Comparison of Physical and Biological Methods of Depth Dose Measurement

Abstract

The results presented in this paper have been obtained by exptl. work carried out during the years 1932-1942. Drosophila eggs served as a biological test object for the detn. of the effects of X-rays generated at 200, 500, and 1000 kV. A Victoreen condenser dosimeter with a "25 r" chamber was employed for the physical detn. of doses. Measurements free in air, on the surface and in certain depths of a water phantom have been made with both methods. No significant differences have been found between the ratios of tissue to air dose by these 2 methods. Of special interest is the great constancy of the Drosophila test over years. As reported in this paper the first and the last measurements for the radiation of 900 kV and 100 cm area were separated by a space of 6 yrs., but differed from each other by less than 1%. The physical procedure for depth doses measurements designed to insure a comparison of surface and depth doses which can be reproduced in another laboratory is given in a subsequent paper.