Using symmetry to reduce noise in Monte Carlo data

What is it about?

We show how to exploit the radial symmetry of proton pencil beam scanning spots in order to reduce noise in the tails of the dose distribution.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Pencil beam scanning is becoming the premier mode of delivering proton beam therapy for the treatment of cancer. Monte Carlo codes are frequently used to model the tails of the lateral dose distribution of the proton pencil beams. To model these tails correctly is of high importance in modeling the patient dose, which is a superposition of tens of thousands of pencil beams. We show how to correctly model the tails through Monte Carlo simulations without having to to use excessive computation times.