Premium
A prototype epithermal neutron beam for boron neutron capture therapy
Author(s) -
Noonan D. J.,
Russell J. L.,
Brugger R. M.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.595899
Subject(s) - neutron capture , neutron flux , neutron temperature , neutron , materials science , neutron source , beam (structure) , neutron radiation , boron , neutron cross section , nuclear physics , radiochemistry , nuclear engineering , physics , optics , chemistry , engineering
An epithermal neutron beam has been designed and tested at the Georgia Insitute of Technology's 5‐MW Research Reactor. The prototype facility consists of aluminum and sulfur disks in a tangential beam port for fast neutron filtration. A cadmium sheet at the port exit removes the thermal neutrons from the transmitted beam, leaving an intensely epithermal neutron beam spanning five energy decades, each contributing to the flux demanded by boron neutron capture therapy. The thermal neutron flux generated by the incident epithermal neutrons in a polyethylene head phantom peaks at a depth of 3 cm and remains above the incident thermal flux to a 7‐cm depth. The beam thus provides the penetration required for treating deep‐seated gliomas. Photon contamination in the prototype facility is high, and a number of basic modifications are proposed for reducing it to safer levels.