Q4:

In relation to an x-ray beam profile shown above, identify/describe/define the following features. Penumbra Umbra Radiation Beam Edge Central Axis Shoulders Horns Toe Tail Flattened Beam Width Radiation Beam Width The following is generally true for all linac beam profiles and for no cobalt beam profiles when there is broad beam geometry. (1) As the depth increases; the profile horns, if any, are reduced and the profile shoulders increase. (2) Also, as the field size is increased, the horns, if any, are increased. These two things are true for different, but related, reasons. What are those reasons? A4: (Comments by Paul) 1) Penumbra: The lateral distance between 80% and 20% dose points at a specified depth. 2) Umbra: Region outside the radiation field, far removed from field edges. The dose in this region results from transmission through the collimators ( < |15cm| or maybe more) I think this is the useful part of the beam between the penumbras where the dose is high. ***

***I have a comment about the definition of "umbra". In a classical physics sense (such as in an eclipse) the umbra is defined as the region where the source is completely cut off from view (i.e the darkest region of the eclipse). In that same sense the umbra of a radiation beam should be the area that is fully shielded from the view of the source. This would agree with the response by "neel42".

Reference: Christensens Introduction to the Physics of Diagnostic Radiology, Curry et al, 3rd Edition, 1984, page 156-157. If you follow the explanation given in the reference, consider this to be an imaging problem in which the object being images is "the collimators aperture", then, the umbra is as I described it. That author also gives the "eclipse" definition that you do and Im going to assert that theyre not inconsistent. The difference is that the moon is an absorptive object and the collimators aperture is a transmitting object.

3) Radiation Beam Edge: 50% dose points on each side of the central axis define the radiation beam edge (~10.5cm and +10.5cm) 4) Central axis: The line defining the axis of symmetry (0cm) of the radiation beam (midway between the 50% points for beam central axis) 5) Shoulders: Region where the profile curves over (~|8cm| to |10cm|) (Yes, drop off before the penumbra) 6) Horns: The high dose region in the periphery of the field (~ |4cm| to |8cm|) (Yes, areas where the dose is greater than on the CAX). 7) Toe: Curvy region in the fall-off area (~ |11cm| to |14 cm|) (Yes, area just past the 20% point). 8) Tail: Region beyond the toe ( < |14cm|), (Yes, where the dose is low and not changing much.) 9) Flattened Beam Width: Dont know the definition of flattened beam width but can define the field flatness: beam flatness for a photon beam is specified to exclude the penumbral effects. It is calculated by finding the maximum Dmax and minimum Dmin dose point values on the profile within the 80% of the beam width and then using

F = 100*(dmax-dmin)/(dmax+dmin) (The width of the flattened beam is generally taken to be 80% of the width of the radiation beam.) 10) Radiation Beam width: The distance between the 50% dose points is called the radiation beam width As the field size is increase, the horns, if any, are increased: As the field size increases more and more of the flattening filter is visible and because of its shape the central part is attenuated more than the off-axis point. This result in lower beam effective energies in the off-axis regions compared to the central axis but more fluence in the off-axis region compared to central axis. Yes, more horns at larger field size because youre seeing more of the flattening filter. Horns decrease at greater depth because the beam is softer as you get away from the central axis. The beam is harder near the central axis because the flattening filter is thicker there and hardens it more.