Monte Carlo Code for Calculating the Elastic and Inelastic Scattering Cross Section Along with Mean Free Path of Positron Scattering in Kidney, Lung and Thyroid Organs
Abstract
This research calculated the total cross sections for positron scattering in kidney, lung, and thyroid tissues along an energy range of 100 eV to 1 MeV. Monte Carlo methods were employed to determine both elastic and inelastic integral cross sections, utilizing the Rutherford formula for elastic scattering and the Gryzinski excitation function for inelastic processes. A comparison was made between elastic and Penelope elastic cross sections. The study also examined elastic, inelastic, and total mean free paths as functions of positron energy for all three tissue types. The computational approach is designed to be broadly applicable across different materials. We observed significant differences in cross-section profiles and in the energy dependencies of the mean free path between tissues, attributing these variations to distinct inelastic-scattering characteristics inherent to each material. While the systematic uncertainties in the computational algorithm are challenging to quantify precisely, we believe they are largely systematic.
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References
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