Accuracy of parameterized proton range models; a comparison

Abstract

An accurate calculation of proton ranges in phantoms or detector geometries is crucial for decision making in proton therapy and proton imaging. To this end, several parameterizations of the range-energy relationship exist, with different levels of complexity and accuracy. In this study we compare the accuracy four different parameterizations models: Two analytical models derived from the Bethe equation, and two different interpolation schemes applied to range-energy tables. In conclusion, a spline interpolation scheme yields the highest reproduction accuracy, while the shape of the energy loss-curve is best reproduced with the differentiated Bragg-Kleeman equation.