Premium
Paired Mg and Mg(B) ionization chambers for the measurement of boron neutron capture dose in neutron beams
Author(s) -
Burmeister Jay,
Kota Chandrasekhar,
Yudelev Mark,
Maughan Richard L.
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1118/1.598768
Subject(s) - neutron capture , boron , neutron , ionization chamber , dosimetry , radiochemistry , neutron temperature , neutron source , materials science , ionization , nuclear medicine , neutron flux , nuclear physics , physics , chemistry , medicine , ion , quantum mechanics
The use of the boron neutron capture (BNC) reaction to provide a dose enhancement in fast neutron therapy is currently under investigation at the Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center of Harper Hospital in Detroit, MI. The implementation of this treatment modality presents unique challenges in dosimetry. In addition to the measurement of photon and neutron doses in the mixed field, a measure of the thermal neutron flux and the associated boron neutron capture dose throughout the treatment volume is desired. A pair of small‐volume magnesium ionization chambers has been constructed with the aim of providing this information. One of the chambers, denoted the Mg(B) chamber, is lined with a boron‐loaded foil. The ionization response of this chamber has been calibrated in terms of BNC dose per ppm loading of10 B . These paired chambers can be used to map the local BNC response in neutron beams. From this data and an estimation of the boron concentration in the tumor and normal tissue, the boron neutron capture enhancement may be evaluated.