Development and characterization of a Fricke gel dosimeter for precise measurement in low-dose photon fields

Abstract

In the field of radiation medicine, particularly within radiotherapy applications, radiochromic chemical dosimeters are indispensable tools for dose measurement. This study focuses on the novel development of a radiochromic dosimeter tailored for the precise detection of low-dose radiation, aiming to construct a dosimeter with tissue-equivalent properties suitable for accurately measuring low to medium radiation doses. Utilizing ferrous xylenol orange gel (FXG), we developed two tissue-equivalent dosimeter formulations based on gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Our findings demonstrate that the gelatin-based FXG dosimeter exhibits a robust linear dose-response relationship, facilitating precise dose measurements in the range of 50 to 5000 mGy. Conversely, the PVA-based FXG dosimeter proved effective for dose measurements within a narrower range of 600 to 5000 mGy. Notably, the gelatin-based dosimeter's performance underscores its potential as a versatile tool in radiation detection, promising significant benefits for both medical and industrial applications. This research confirms the efficacy of the Fricke dosimeter gel, demonstrating its linear response across a dose range of 0.05 to 5 Gy, thus establishing a foundation for further advancements in accurate and reliable low-dose radiation monitoring.