SU-E-T-25: Real Time Simulator for Designing Electron Dual Scattering Foil Systems

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy Accelerator Technology
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• Designing dual foil scattering systems for electron beams in radiotherapy requires accurate and efficient tools.
• Current methods may lack real-time feedback for iterative design and optimization.
• Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and experimental measurements are crucial for verification but can be time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a user-friendly, accurate, real-time computer simulator for designing dual foil scattering systems.
• To enable rapid initial design of these systems, facilitating refinement and verification.
• To integrate analytical calculations with a graphical user interface for intuitive operation.

Main Methods:

• Developed an analytical algorithm using Fermi-Eyges multiple Coulomb scattering theory with refined Moliere formalism for electron fluence.
• Integrated the algorithm into a C++ graphical user interface (GUI) program.
• Included estimation of central-axis X-ray dose contamination and real-time display of beam profiles and contamination.

Main Results:

• Simulator electron fluence profiles agreed within 2% of EGSnrc MC calculations for energies 7-20 MeV.
• X-ray contamination predictions matched measured data within 0.6%.
• Real-time parameter variation achieved with calculation times of approximately 100 ms per processor.

Conclusions:

• A functional real-time simulator for dual scattering foil systems has been successfully developed.
• The simulator proved valuable in redesigning a scattering foil system for a radiotherapy accelerator.
• The tool also serves as an effective instructional aid for medical physics graduate students.