Photonuclear activation of oxygen & copper with high-energy x-ray or electron beams

Abstract

Electron or x-ray energies above the threshold for photonuclear activation of certain elements (such as oxygen and copper) can be achieved in some of the high energy beams used today in radiotherapy. Neutrons and gamma radiations are produced in such reactions. These secondary radiations, beside their implications on the treatment, they have potential to be used for quality testing of the radiation beam and can also be imaged with a PET scanner and hence employed for testing such imaging modalities. In this work applications and implications of such secondary radiations in radiotherapy is investigated through oxygen that is in the water molecules inside gel dosimeters and copper in its solid..