Monte Carlo study of depth dose calculation for low energy clinical electron beams

Monte Carlo method is the most accurate calculation method commonly used in clinical simulations. Although this method is worldwide used for treatment planning and dose calculation, there are still some debating problems due to the accuracy and calculation time of each code. Monte Carlo codes like MCNP and EGS has been calibrated with experimental data. In this work we have compared recent multipurpose FLUKA code with EGSnrc, MCNP4C, and ETRAN Monte Carlo codes for understanding their limitations, and to avoid systematic errors in the simulation, and to suggest further improvement for the codes. The electron depth dose obtained from each code has been compared with energy interval between 10keV to 20Mev in the water phantom. There are minor disagreements between the codes, the physics and cross section of each code has been compared to evaluate the results. Their timing and further capabilities of each code has been compared. All codes show great agreement in predicting the depth dose rise up and fall out, with energy increase. The depth dose peak shifts toward the deeper depths, and spreads with energy increase. The codes show difference in regard to the slope of rise and fall, which is more observable at energies above 10 MeV.