A pilot study of an epithermal neutron source based on a low-energy proton accelerator for boron neutron-capture therapy

Miscellaneous · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5678950

Wang, Changkwang Chris

In this study, a hospital-based low-energy proton accelerator neutron irradiation facility (LPANIF) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is described. Neutrons are generated by 2.5 MeV protons impinging upon a lithium-7 target. The neutrons emitted from the lithium target are too energetic for BNCT, and must be moderated. A moderator assembly served this purpose. The neutron field generated by the proposed facility has been studied both by calculations and by experiments. Calculations were performed for an experimental target and D{sub 2}O moderator assembly using the Monte Carlo neutron transport code MORSE. The target and D{sub 2}O moderator assembly were then constructed and tested in an experiment. The experiment was performed using the Ohio State University Van de Graaff accelerator to produce 2.5 MeV protons. New procedures were established to measure the neutron spectrum using a spherical proton recoil proportional counter. Also, a new instrument called boron-shell spectrometer was developed for measuring the neutron spectrum. In addition, the absorbed doses due to gamma-rays and {sup 10}B(n, {alpha}){sup 7} Li reactions were also measured in a phantom which was exposed in the experimental neutron field. The calculated results agree reasonably well with the measured results. Having verified the author's calculational techniques for a non-optimum, but easily constructed, D{sub 2}O moderator assembly an optimum moderator assembly was designed on the basis of Monte Carlo code results. The optimum moderator assembly is basically a beryllia (BeO) cylinder (25 cm in diameter and 22.5 cm in height) surrounded by a 30 cm thick alumina (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) reflector.

• Research Organization: The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5678950
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
NEUTRON SOURCE FACILITIES
DESIGN
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON SPECTRA
PHANTOMS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
PROTONS
RADIATION DOSES
VAN DE GRAAFF ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATORS
BARYONS
DOSES
ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEDICINE
MOCKUP
NEUTRON THERAPY
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
REACTORS
SPECTRA
STRUCTURAL MODELS
THERAPY
430100* - Particle Accelerators- Design
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655003 - Medical Physics- Dosimetry