Monte Carlo calculation of the ionization chamber response to 60Co beam using PENELOPE

The calculation of the ionization chamber response is one of key factors to develop a primary standard of air kerma. Using Monte Carlo code PENELOPE, we simulated the cavity response of the plane parallel ionization chamber to the monoenergetic Co-60 beam incident normally on a flat surface of the chamber. Two simulation techniques, namely, the uniform interaction technique and the reentrance technique, were introduced. The effect of the input parameters such as C1 (average angular deflection in a single step between hard elastic events), C2 (maximum average fractional energy loss in a step), s(max) (maximum step length) and W-cc (the lower energy of secondary electrons created as a result of a hard collision) on the simulated cavity dose was evaluated. We found that the simulated cavity response of the graphite and solid air chambers obtained by PENELOPE to the monoenergetic Co-60 beam could be consistent with the value expected from the cross-sections of PENELOPE to within 0.2% (one standard deviation) when W-cc and s(max) were selected carefully. (c) 2006 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.