Open AccessOptimization of the {sup 7}Li(p,n) proton beam energy for BNCT applications
Author(s) -
B.L. Bleuel,
R.J. Donahue
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/273022
Subject(s) - proton , neutron , neutron capture , beam (structure) , neutron source , nuclear physics , irradiation , neutron temperature , radiochemistry , boron , yield (engineering) , beam energy , materials science , atomic physics , physics , chemistry , optics , metallurgy
The reaction {sup 7}Li(p,n){sup 7} Be has been proposed as an accelerator-based source of neutrons for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). This reaction has a large steep resonance for proton energies of about 2.3 MeV which ends at about 2.5 MeV. It has generally been accepted that one should use 2.5 MeV protons to get the highest yield of neutrons for BNCT. This paper suggests that for BNCT the optimum proton energy may be about 2.3 MeV and that a proton energy of about 2.2 MeV will provide the same useful neutron flux outside a thinner moderator as the neutron flux from a 2.5 MeV proton beam with a, thicker moderator. These results are based on optimization of the useful neutron spectrum in air at the point of irradiation, not on depth-dose profiles in tissue/tumor