ABSTRACT

Background: An electron beam generated X-ray spectrum consists of characteristic X-ray and continuous bermsstrahlung. The aim of this research is calculating and comparing X-ray spectra for different target filter of mammograms.

 Materials and Methods: Monte Carlo is a very powerful tool to simulate a series of different target-filter assembly in order to calculate the X-ray spectra. MCNP version 4C has been used for simulation set up to calculate X-ray spectra for different target-filter combination of mammograms.

 Results: The spectra of different and the most commonly used target– filter in mammography equipments (Mo-Mo, Mo-Rh, Rh-Rh, W-Rh, Mo-Al and Rh-Al) have been calculated.

 Conclusion: The computational results can be used to select a suitable X-ray spectrum for mammography as well as for computing the absorbed dose. Also, the Monte Carlo result of Mo-Mo is in good agreement with the published results.