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Geant4 Simulation of an X-ray Beam Monitoring Detector based on plastic scintillators
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Researchers used computer simulations to test a new detector design that monitors X-ray beams, like those used in medical imaging or radiation therapy, without significantly disrupting the beam itself. The design barely interferes with the main X-ray beam while still tracking scattered radiation, which could help improve safety measures that protect patients and staff from unwanted radiation exposure. Real-world testing is still needed to confirm these computer-based results.
Beam monitoring detectors play an important role in experimental control and radiological protection by enabling the real-time characterization of particle and photon beams. They provide information on beam intensity, position, and scattering, helping to ensure measurement accuracy, protect sensitive detectors, and quantify stray radiation in the surrounding environment. In this work, a Geant4 simulation was developed to investigate the performance of an X-ray beam monitoring detector (BMD) composed of six hexagonal BC404 plastic scintillators arranged to provide high granularity, using a reflector with a realistic reflectivity of 93\%. Under the simulation conditions considered in this study, the detector exhibited an intrinsic time resolution of 100.8 $\pm$ 2.0~ps. The results indicated that only about 10\% of the incident photons interacted with the detector, suggesting that the proposed design could be used for beam characterization while minimally perturbing the primary beam. In addition, the X-ray multiplicity decreased with distance according to an inverse-square dependence. A backscatter study performed using a water phantom showed that approximately 6\% of the incident beam was detected as scattered radiation. These results suggest that the proposed detector may be a useful tool for X-ray beam characterization and for studies related to scatter radiation and radiological protection. Further experimental validation is required to confirm these findings.
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