FLUKA-based Monte Carlo investigation of Microdosimetric distributions of telecobalt beam

FLUKA-based Monte Carlo calculations of microdosimetric distributions in water phantom involving a walled spherical Tissue-Equivalent Proportional Counter filled with tissue-equivalent propane gas have been studied for an indigenously developed telecobalt machine. The simulated site size considered in the study was 2 μm. In the Monte Carlo calculations, field size was varied from 10 cm x 10 cm to 35 cm x 35 cm and the depth was varied as 5-20 cm. The study also includes calculation of microdosimetric distributions with a 30 deg. wedge filter. The efficiency of the calculations was improved up to a factor of 26 by choosing appropriate cut off values for production and transport of electrons. The calculated microdosimetric distributions of telecobalt machine is distinctly different from that of a bare ⁶⁰Co source which is attributed to the influence of scattered photons from the machine head and the water phantom. (authors)