A restricted angular scattering model for electron penetration in dense media.

Abstract

A restricted angular scattering model for electron penetration in dense media is presented. In the model, the Fermi-Eyges transport equation is modified through the addition of an extra term which may be interpreted as representing an apparent force opposing the scattering of electrons into wider angles. The introduction of this extra term allows the modeling of the measured saturation in the mean square angular spread of electrons with depth. The restricted scattering model retains the Gaussian features of the Fermi-Eyges model and, therefore, may be readily incorporated into existing dose computation algorithms. Good agreement is obtained with measured angular electron distribution data for a point monodirectional beam over a wide range of incident electron energies (5-20 MeV) and scattering media (atomic numbers of 6 to 82). Also, a comparison of the restricted scattering model predictions with measurements of the lateral pencil beam spread shows an improvement over the predictions of Fermi-Eyges model close to the end of the electron range. Broad beam profiles were generated using both the Fermi-Eyges and restricted scattering models. A comparison of predicted and measured beam profiles shows that the restricted scattering model is a significant improvement over the Fermi-Eyges model for the prediction of beam penumbra shape in homogeneous media.