Particle physics simulation toolkit Geant4 is an open source software developed by CERN for simulating the passage of particles through matter. It has widespread applications in high energy physics, nuclear physics, accelerator physics, and medical physics.
In the medical field, Geant4 can be used to model radiation transport and interactions for purposes such as radiotherapy treatment planning, dosimetry calculations, and medical imaging. Some specific examples of Geant4 medical applications include:
Modeling radiation dose delivery in radiotherapy. Geant4 can simulate the radiation from different sources like linear accelerators or radioactive sources and how it deposits dose in the patient's body. This helps optimize treatment plans to target the tumor while sparing organs at risk. Studying the effects of space radiation on astronauts. Geant4 can model galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events to estimate radiation exposures for long duration space missions. This is important to assess cancer risks for astronauts. Designing new medical imaging devices like PET and SPECT scanners. Geant4 simulations help model detector responses and scattering processes to improve image quality. Microdosimetry studies for targeted radiotherapy techniques like boron neutron capture therapy. Geant4 can simulate radiation interactions at the cellular and DNA level. Modeling radiation shielding properties of protective materials like lead and concrete for medical physics applications.
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