[Epithermal neutron capture therapy]. Progress and status report
Development of a 4 mA, 2.5 MeV Tandem Cascade Accelerator (TCA) for the production of neutrons via the {sup 7}Li(p,n){sup 7}Be nuclear reaction is currently nearing completion at SRL. The TCA is a tandem electrostatic accelerator which uses a high current negative ion source in conjunction with a high current solid state cascade multiplier power supply to provide a compact, low cost, proton accelerator capable of supplying multi-milliampere currents at several million electron volts. The inherent simplicity and flexibility of this accelerator provide several features which are desirable for laboratory and clinical applications requiring the generation of high neutron fluxes. The beam aperture of the accelerating tube is large so that critical focusing and alignment of the beam is not required. Both the ion beam source and target are at ground potential during operation. This configuration allows different moderator geometries to be incorporated easily into the target design. A high degree of compactness is achieved by a patented SRL design which allows the power supply to be mounted directly onto the accelerating column thereby eliminating the need for an external power supply chassis. The TCA is unique in its capability to accelerate multi-milliampere ion beams to 2.5 MeV. A direct result of the patented high current solid-state power supply developed by SRL and the use of a high current, high brightness multicusp negative ion source. The TCA requires no RF or magnetic fields which greatly reduces the system weight, power dissipation and heat load on auxiliary systems when compared with radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) or cyclotron-type accelerators. Delivery of current is continuous, rather than pulsed as in an RFQ, which reduces the peak thermal and mechanical stresses on the target and simplifies target design. The accelerator weighs less than 2,000 lbs., has an overall length of approximately 2.6 m, and requires approximately 25 kW of electrical power.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-89ER60874
- OSTI ID:
- 10148689
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/60874-4; ON: DE93013334
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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