A study of gamma-ray and neutron radiation in the interaction of a 2 MeV proton beam with various materials.
Epithermal neutron source based on a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation and lithium target has been proposed, developed and operated in Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. The source is regarded as a prototype of a future compact device suitable for carrying out BNCT in oncology centers. In this work the measurements of gamma-ray and neutron radiation are presented for the interaction of a 2 MeV proton beam with various materials (Li, C, F, Al, V, Ti, Cu, Mo, stainless steel, and Ta). The obtained results enabled the optimization of the neutron-generating target and the high energy beam transportation path.
Method for in situ measuring the thickness of a lithium layer
This work describes a new method for in situ measuring the lithium layer thickness. The method is based on the registration of the yield of 478 keV gamma-quanta of 7Li(p,p'γ)7Li reaction. The results of measuring the radial distribution of the thickness of a lithium layer thermally deposited in vacuum on a cooled copper substrate are presented. The possibility of using this method for certification of lithium targets used for boron neutron capture therapy is noted.
VACUUM-INSULATION TANDEM ACCELERATOR FOR BORON NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY *
Novel powerful electrostatic vacuum-insulation tandem accelerator had been proposed [1] and created at BINP. A 2 MeV 3 mA dc proton beam is obtained. Neutrons are generated by 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be reaction in the near threshold mode [2]. Epithermal neutron flux is formed for the development of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) of malignant tumors. In this report results on proton beam obtaining, neutron flux generation and in vitro investigation are presented and discussed. This accelerator based neutron source looks like a prototype of compact inexpensive epithermal neutron source for the spread of BNCT. Plans on BNCT realization are declared. In addition the facility is used for the development of nuclear resonance absorption technique for nitrogen detection, and for the investigation of neutronless fusion. First, 9.17-MeV gamma rays are generated by 13 C(p,) 14 N reaction at 1.76 MeV protons [3]. Second, it is possible to measure -particles energy spectrum of p+ 11 B reaction.