Alpha-particle Monte Carlo simulation for microdosimetric calculations using a commercial spreadsheet.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Alpha-particle emitters are being explored for cancer treatment.
• High linear energy transfer (LET) of alpha particles causes significant variations in energy deposition within cell nuclei.
• Microdosimetric spectra are essential for interpreting biological effects but related codes are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple method for simulating alpha-particle transport using a commercial spreadsheet.
• To determine key microdosimetric parameters like path length, energy deposition, and specific energy distributions.
• To provide a readily accessible tool for calculating single-event spectra for alpha-particle emitters.

Main Methods:

• A Monte Carlo simulation of alpha-particle transport was performed using a commercial spreadsheet program.
• The simulation determined distributions of path lengths and energy deposited by alpha particles in cell nuclei.
• Calculated single-event spectra were compared with previously published data.

Main Results:

• The spreadsheet-based Monte Carlo method successfully simulated alpha-particle transport.
• Distributions of path lengths, energy deposited, and specific energy were determined for single alpha-particle traversals.
• Comparison of calculated spectra moments showed agreement within a few percent with existing data, with minor discrepancies attributed to stopping power interpolation.

Conclusions:

• A commercial spreadsheet can be effectively utilized for Monte Carlo simulations of alpha-particle transport.
• This method offers a simple and efficient way to calculate single-event microdosimetric spectra for alpha-particle emitters.
• The developed approach facilitates the interpretation of biological endpoints in alpha-particle cancer therapy.