Conceptual designs of epithermal neutron beams for boron neutron capture therapy from low-power reactors

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Nuclear Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:7100807

Liu, H B; Brugger, R M ^[1]

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1. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States). Medical Dept.

Convenient, economical epithermal neutrons beams will be needed in the future for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The authors studied two concepts for producing epithermal neutron beams with low-power reactors. The first design is a 100-kW reactor with a [sup 235]U fission plate placed outside the reflector region, plus an Al/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] moderator assembly. The beam, which is directed forward, delivers a flux of epithermal neutrons of 0.8 [times] 10[sup 9] n/cm[sup 2] [center dot] s and a fast neutron dose of 4.4 [times] 10[sup [minus]11] cGy [center dot] cm[sup 2]/n[sub epi]. The second design is based on a slab reactor plus a similar Al/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] moderator assembly. With an operating power of 50 kW, the beam has an intensity of 1.4 [times] 10[sup 9] n/cm[sup 2] [center dot] s and a fast neutron dose of 4.4 [times] 10[sup [minus]11] cGy [center dot] cm[sup 2]/n[sub epi]; this beam also is directed forward. These epithermal neutron beams should be acceptable for BNCT; a treatment could be completed in [approximately]1h, and the fast neutron dose to the skin would not be the limiting dose. Such small reactors should be practicable in a hospital location.

• OSTI ID: 7100807
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; (United States) Vol. 108:2; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
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ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
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ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
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NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY
NEUTRON REFLECTORS
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
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NUCLEONS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
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PARTICLE SOURCES
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RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SIZE
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
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