Evaluation of Design Neutron Filters in BNCT

Abstract

7 neutrons per Second per milliampere of electron current is shown to be obtainable. The useful neutron energy range for BNCT purposes is from 1 eV to 10 keV (sometimes 40 keV is as-summed). The effectiveness of the treatment is expected to increase both the amount of boron in the cells and the neutron flux increase. In this treatment, advantage is taken of the nuclear reaction between boron and thermal neutrons, resulting in cell death from the energy deposited along the paths of resultant alpha particles and lithium ions. Abstract This paper reviews the development of neutron filters using Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). At present BNCT research necessity of an epithermal beam is to generate the necessary thermal neutron field at the desired depth. Through the use of an epithermal beam, deeper-seated tumors can be treated more effectively (1). Epithermal neutron beams can be generated by small nuclear reactors and by accelerator based neutron sources. So far, only reactors have been actually used to produce therapeutically useful epithermal neutron beams for BNCT; accelerator- based epithermal neutron sources may constitute the basis for a more deployable technology for BNCT than reactor- based sources in the long term (2). Accelerators offer a number of potential advantages over reactor-based neutron sources for clinical applications (3). The goal of reactor epithermal neutron filter conceptual design effort was to provide a low cost, simple filter design that is easy to fabricate and install while meeting or exceeding the nuclear performance requirements of the BNCT program. Therefore, in this work the use of aluminum compound, teflon compound and fluental and heavy water was considered.