Application of diamond detectors to the dosimetry of 45 and 100 kVp therapy beams: comparison with a parallel-plate ionization chamber and Monte Carlo

Diamond detectors have become an increasingly popular dosimetric method where either high spatial resolution is required or where photon or electron spectra are likely to change with depth or field size. However, little work has been previously reported for superficial energies. This paper reports the response of a commercially available diamond detector (PTW Freiburg/IPTB Dubna) at 45 kVp (0.55 mm Al first HVL) and 100 kVp (2.3 mm Al first HVL) including dose and dose-rate linearity, percentage depth-dose and output factors as a function of applicator size. Comparisons are made with Br. J. Radiol. supplement 25 data, measurements using a PTW parallel-plate chamber and Monte Carlo simulations based on spectra determined from transmission measurements in aluminium. Excellent agreement was obtained for percentage depth-dose curves between Monte Carlo and diamond after correcting for sublinearity of the dose-rate response and energy dependence of the diamond detector. However, significant differences were noted between diamond/Monte Carlo and the parallel-plate chamber, which is attributed to the perturbation caused by the polyethylene base of the chamber. (author)