• Corpus ID: 4681732

Radiotherapy Proton Interactions in Matter

@article{Gottschalk2018RadiotherapyPI,
  title={Radiotherapy Proton Interactions in Matter},
  author={Bernard Gottschalk},
  journal={arXiv: Medical Physics},
  year={2018}
}

• B. Gottschalk
• Published 30 March 2018
• Physics
• arXiv: Medical Physics

A survey of physics useful to proton radiotherapy, centered on stopping, scattering and hard scatters:
1. Introduction
2. The fundamental formula dose = fluence x mass stopping power. Practical units, comments on effective stopping power.
3. Range: experimental definition, Beth-Bloch CSDA theory, range-energy tables and approximations, range straggling.
4. Multiple Coulomb Scattering: suggested reading, elements of Moliere theory, the Gaussian approximation, scattering power.
5. Hard scatters (nuclear interactions): contributing reactions, shape and size of the halo, experiment, halo as a Monte Carlo test.
6. Bragg curve (effective stopping power): limiting cases S_em and S_mixed, transverse equilibrium, computing S_em, measuring S_mixed, parameterizing the nuclear halo.
7. Looking ahead: Fermi-Eyges theory, the Preston and Koehler rules, a proton dose algorithm from first principles.
Appendices:
A. Acronyms
B. Symbols
C. Gaussians
D. Relativistic kinematics
E. Simple design problems.