Recent developments in basic dosimetry.

Abstract

CCEMRI(I) (1985) has recommended that from January 1st 1986 the Primary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories (PSDLs) should adopt new values for W/e (33.97 J/C), stopping powers for electrons (ICRU Report 37, 1984), g value in air for 60Co (3.2 X 10-3), and energy absorption coefficients [17]. The consistency of the whole dosimetric chain requires the same basic physical data at the users' beam quality and PSDLs, but most of the existing dosimetry protocols are not generally based on such a set of data and in some cases old and new data have been employed together. A review of the basic data included in the dosimetry protocols is presented here, together with a comparison with experimental data. The most recent data include the recommendations of CCEMRI(I) and at the same time, some of the inconsistencies existing in dosimetry protocol have been eliminated. The new set of data is presented in this work. New dosimetry protocols and updated versions of protocols published before 1986 are discussed in terms of their basic data.