Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_beams [2021/11/02 14:35] – [Electron Beam Normalization] dpatenaude
+++ electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_beams [2025/11/28 16:11] (current) – kerhart
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
         - The gantry angle is less than 5.0 or greater than 355.0 degrees
         - The couch angle is less than 10.0 or greater than 350.0 degrees
-      - **Beam Energy:** The minimum commissioned energy with an R90 large enough to reach the deepest portion of the distal surface of the target
+      - **Beam Energy:** The minimum commissioned energy with an R90 large enough to reach the deepest portion of the distal surface of the target.
-      - **Block Size:** The smallest fitting block size enabled for the selected treatment machine
+      - **Beam Normalization:** If a matching [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#site_settings|normalization template]] is found this will automatically be applied.
+      - **Block Size:** The smallest fitting block size enabled for the selected treatment machine.
 <imgcaption beams_6|Geometric Target Options>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_new_beam_target.png?direct&400 }}</imgcaption>
@@ Line 102: / Line 103: @@
 In this block the user can specify how the electron beam will be normalized. Absolute dose based normalization can be selected to scale the computed relative dose (%) to absolute (Gy) dose.
+If the Course is assigned a treatment site with a [[[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#plan_defaults_templates|beam normalization template]] and the the selected geometric target is one of the prescription structures, the normalization will be set according to the template in the treatment site. If the the geometric target is not a prescription structure, the absolute dose value must be set by the user. Refer to [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#plan_defaults_templates|Editing the Site Settings]] to set a beam normalization template.
 <imgcaption beam_normalization|Absolute Dose Beam Normalization>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:absolute_dose_based_normalization.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
-If MU dose conversion tables exist in the machine selected for the plan, MU based normalization can be selected to scale the relative dose based on a user specified MU value. In this case, the absolute beam dose value is calculated based on the given MU value. MU dose conversion data tables can be imported in the [[:electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#machine_settings|Site Configuration Machine Settings]].
+If MU dose conversion tables exist in the machine selected for the plan, MU based normalization can be selected to scale the relative dose based on a user specified MU value per fraction. In this case, the absolute beam dose value is calculated based on the given MU value per fraction. MU dose conversion data tables can be imported in the [[:electronrt:userguide:tutorials:all_tutorials#machine_settings|Site Configuration Machine Settings]].
 <imgcaption beam_normalization|MU Based Beam Normalization>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:mu_based_normalization.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
-The eRT application provides the following normalization options:
+The eRT application provides the following options for absolute dose based normalization:
   * **Location**: Normalize the dose to a small spherical volume surrounding a specific point.
@@ Line 122: / Line 125: @@
 <imgcaption beam_normalization_sphere|Location Normalization Sphere>{{ :electronrt:userguide:tutorials:decimal_electronrt_beams_normalization_sphere.png?direct&400 |}}</imgcaption>
@@ Line 133: / Line 137: @@
 Here the user can add or edit a bolus for this beam, more details on bolus creation can be found in the [[electronrt:userguide:tutorials:electron_bolus|Electron Bolus Creation]] section below (Intensity Modulators can also be added here).
+==== Dose Calculation ====
+The eRT application automatically runs the dose calculation anytime the beam configuration is altered by the user, there is no need to explicitly compute dose. Whenever a dose is displayed on the screen, you can be sure it is the dose corresponding to the currently specified beam information (there may be a slight 2-4 second delay after modifying a beam parameter in which time the prior dose result is still visible, this is to ensure the user has finished their current edits and avoids starting extra, unwanted dose calculations).
+Please read the [[electronrt:userguide:instructions_for_use:dose_algorithms|Dose Calculation Algorithms page]] for a complete description of the dose calculation algorithms used within the eRT application.