DETERMINATION OF THE ENERGY FLUENCE OF DIAGNOSTIC-X-RAY BEAMS FROM FIELD-MEASUREMENTS OF ATTENUATION CURVES

The use of field measurements of attenuation curves of low-energy x-ra y beams as a functional description of the beams is presented in this work. The energy fluence carried by diagnostic x-ray beams has been de termined from Al attenuation measurements made with a quality control ionization chamber for diagnostic x-ray equipment and with a low-volum e ionization chamber. The obtained values are compared with those obta ined from a catalog of spectral data for diagnostic x rays. (C) 1997 A merican Association of Physicists in Medicine.