Determination of the Range and Spread-Out Bragg Peak Width of Proton Beams Using a Large-Volume Liquid Scintillator

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To determine the range, spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) width, and output of a passive-scattering proton beam with a liquid scintillator detector, without the need for quenching correction. Materials and Methods: The depth-light profiles of 3 beam energies (140, 160, and 180 MeV) with 6 SOBP widths at each energy, produced in a 20 × 20 × 20-cm3 liquid scintillator tank, were collected by a charge-coupled device camera. By defining landmarks on the light signals, measured ranges and SOBP widths were acquired. A linear dependence was found between nominal and measured properties, and calibration factors were obtained by comparing those properties. The daily output stability and reproducibility of the liquid scintillator detector were studied by conducting 8 repeated measurements over 2 weeks in a 60Co beam. Results: The beam ranges were determined with submillimeter accuracy without the need for any correction. The maximum difference between the measured and nominal range was 1.0 mm. The mean...