A study of Type B uncertainties associated with the photoelectric effect in low-energy Monte Carlo simulations

The goal of this manuscript is to estimate Type B uncertainties in absorbed-dose calculations arising from the different implementations current state-of-the-art Monte Carlo codes low-energy photon cross-sections (<200 keV). simulations are carried out using three widely used domain: PENELOPE-2018, EGSnrc, and MCNP. Mass energy-absorption coefficients for water, air, graphite, their respective ratios; absorbed dose; photon-fluence spectra considered. Benchmark similar have been performed. differences observed between these quantities when considered taken be a good estimator corresponding uncertainties. A conservative uncertainty dose (k=2) 1.2%-1.7% (<50 keV), 0.6%-1.2% (50-100 0.3% (100-200 keV) estimated. spectrum does not present clinically relevant that merit considering additional except energies below 25 keV, where 0.5% obtained. Below 30 mass show about 1.5% (water air), 2% (graphite), reaching values 1% (40-50 (50-75 water-to-graphite ratios 0.7% (k=2). In contrast with intermediate (about 500 or high 1 MeV) energy domains, due implementation cannot subdominant respect even other sources Therefore, reported here should accommodated within budget dosimetry studies.