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Phantoms for beam characterization: solid plastics
Advantages
Disadvantages
•
Robust
•
Allow easy, quick and reproduceable setup
•
Can be used with non water-proof detectors
•
Easier to use with films
•
Water-equivalence depends on modality and
energy (MV, kV, MeV)
•
Expensive if manufactured to be water-
equivalent
•
Different samples of same type of plastic could
vary in composition and from manufacturer
specification
•
Possible degradation with time
•
Possible charge storage effects