Comparison of calibration coefficients for a vinten ionization chamber simulated using four Monte Carlo methods

The Vinten 671 ionization chamber (VIC) was modelled using Monte Carlo (MC) programs EGSnrc, Penelope, and TOPAS. Several national measurement institutes have VICs with well-characterized response relationships and have measured calibration coefficients for many radionuclides. Twelve radionuclides with various decay emissions were assessed as well as 14 monoenergetic photon sources and 10 monoenergetic electron sources. Calibration coefficients were calculated based on the energy deposited in the simulated VIC nitrogen gas volume and compared to experimental values from the literature. •Vinten 671 ionization chamber was modelled in EGSnrc, PENELOPE, and TOPAS.•Monte Carlo calibration coefficients were compared to accepted experimental values.•The TOPAS model agreed best with experimental values, followed by EGSnrc.