Measurement of LET (linear energy transfer) spectra using CR-39 at different depths of water irradiated by 171 MeV protons: A comparison with Monte Carlo simulation.

In this work, we have used CR-39 detectors to estimate the LET (linear energy transfer) spectrum of secondary particles due to 171 MeV proton beam at different depths of water including the Bragg peak region. The measured LET spectra were compared with those obtained from FLUKA Monte Carlo simulation. The absorbed dose ( D LET ), dose equivalent ( H LET ) were estimated using the LET spectra. The values of D LET and H LET per incident proton fluence were found to increase with the increase in depth of water and were maximum at Bragg peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]