Srna - Monte Carlo codes for proton transport simulation in combined and voxelized geometries

Abstract

This paper describes new Monte Carlo codes for proton transport simulations in complex geometrical forms and in materials of different composition. The SRNA codes were developed for three dimensional (3D) dose distribution calculation in proton therapy and dosimetry. The model of these codes is based on the theory of proton multiple scattering and a simple model of compound nucleus decay. The developed package consists of two codes: SRNA-2KG and SRNA-VOX. The first code simulates proton transport in combined geometry that can be described by planes and second order surfaces. The second one uses the voxelized geometry of material zones and is specifically adopted for the application of patient computer tomography data. Transition probabilities for both codes are given by the SRNADAT program. In this paper, we will present the models and algorithms of our programs, as well as the results of the numerical experiments we have carried out applying them, along with the results of proton transport simulation obtained through the PETRA and GEANT programs. The simulation of the proton beam characterization by means of the Multi-Layer Faraday Cup and spatial distribution of positron emitters obtained by our program indicate the imminent application of Monte Carlo techniques in clinical practice

The Monte Carlo SRNA-VOX code for 3D proton dose distribution in voxelized geometry using CT data

“…The first verification of the SRNA package (Ilic 2002a), for proton energies of 26.4, 66, 100, 205 and 250 MeV, is base on the good agreement with the results obtained by the referent proton transport codes. Numerical experiments performed by the SRNA-2KG and GEANT-3 codes, as well as by the SRNA-2K3 and GEANT-4 codes gave an additional confirmation that our proton transport model is correct.…”

“…The simulation of the proton transport in the SRNA package is based upon the multiple scattering theory of charged particles (Berger 1963, Moliere 1948, Bethe 1953, energy losses with fluctuation (Vavilov 1957, Shulek et al 1966 and our model of compound nucleus decay simulation after proton absorption in inelastic nuclear interactions. The details of this model were described elsewhere (Ilic et al 2002a). Here, only a brief overview is given.…”