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Title: Characteristics of Gafchromic XR-RV2 radiochromic film

Journal Article · · Medical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3147141· OSTI ID:22100561
;  [1]
  1. Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch 8140 (New Zealand) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140 (New Zealand)

Gafchromic XR-RV2 is a revised version of the obsolete Gafchromic XR-R-type radiochromic film. This article investigates the dose response, energy response, postexposure growth, and polarizing effects of this film after exposure to ionizing radiation in the diagnostic energy range. The effect of bit depth on scanning was also investigated. Films were scanned using an Epson Expression 10000XL document scanner or an X-Rite model 301 spot densitometer. Color channel analysis was performed. The film showed usable response in the air kerma range of 1-1000 cGy, although by 1500 cGy the film appeared saturated when using the red color channel on a document scanner. The film response varied by 11% between 60 and 96 kVp and 3.5% between 96 and 125 kVp for doses above 1 Gy. Postexposure growth was found to be approximately logarithmic and fairly stable after 24 h. Films stored under office lighting exhibited around twice the density growth compared with film stored in a dark environment. The film showed strong orientation dependence when scanned using a polarized light source. A 48 bit scan provided no increase in sensitivity over 24 bits. Gafchromic XR-RV2 film is a radiochromic film ideally suited for measurement of wide dose ranges at diagnostic energies. The energy dependence of this film limits its accuracy for dosimetry of unknown energy beams. For the document scanners used in this study a 24 bit scan was more than sufficient compared to a 48 bit scan. This is likely to be the case for most document scanners where electrical noise prevents higher bit depths from increasing the sensitivity of measurements.

OSTI ID:
22100561
Journal Information:
Medical Physics, Vol. 36, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2009 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-2405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English