Experimental investigation of filtered epithermal-photoneutron Beams for BNCT

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:423590

Nigg, D W; Mitchell, H E; Harker, Y D ^[1]; Harmon, J F ^[2]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, ID (United States)

The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) has been investigating the feasibility of a concept for an accelerator-based source of epithermal neutrons for BNCT that is based on the use of a two-stage photoneutron production process driven by an electron accelerator. In this concept, relativistic electron beams impinge upon heavily-shielded tungsten targets located at the outer radius of a small cylindrical tank of circulating heavy water (D{sub 2}0). A fraction of the energy of the electrons is converted in the tungsten targets into radially-inward-directed bremsstrahlung radiation. Neutrons subsequently generated by photodisintegration of deuterons in the D{sub 2}O within the tank are directed to the patient through a suitable beam tailoring system. Initial proof-of-principal tests using a low-current benchtop prototype of this concept have been conducted. Testing has included extensive measurements of the unfiltered photoneutron source as well as initial measurements of filtered epithermal-neutron spectra produced using two different advanced neutron filtering assemblies, as described here.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 423590
• Report Number(s): INEL--95/00630; CONF-9609293--6; ON: DE97050829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
66 PHYSICS
BEAM PRODUCTION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
ELECTRON BEAMS
ENERGY RESOLUTION
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
HEAVY WATER
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON SOURCES
PHOTONEUTRONS
PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS
PHOTOPRODUCTION
TUNGSTEN 182 TARGET
TUNGSTEN 183 TARGET
TUNGSTEN 184 TARGET
TUNGSTEN 186 TARGET