(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Chisapi, Maluba Vernon J.; Newman, Richard T.; De Kock, Evan A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The contribution of primary protons, secondary protons, heavy recoil ions, and other
secondary particles to the total energy deposited in water by a proton pencil beam
(in the therapeutic energy regime) has been investigated using the Geant4 Monte
Carlo simulation toolkit. Simulation results have been compared with those calculated
using dose distribution functions of the analytical beamlet model of Ulmer et
al., which is currently used in the commercial proton treatment-planning package
EclipseTM. Optimized settings for a robust, accurate, and computationally inexpensive
Geant4 simulations have also been proposed.