A passive single-cylindrical neutron spectrometer for photoneutron spectrometry in 10 MV Elekta Precise Linac head

Abstract

Measuring the neutron spectrum on the Linac head using a passive type neutron detector is relatively easier than an active type detector because it does not require the involvement of operators who work in a high radiation area. Neutron spectrum measurements with passive foil activation neutron detectors in a single-moderator are more practical and easier than multi-foil techniques. This technique is quite simple, easy to make, low cost, and the measurement time is relatively short. This spectrometer is designed by placing seven passive Au detectors at varying depths in a single-cylindrical moderator. The response function for each detector is calculated by MCNPX 2.7 program and used ENDF7 as a nuclear data library. Detector foil activity was measured using a gamma spectrometer, and the neutron spectrum was obtained using the unfolding technique using the UMG 3.3 program. The results of measuring the neutron spectrum measurements have been carried out at a position 10 cm below the head of the Elekta Precise 10 MV Linac was 2.73 × 105 n/cm2·s, where the fast neutron from these results are 4% higher when compared to the simulation results using PHITS.