A computer program based on Monte Carlo method had been designed and written in visual basic computer language and utilized for simulating the classic problem of gamma ray beam incident on finite plane slabs of absorbing materials. The source geometry adopted in this program is plane normal source.Dose buildup factor of gamma photons in the absence and presence pair production effect have been calculated in the energy range (4-10) MeV for aluminum, iron, and lead up to 5 mean free path thickness.Some of physical parameters has been studied and the simulation results indicates the following remarks:
• Gamma ray buildup factor increases with the increase of the thickness for the three shielding materials, this increase in dose buildup factor is due to the increase of scattering with the small angles and with the increase of the thickness of the material.
• Dose buildup factor for low atomic number material (Al, Z=13) is higher than that for medium (Fe, Z=26) and heavy (Pb, Z=82) material for the same photon energy (10MeV). A rapid decrease of the buildup factor values with the increase of Z is seen. This dependence is in a good agreement with the fact that the proportion of the cross section for Compton effect decreases with increasing atomic number, therefore the Compton effect plays a more significant role in lighter materials which have lower atomic number (Z).
Dose buildup factor is inversely proportional with the increase of energy within the studied enrgy range (4-10)MeV. This behavior can be explained that the cross section for Compton scattering within the studied energy range is decreased with increase of energy and this means that the probability of scattering is decreased and it is finally reflected on the buildup calculation, since the scattering plays an important role in determination of buildup factor.The rate of increase in the value of dose buildup factor in lead (Z =82) higher than iron (Z = 26), and the last is more than that for aluminium (Z = 13). This is due to the effect of pair production interaction which is directly proportional with the square of atomic number. Dose buildup factor in the presence of pair production is higher than dose buildup factor in the absence of pair production effect. The deviation between the values of dose buildup factor in the presence and absence pair production is increased when the energy is increased within the studied energy; this mainly due to the increase of cross section for pair production values within the studied energy range.
