All beams of electromagnetic radiation are made of photons. Therefore, it is important to find a precise relationship between the classical properties of the beam and the quantum characteristics of the photons that make a particular beam. It is shown that this relationship is best expressed in terms of the Riemann–Silberstein vector – a complex combination of the electric and magnetic field vec...

Using the laser backscattering method at future TeV linear colliders one can obtain γγ and γe colliding beams (photon colliders) with the energy and luminosity comparable to that in ee collisions. Now this option is included to conceptual designs of linear colliders. This paper (talk at the conference on nonlinear optics) is a short introduction to this field with an emphasis on required lasers...

Introduction: Treatment with megavoltage electron beams is ideal for irradiating superficial tumors because of their limited range in tissues. However, for electron treatment of extended areas, such as the chest wall, two or more adjacent fields can be used. Abutment of these fields may lead to significant dose in homogeneities in the junction region. The aim of this study is to offer a new met...

The present thesis is focused on the development and application of narrow scanned high energy photon beams for radiation therapy. The introduction of physically and biologically optimized intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) requires a flexible and accurate dose delivery method to maximize the treatment outcome. Narrow scanned photon beams is a fast option for IMRT since it is not depe...

Electron beams with helical wavefronts carrying orbital angular momentum are expected to provide new capabilities for electron microscopy and other applications. We used nanofabricated diffraction holograms in an electron microscope to produce multiple electron vortex beams with well-defined topological charge. Beams carrying quantized amounts of orbital angular momentum (up to 100ħ) per electr...

PURPOSE Thermoluminescent dosimeters are used routinely for dosimetric measurements of photon and electron fields. However, no work has been published characterizing TLDs for use in combined photon and electron fields. This work investigates the response of TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti) in mixed fields of photon and electron beam qualities. METHODS TLDs were irradiated in a 6 MV photon beam, 6 MeV elec...

PURPOSE Monte Carlo (MC) simulation can be used for accurate electron beam treatment planning and modeling. Measurement of large electron fields, with the applicator removed and secondary collimator wide open, has been shown to provide accurate simulation parameters, including asymmetry in the measured dose, for the full range of clinical field sizes and patient positions. Recently, disassembly...

Background and purpose: European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) has set up a Quality Assurance network for radiotherapy (EQUAL) carrying out dosimetry audit. Some of the work is done in cooperation with the IAEA. The network deals with measurements performed with mailed TLD irradiated in reference and non-reference conditions, for on-axis points in photons and electrons ...

A protocol is presented for the calculation of monitor units (MU) for photon and electron beams, delivered with and without beam modifiers, for constant source-surface distance (SSD) and source-axis distance (SAD) setups. This protocol was written by Task Group 71 of the Therapy Physics Committee of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and has been formally approved by the ...

Purpose: To quantify the DNA damage induced in a clinical megavoltage photon beam at various depths in and out of the field. Methods and Materials: MCNPX was used to simulate 10x10 cm and 20x20 cm 10 MV photon beams from a clinical linear accelerator. Photon and electron spectra were collected in a water phantom at depths of 2.5, 12.5 and 22.5 cm on the central axis and at off-axis points out t...