¹²⁴Sb-Be photo-neutron source for BNCT: Is it possible?

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Mohadeseh Golshanian^a ; ^b ; Ali Akbar Rajabi^b ; Yaser Kasesaz^a ; ^{ykasesaz@aeoi.org.ir" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：BNCT ; Photo-neutron source ; Antimony ; MCNPX ; Snyder head phantom
• 刊名：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：1 November 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：835
• 期：Complete
• 页码：182-185
• 全文大小：673 K

文摘

In this research a computational feasibility study has been done on the use of ¹²⁴SbBe photo-neutron source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) using MCNPX Monte Carlo code. For this purpose, a special beam shaping assembly has been designed to provide an appropriate epithermal neutron beam suitable for BNCT. The final result shows that using 150 kCi of ¹²⁴Sb, the epithermal neutron flux at the designed beam exit is 0.23×10⁹ (n/cm² s). In-phantom dose analysis indicates that treatment time for a brain tumor is about 40 min which is a reasonable time. This high activity ¹²⁴Sb could be achieved using three 50 kCi rods of ¹²⁴Sb which can be produced in a research reactor. It is clear, that as this activity is several hundred times the activity of a typical cobalt radiotherapy source, issues related to handling, safety and security must be addressed.