Self-powered detector methods for precision monitoring of pulsed bremsstrahlung from linac sources

Further development of self-powered detecting devices for monitoring bremsstrahlung beams at the University of Toronto Linac Laboratory has provided the conceptual basis for a bremsstrahlung monitoring system offering reliable and precise information concerning the location, magnitude and distribution of the radiation dose as it is being administered. Experimental results indicate the feasibility of monitoring the radiation delivered in a typical bremsstrahlung burst with a precision of better than 2%, while the (centroid) position of each burst can be monitored to +-0.5 mm. These and other characteristics of the self-powered devices are expected to permit the design and implementation of monitoring systems which can eliminate the delivery of more than one faulty bremsstrahlung burst in a prescribed radiation treatment. (orig.)