be selected to fit measured data, in which process physical insights for the parameters are often forgotten. We present the photon beam commissioning of Pinnacle$^3$ with the help of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and evaluate the parameters Pinnacle$^3$ demands. Even though the MC calculation produces reasonable values for the commissioning, the thorough physical basis of the Pinnacles$^3$'s commissioning process is needed to use the MC derived parameters directly.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.150-157
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• 2022

Purpose: Elekta synergy^® was commissioned in the Seoul National University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Recently, Chung-Ang University Gwang Myeong Hospital commissioned Elekta Versa HD^TM. The beam characteristics of both machines are similar because of the same Agility^TM MLC Model. We compared measured beam data calculated using the Elekta treatment planning system, Monaco^®, for each institute. Methods: Beam of the commissioning Elekta linear accelerator were measured in two independent institutes. After installing the beam model based on the measured beam data into the Monaco^®, Monte Carlo (MC) simulation data were generated, mimicking the beam data in a virtual water phantom. Measured beam data were compared with the calculated data, and their similarity was quantitatively evaluated by the gamma analysis. Results: We compared the percent depth dose (PDD) and off-axis profiles of 6 MV photon and 6 MeV electron beams with MC calculation. With a 3%/3 mm gamma criterion, the photon PDD and profiles showed 100% gamma passing rates except for one inplane profile at 10 cm depth from VMTH. Gamma analysis of the measured photon beam off-axis profiles between the two institutes showed 100% agreement. The electron beams also indicated 100% agreement in PDD distributions. However, the gamma passing rates of the off-axis profiles were 91%-100% with a 3%/3 mm gamma criterion. Conclusions: The beam and their comparison with MC calculation for each institute showed good performance. Although the measuring tools were orthogonal, no significant difference was found.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.113-115
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• 2002

The Monte Carlo simulation method is a numerical solution to a problem that models objects interacting with other objects or their environment based upon simple object-object or object-environment relationships. In spite of its great accuracy, It was turned away because of long calculation time to simulate a model. But, it is used to simulate a linear accelerator frequently with the advance of computer technology. To simulate linear accelerator in Monte Carlo simulations, there are many parameters needed to input to Monte Carlo code. These data can be supported by a linear accelerator manufacturer. Although the model of a linear accelerator is the same, a different characteristic property can be found. Thus, we performed a commissioning process of 6MV photon beam in Varian 2300C/D model with BEAM/EGS4 Monte Carlo code. The head geometry data were put into BEAM/EGS4 data. The mean energy and energy spread of the electron beam incident on the target were varied to match Monte Carlo simulations to measurements. TLDs (thermoluminescent dosimeter) and radiochromic films were employed to measure the absorbed dose in a water phantom. Beam profile was obtained in 40cm${\times}$40cm field size and Depth dose was in 10cm${\times}$10cm. At first, we compared the depth dose between measurements and Monte Carlo simulations varying the mean energy of an incident electron beam. Then, we compared the beam profile with adjusting the beam radius of the incident electron beam in Monte Carlo simulation. The results were found that the optimal mean energy was 6MV and beam radius of 0.1mm was well matched to measurements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.41-41
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• 2003

Purpose: Even if the wedge filter is widely used for the radiation therapy to modify the photon beam intensity, the wedged photon beam dose calculation is not so easy. Radiation therapy planning systems (RTPS) have been used the empirical or semi-analytical methods such as attenuation method using wedge filter parameters or wedge filter factor obtained from measurement. However, these methods can cause serious error in penumbra region as well as in edge region. In this study, we propose the dose calculation algorithm for wedged field to minimize the error especially in the outer beam region. Materials and Method: Modified intensity by wedge filter was calculated using tissue-maximum ratio (TMR) and scatter-maximum ratio (SMR) of wedged field. Profiles of wedged and non-wedged direction was also used. The result of new dose calculation was compared with measurement and the result from attenuation method. Results: Proposed algorithm showed the good agreement with measurement in the high dose-gradient region as well as in the inner beam region. The error was decreased comparing to attenuation method. Conclusion: Although necessary beam data for the RTPS commissioning was increased, new algorithm would guarantee the improved dose calculation accuracy for wedged field. In future, this algorithm could be adopted in RTPS.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2020

This study aimed to assess of beam-matching accuracy for an 8 MV beam between the same model linear accelerators(Linac) commissioned over two years. Two models were got the customer acceptance procedure(CAP) criteria. For commissioning data for beam-matched linacs, the percentage depth doses(PDDs), beam profiles, output factors, multi-leaf collimator(MLC) leaf transmission factors, and the dosimetric leaf gap(DLG) were compared. In addition, the accuracy of beam matching was verified at phantom and patient levels. At phantom level, the point doses specified in TG-53 and TG-119 were compared to evaluate the accuracy of beam modelling. At patient level, the dose volume histogram(DVH) parameters and the delivery accuracy are evaluated on volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) plan for 40 patients that included 20 lung and 20 brain cases. Ionization depth curve and dose profiles obtained in CAP showed a good level for beam matching between both Linacs. The variations in commissioning beam data, such as PDDs, beam profiles, output factors, TF, and DLG were all less than 1%. For the treatment plans of brain tumor and lung cancer, the average and maximum differences in evaluated DVH parameters for the planning target volume(PTV) and the organs at risk(OARs) were within 0.30% and 1.30%. Furthermore, all gamma passing rates for both beam-matched Linacs were higher than 98% for the 2%/2 mm criteria and 99% for the 2%/3 mm criteria. The overall variations in the beam data, as well as tests at phantom and patient levels remains all within the tolerance (1% difference) of clinical acceptability between beam-matched Linacs. Thus, we found an excellent dosimetric agreement to 8 MV beam characteristics for the same model Linacs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.527-527
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• 2012

In the Pohang Light Source (PLS), a major upgrade (PLS-II) of existing machine had been performed in last 3 years. Big improvements in beam parameters are expected from this major upgrade and various diagnostic instruments were installed to measure them. These include beam position monitor, beam current monitor, tune monitor, scraper, beam loss monitor, photon beam monitor, beam size monitor, streak camera, and so on. In this work, we would like to briefly introduce diagnostic instruments of the PLS-II and present measurement results in the commissioning process of the PLS-II.

• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.4-7
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• 2016

An X-ray Free Electron laser facility (PAL-XFEL) has been built in Pohang Accelerator Laboratory to provide X-ray FEL radiations for photon users. The machine consists of a 10 GeV normalconducting S-band linear accelerator and two undulator beamlines. The hard and soft X-ray beamlines will provide FEL radiations with wavelengths of 0.6 to 0.1 nm and 4.5 to 1 nm, respectively. Beam commissioning of PAL-XFEL is ongoing and user service will start in 2017. In this report, the PAL-XFEL layout and the working principle are discussed.