Theoretical Study of the Radiological Properties of NIPAM Polymer Dosimetry Gel

Abstract

The NIPAM offers significant potential for use as a three-dimensional dosimeter in advanced radiation activities. To investigate and delineate its radiological properties, we employed various methodologies. Photon interaction cross-sections, mass energy absorption coefficients, effective atomic numbers, mean values of Zeff, and gel/water equivalence. Due to significant dependence on atomic number, photoelectric absorption cross sections exceed those of water for energies up to 10 MeV. The cross sections of Compton scattering and pair formation for NIPAM gel are differentiated from those of water. Photoelectric absorption is the primary mechanism of energy absorption in this range, resulting in NIPAM's mass-energy absorption coefficient being significantly higher than that of water. The principal findings were juxtaposed with those of osseous and soft tissue materials. The gel's Zeff has been found to correlate with water as effectively as with any other material, including bone and tissue. Dosimetry can be conducted utilizing NIPAM gel, which is considered water equivalent for both keV and MeV, as demonstrated by our results. These data suggest that NIPAM gel exhibits greater water equivalency compared to bone and tissue.