An experimental evaluation of recent electron dosimetry codes of practice

As from the 1 January 1997, the recent IPEMB code of practice for electron dosimetry is the recommended protocol for electron beam dosimetry in the UK, replacing the previous HPA code of practice and its IPSM addendum. New recommendations for electron beam dosimetry have also been formulated recently by the AAPM and the IAEA on the use of parallel-plate ionization chambers in high-energy electron beams. Against this background, the procedures recommended in each of these codes of practice have been followed from intercomparison of the field instrument ionization chamber with a secondary standard through to the determination of absorbed dose at the reference position in the electron beam. Absorbed doses have been determined for a number of electron beam energies ranging from nominal 5 MeV through to 17 MeV, and for four different types of field instrument ionization chamber: an NE2571 graphite walled cylindrical chamber; an NACP parallel-plate chamber; a Markus parallel-plate chamber; and a Roos parallel-plate chamber. The differences in the determination of absorbed dose between the IPEMB protocol and the HPA/IPSM protocol vary from +0.5% to +1.6% at the depth of maximum dose. In addition the IPEMB measured doses are 0.2% larger than those measured following the IAEA code of practice. It may also be stated that the IPEMB measured doses at the depth of maximum dose are up to 1.5%, but generally less than 1.0%, lower than those measured by the AAPM protocol.