Accurate Dose Measurements Using Cherenkov Polarization Imaging (2106.08218v1)

Abstract: Purpose: Cherenkov radiation carries the potential of direct in-water dose measurements, but its precision is currently limited by a strong anisotropy. Taking advantage of polarization imaging, this work proposes a new approach for high accuracy Cherenkov dose measurements. Methods: Cherenkov produced in a 15x15x20 cm^3 water tank is imaged with a cooled CCD camera from four polarizer transmission axes [0{\deg}, 45{\deg}, 90{\deg}, 135{\deg}]. The water tank is positioned at the isocenter of a 5x5 cm^2, 6 MV photon beam. Using Malus' law, the polarized portion of the signal is extracted. Corrections are applied to the polarized signal following azimuthal and polar Cherenkov angular distributions extracted from Monte Carlo simulations. Percent depth dose and beam profiles are measured and compared with the prediction from a treatment planning system (TPS). Results: Corrected polarized signals on the central axis reduced deviations at depth from 20% to 0.8\pm1%. For the profile measurement, differences between the corrected polarized signal and the TPS calculations are 1\pm3% and 8\pm3% on the central axis and penumbra regions respectively. 29\pm1% of the Cherenkov signal was found to be polarized. Conclusions: This work proposes a novel polarization imaging approach enabling high precision water-based Cherenkov dose measurements. The method allows correction of the Cherenkov anisotropy within 3% on the beam central axis and in depth.