Characteristics of a heavy water photoneutron source in boron neutron capture therapy

Danial Salehi; Dariush Sardari; Salehi Jozani

doi:10.1088/1674-1137/37/7/078201

Chinese Physics C> 2013, Vol. 37> Issue(7) : 078201 DOI: 10.1088/1674-1137/37/7/078201

Characteristics of a heavy water photoneutron source in boron neutron capture therapy

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Abstract：
Bremsstrahlung photon beams produced by medical linear accelerators are currently the most commonly used method of radiation therapy for cancerous tumors. Photons with energies greater than 8-10 MeV potentially generate neutrons through photonuclear interactions in the accelerator's treatment head, patient's body, and treatment room ambient. Electrons impinging on a heavy target generate a cascade shower of bremsstrahlung photons, the energy spectrum of which shows an end point equal to the electron beam energy. By varying the target thickness, an optimum thickness exists for which, at the given electron energy, maximum photon flux is achievable. If a source of high-energy photons i.e. bremsstrahlung, is conveniently directed to a suitable D₂O target, a novel approach for production of an acceptable flux of filterable photoneturons for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) application is possible. This study consists of two parts. 1. Comparison and assessment of deuterium photonuclear cross section data. 2. Evaluation of the heavy water photonuclear source.

References

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Danial Salehi, Dariush Sardari and Salehi Jozani. Characteristics of a heavy water photoneutron source in boron neutron capture therapy[J]. Chinese Physics C, 2013, 37(7): 078201. doi: 10.1088/1674-1137/37/7/078201

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Received: 2012-08-31
Revised: 1900-01-01

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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Characteristics of a heavy water photoneutron source in boron neutron capture therapy

Corresponding author: Danial Salehi,

Received Date: 2012-08-31
Accepted Date: 1900-01-01
Available Online: 2013-07-05

Abstract: Bremsstrahlung photon beams produced by medical linear accelerators are currently the most commonly used method of radiation therapy for cancerous tumors. Photons with energies greater than 8-10 MeV potentially generate neutrons through photonuclear interactions in the accelerator's treatment head, patient's body, and treatment room ambient. Electrons impinging on a heavy target generate a cascade shower of bremsstrahlung photons, the energy spectrum of which shows an end point equal to the electron beam energy. By varying the target thickness, an optimum thickness exists for which, at the given electron energy, maximum photon flux is achievable. If a source of high-energy photons i.e. bremsstrahlung, is conveniently directed to a suitable D₂O target, a novel approach for production of an acceptable flux of filterable photoneturons for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) application is possible. This study consists of two parts. 1. Comparison and assessment of deuterium photonuclear cross section data. 2. Evaluation of the heavy water photonuclear source.