Benchmark of PENELOPE for low and medium energy X-rays

The Monte Carlo code PENELOPE is benchmarked for X-ray beams with energies between 30 and 300 keV. The results of different simulations performed with PENELOPE are compared with those obtained with a semi-empirical computational model and with experimental measurements. Half-value layer indexes obtained from the attenuation curves for Al and Cu and depth dose curves in water have been considered for this comparison. A good agreement is reached on what guarantees the feasibility of the code. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica.