Absorbed dose to water determination for kilo-voltage X-rays using alanine/EPR dosimetry systems

Alanine's relative response to kilo-voltage X-rays, compared to 60Co reference quality beam, was studied in this work, in order to determine correction factors to be applied to alanine's response when irradiated with low to medium energy X-rays (up to 300 keV). The relative response to kilo-voltage X-rays of Aerial's alanine dosimeters was determined by three distinct methods: experimental measurements using alanine dosimeters and a calibrated PTW Farmer 30013 ion chamber, Monte Carlo simulations using MCNPX code and finally, analytical calculations based on weighting of X-ray spectra by NIST's published mass energy absorption coefficients. Two sets of X-ray beam qualities, covering high voltages ranging from 50 kV up to 280 kV, were used to study the energy dependence of the alanine dosimeter's response. Obtained results were consistent within 2.1% (average standard deviation at k = 1). •Study of alanine/EPR dosimeter's relative response for kV X-rays compared to 60Co.•Three investigation methods were studied and elaborated in this manuscript.•Results of all three methods are consistent within 2.1% standard deviation.•A novel method based on analytical calculations is developed in this work.