Weak energy dependence of EBT gafchromic film dose response in the 50 kVp-10 MVp X-ray range

Abstract

The energy dependence of the dose response of EBT Gafchromic film is assessed over a broad energy range, from superficial to megavoltage X-rays. The film is auto-developing and sensitive, it provides accurate dose assessment of low doses (about 1-2 Gy) used in radiotherapy. The energy dependence of the response of EBT film was found to be very weak: the variations do not exceed 10% over the range from 50 kVp to 10 MVp X-rays. By contrast, variations of the response of Gafchromic HS film are as big as 30% over the same range, and variations of the response of Radiographic film exceed one order of magnitude. This weak dependence provides significantly higher accuracy of dose measurements under conditions of varying spectral quality of X-ray beams, which are common in radiation therapy.