Construction of a radiation beam scanner and investigation of volume averaging correction factor effects on beam-profile

TL;DR

This paper presents a 3D-printed radiation beam scanner with high positional accuracy, and investigates how volume averaging correction factors influence beam-profile measurements, demonstrating significant profile improvements after correction.

Contribution

It introduces a cost-effective, high-precision 3D-printed scanner for beam-profile measurements and evaluates the impact of volume averaging corrections on ionization chamber data.

Findings

Scanner accuracy better than ±150 μm

Laser sensor error standard deviation ~30 μm

Profile deviations reduced after applying correction factors

Abstract

In radiation beam-profile measurements, an accurate positioning of the detector with high position resolution is essential. For this purpose, we built a scanning device capable of moving a detector in three dimensions using mainly parts from a commercial 3D-printer. The accuracy and repeatability of movement was tested with caliper, laser displacement sensor, and repeated $^{60}$Co beam-profile measurements in a water phantom. The results from the caliper and the sensor showed position accuracy for the scanner to be better than $\pm$150 $\mu$m. The standard deviation of the error in position from laser sensor measurements was approximately 30 $\mu$m and the beam profile scans showed a maximum deviation from the mean position of 50 $\mu$m. The effect of volume averaging correction factors on $^{60}$Co beam-profile was investigated with two different sized ionization chambers. The differences in the profiles were reduced significantly after applying the correction factors.