RAD-BIOL and TPS SCORER

Scoring
1

Dear Experts,
I have gone through the related threads. In one of my previous query, I got very satisfactory explanation (see: About RAD-BIOL and TPSSCORE card).
There one example.dat file is provided (I have attached it here also)
example.dat (3.0 KB)

It is given that the first column may be LET or Kinetic energy/u. The default is Kinetic energy/u.

  1. If I supply the alpha and beta value as a function of KE/u, what is the default energy of KE ? Is it GeV/u or I need to mention the energy some where ?

  2. If I want to supply as a function of LET, what command I need to use in the .dat file ?

  3. It seems that the attached example.dat file, provided alpha and beta value as a function of LET

  4. In the manual, it is given that: " A last line (optional) with ENERGY or LET indicating whether the tabulated values are as a function of kinetic energy per nucleon or LET (default kinetic energy per nucleon)". What command I need to add in the example.dat file for LET and KE/u

kindly give me some suggestions.

Thanking you in advance.

3

Dear @ArghyaC,

Many thanks for your question! I actually had to dig a bit in the code to cross-check the units.
If alpha and beta are tabulated as a function of LET the units should be keV/um, but if they are tabulated as function of the kinetic energy the units should be MeV/nucleon (as I guess these energies are more common in radiotherapy applications).
I don’t know how the example.dat was exactly sourced, but if the values are tabulated as a function of LET, the last line of the file should exactly be LET. If the values are instead tabulated as a function of the kinetic energy per nucleon, the last line should be ENERGY.

Best,
Davide

4

Thank you for your reply.
There is no information regarding the units of the parameters in the user manual.

My doubt is that, in FLUKA default unit of kinetic energy is GeV/u. So, it seems that here also it will be GeV/u.

In the example.dat file (as attached in the previous mail), first column is given upto value 1000. So it seems that it is 1000 keV/um.

As per your suggestion, if I want to feed as a function of LET, I need to put the word “LET” in the last line of the script. As per manual, if I do not put anything, it is by default KE/u. Am I correct?

If anyone has some updated .dat file for this, it will be a great guidance for me.

Waiting for the reply. Thanking you in advance.

5

Dear @ArghyaC,
Yes, that is correct, if you wish that the values are interpreted as LET you can add LET in the last line of the file with any text editor of your choice ;).
Best,
Davide

6

Thank you for your reply.

So, The unit of KE/u is MeV/u. Am I correct?
As per your suggestion, unit of LET is keV/cm which seems very uncommon. Is it correct?

Is there any database to get the value of alpha and beta as a function of LET or KE/u for different ions ? It will be helpful.

Waiting for any suggestions.
Thanking you in advance.

7

Dear @ArghyaC,

from my understanding, if ENERGY is present in the file the values are interpreted as MeV/u.
Apologies for the typo, the unit of the LET is keV/um (for info I have edited my first reply).

Unfortunately, I am not aware of publicly available data on alpha/beta values for any biological model and other ion species.

Cheers,
Davide

8

Thank you very much for your responses. I will try as per your suggestions and will be back to you if I face any issue.