An accelerator-based source of thermal neutrons for BNCT of skin melanoma is foreseen at the Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL, Italy) in the framework of the SPES program. The aim of the SPES project is to realize a high intensity linac, which will be dedicated to neutron production for generating exotic nuclei. Deuterons were formerly considered as projectiles for neutron generation, but the final design was addressed to a proton accelerator. A structure for neutron moderation, installed at the LNL Van De Graaff accelerator is utilized for characterizing the BNCT irradiation field for different combinations of projectiles and targets. 3.0-7.0 MeV protons and deuterons bombarding a thick beryllium target were considered for neutron production. Tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) were designed and are currently under test for the microdosimetric characterization of the irradiation field, including fluctuations of absorbed energy in gas volumes of tissue-equivalent diameter of 1 µm or less. FriXy gels (based on the Fricke technique) are under development for the three-dimensional measurement of the absorbed dose in phantoms.
An Accelerator Based Source of Thermal Neutrons for BNCT of Skin Melanoma. Status Report
Colonna, N.;
2001-06-17
Abstract
An accelerator-based source of thermal neutrons for BNCT of skin melanoma is foreseen at the Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL, Italy) in the framework of the SPES program. The aim of the SPES project is to realize a high intensity linac, which will be dedicated to neutron production for generating exotic nuclei. Deuterons were formerly considered as projectiles for neutron generation, but the final design was addressed to a proton accelerator. A structure for neutron moderation, installed at the LNL Van De Graaff accelerator is utilized for characterizing the BNCT irradiation field for different combinations of projectiles and targets. 3.0-7.0 MeV protons and deuterons bombarding a thick beryllium target were considered for neutron production. Tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) were designed and are currently under test for the microdosimetric characterization of the irradiation field, including fluctuations of absorbed energy in gas volumes of tissue-equivalent diameter of 1 µm or less. FriXy gels (based on the Fricke technique) are under development for the three-dimensional measurement of the absorbed dose in phantoms.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
