Stopping-power ratio for a photon spectrum as a weighted sum of the values for monoenergetic photon beams

Stopping-power ratios for water to air, Sw,air, have been calculated for 60Co and thin-target bremsstrahlung beams. The Monte Carlo method was used to generate depth-dependent Sw,air values and depth-absorbed-dose distributions in water for monoenergetic photon beams covering the energy range 0.1-50 MeV. An averaging procedure has been developed to derive the stopping-power ratios for a photon spectrum from the monoenergetic data. Values of the Spencer-Attix ratio for delta = 10 keV, SSAw,air (delta = 10 keV), and the Bragg-Gray ratio, SBGw,air, evaluated using the new I values and two different sets of values for the density effect correction, are given at the reference depths recommended in the dosimetry protocols.