Benchmark of the Monte Carlo code PENHAN for the simulation of low energy proton microdosimetric spectra using 3D-cylindrical silicon detectors
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose: The performance of the Monte Carlo code PENHAN is benchmarked for the simulation of the microdosimetric spectra of low-energy protons ( ≤ 14 MeV) using 3D-cylindrical silicon detectors. Methods: Simulations were validated against experimental spectra obtained from a proton beam cyclotron at the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA, Seville) and compared with results from the TOPAS (Geant4) code, using the same methodology reported in the paper that presented the reference experimental data. Results: The results showed that PENHAN reproduced the shape and position of the energy spectra, matching the maximum peak of the energy distribution to within 6% relative error in all cases. Absolute relative errors in the frequency-mean lineal energy remained below 8% across all proton energies (6-14 MeV). We also emphasize the importance of accurate modeling of the electronic stopping power, S e , for protons: variations in S e for tungsten alone led to differences of up to 14% in frequency-mean lineal energy. Conclusion: These findings underscore the potential of PENHAN as a simulation tool in proton therapy and microdosimetry, and highlight the necessity of validated stopping power data for reliable simulations.
Source: Physica Medica
Institutions: Universidad de Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica, Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad de Málaga
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,780
Awards: G1028175657, G1039312466, G1092424111, G1105844351, G1175115578, G1233872688, G1464294958, G1512391773, G1610934229, G1622782223, G163360369, G221284401, G2262748287, G2438242660, G2673512141, G2863668859, G300979063, G3199249199, G34346518, G3480869486, G3704251856, G410571670, G4164016044, G425668148, G451917667, G4526231891, G4911873639, G491712853, G5080475149, G5404395142, G5539308778, G5555131222, G562633673, G5635532810, G586857820, G5967599077, G6033112984, G624877701, G6432139184, G6502309059, G66099019, G7084143925, G7125385782, G717256432, G7434936867, G7805626310, G7863371703, G8497050386, G8667377315, G8684520763, G8702892231, G8998921603, G929308097
OpenAlex ID: W7171523280