EXPERIMENTAL THERMAL AND EPITHERMAL NEUTRON PENETRATIONS IN A PHANTOM HEAD

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4672782

Fairchild, R G

The penetration (neutron flux vs distance curve) of a relatively thermal neutron beam was measured in a tissueequivalent phantom head. The thermalization of the incident beam was varied by changing the thickness of D/sub 2/O in its path (Cd ratio of 1/v detector varied between 90 and 180). Penetrations were measured with the incident beam filtered with Cd and Li, and with an unfiltered beam. The epithermal beam resulting when the thermal neutrons were filtered out gave a neutron flux peak at a distance of two to four cm inside the phantom head. Peak flux intensities varied from 1.42 x 10/sup 10/ n/cm/sup 2//sec to 9.35 x 10/ sup 10/ n/cm/sup 2// sec at a reactor power of 5 Mw. The improved neutron penetration of an epithermal beam (surface to peak ratio of approximately four to one, neutron flux remaining above the entrance value in the region between 0 to 8 cm) will be useful in neutron capture therapy where it is desirable to deliver a neutron dose at depth without destroying surface tissue. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(30-2)-GEN-16
• NSA Number: NSA-17-035274
• OSTI ID: 4672782
• Report Number(s): BNL-6824; CONF-164-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BRAIN
CADMIUM
CAPTURE
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
HEAVY WATER
LITHIUM
MOCKUP
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON FLUX
POWER
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
REACTORS
SHIELDING
SLOWDOWN
THERMAL NEUTRONS