Linear-energy-transfer-independent nanoclay radio-fluorogenic gel dosimeter under energetic ion beams of 28Si14+, 40Ar18+, 56Fe26+, 132Xe54+, and 12C6+

Recently, a radio-fluorogenic gel dosimeter that can evaluate the depth-dose distribution of high-energy carbon ion beams within a radio -therapeutic dose range was reported. This study performed a detailed characterization of this gel dosimeter using five types of ion beams (high-energy carbon, silicon, argon, iron, and xenon ion beams). In addition, this paper explains the mechanism of linear -energy -transfer (LET) -independent sensitivity by evaluating the effect of the composition conditions and contribution of water -decomposed molecules and radicals. Thus, it was observed that the dosimeter could be used to evaluate the dose distribution of various highenergy heavy ion beams in bioequivalent materials. The LET range was 25-8000 eV/nm. Additionally, it was suggested that this feature was caused by two mechanisms, i.e., an increase in the reaction by hydrogen peroxide and a decrease in the contribution of OH radicals by degassing.