Small Field Dosimetry with Beryllium Oxide Ceramic Fibre Optic Dosimeters
Dosimetry - image courtesy Michael Douglass
Radiation dose measurements in small fields is a challenging task for many detectors.
Current practise generally requires the use of commercial radiation detectors with applied correction factors to account for their change in response when applied to small fields. Beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramics have an effective atomic number, zeff ~7.1, closely matched to water, zeff ~7.4. Therefore it is expected that there is little energy dependence and along with their small size, they may be a useful small field dosimeter with little to no correction factors necessary.
This project will involve Monte-Carlo simulations of the beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramic dosimeter to determine the expected dose deposition when exposed to small fields. Experimental measurements will then be performed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and compared to other dosimetry systems.
Study honours in medical physics
Research in medical physics operates in collaboration with Medical Physicists working in hospitals around Adelaide. One of the strengths of the program is the opportunity it provides for students to work in a hospital environment and to gain insight into clinical procedures.
An honours project in medical physics can provide an excellent introduction to the MPhil. or a PhD in this field, and to a medical physics career. The program is coordinated by Dr Alex Santos and Dr Michael Douglass.
- Research in Radiotherapy Physics is carried out in the Department of Medical Physics at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
- Projects in Medical Imaging Physics are available at both Flinders Medical Centre (Radiology) and the Royal Adelaide Hospital (Nuclear Medicine).
