Small-field output ratio determination using 6 mol% Ge-doped silica fibre dosimeters

This work investigates the suitability of locally fabricated 6 mol% Ge-doped optical fibres as dosimeters for small-field output ratio measurements. Two fabrications of fibre, cylindrical (CF) and flat (FF) fibres, were used to measure doses in small photon fields, from 4 to 15 mm. The findings were compared to those of commercial Ge-doped fibre (COMM), EBT3 film and an IBA CC01 ionization chamber. Irradiations were carried out using a 6 MV SRS photon beam operating at a dose rate of 1000 cGy min-1, delivering a dose of 16 Gy. To minimise the possibility of the fibres failing to be exposed to the intended dose in small fields, the fibres were accommodated in a custom-made Perspex phantom. For the 4 mm cone the CF and FF measured output ratios were found to be smaller than obtained with EBT3 film by 32% and 13% respectively. Conversely, while for the 6 to 15 mm cone fields the FF output ratios were consistently greater than those obtained using EBT3 film, the CF output ratios differed from those of EBT3 film by at most 3.2%, at 6 mm, otherwise essentially agreeing with EBT3 values at the other field sizes. For the 4 to 7.5 mm cones, all output ratios obtained from Ge-doped optical fibre measurements were greater than those of IBA CC01 ionization chamber. The measured FF and CF output ratios for the 7.5 to 15 mm cones agreed with published MC estimates to within 15% and 13%, respectively. Down to 6 mm cone field, present measurements point to the potential of CF as a small-field dosimeter, its use recommended to be complemented by the use of EBT3 film for small-field dosimetry.