Optimization of a neutron production target and beam shaping assembly based on the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction

A. BURLON; A. KREINER; A. VALDA; D. MINSKY; H. SOMACAL; M. DEBRAY; P. STOLIAR; J. KESQUE; F. NAAB; M. OZAFRÁN; J. SCHUFF; M. VÁZQUEZ; M. DAVIDSON; J. DAVIDSON; M. CARABALLO

Essen, Alemania. Exposición oral (A.Burlon)

Congreso; Research and Development in Neutron Capture Therapy - 10th International Congress on Neutron Capture Therapy; 2002

European Organization for Research and Threatment of Cancer (EORTC)

In this work a thick LiF target was studied as a 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction neutron source. Proton beams in the 1.88-2.0 MeV bombarding energy range were produced with the tandem accelerator TANDAR at CNEA´s facilities in Buenos Aires. A cylindrical water-filled head-phantom, containing a boron sample, was irradiated to study the resulting neutron flux. The neutron yield was measured through the Compton-suppressed detection of the gamma radiation produced from the 10B(n,ag)7Li and 1H(n,g)2H reactions. The thermal neutron flux was also evaluated using activation of gold foils. In order to optimize the design of the neutron production target and the beam shaping assembly extensive MCNP simulations have been performed. These simulations include a thick Li metal target, a whole-body phantom and the treatment room.