Feasibility study of an optically-stimulated luminescent nanodot dosimeter (OSLnD) in high-energy photon beams

Abstract

In-vivo dosimetry is essential to verify the position and the intensity of the radiation therapy, such as cranio-spinal irradiation (CSI) and total body irradiation (TBI). Various kinds of devices, such as a thermo-luminesence dosimeters (TLDs), metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), semiconductor diodes, and gafchromic films, are used in in-vivo dosimetry, and these have their respective pros and cons. An optically-stimulated luminescent nanodot dosimeter (OSLnD) made of Al₂O₃: C was developed to measure the radiation dose during diagnostics, but it is now used for clinical purposes. In this study, the characteristics of the OSLnD, such as its dose rate dependency, dose linearity, angular dependency, and field junction, were investigated under a 6 MV X-ray beam. The OSLnD showed a linear response at doses from 20 to 300 cGy in the dose linearity test. Also, the dose rate dependency was shown to be less than 3%, angular dependency to be less than 2%. The experimental results proved the OSLnD to be useful for measurements of the external dose and for intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in clinical radiotherapy.