Monte Carlo Simulation of the Electron Transport Through Air Slabs: A Comparative Study of penelope, geant3, geant4 and egsnrc Monte Carlo Codes

The Monte Carlo simulation of the electron transport through air slabs is studied with four codes: PENELOPE, GEANT3, Geant4 and EGSnrc. Monoenergetic electron beams with energies 6, 12 and 18 MeV are considered to impinge on air slabs with thicknesses ranging from 10 to 100 cm. The angular and radial distributions of the transmitted electrons are used to make a comparison between the codes. Non-negligible differences are observed in the radial distributions. These differences produce worth effects in the macroscopical dose distribution absorbed in a water phantom situated behind the slabs.