Neutrons produced in a 12 MV LINAC working in electron mode

Abstract

The electroneutron spectrum was estimated with Monte Carlo methods using two source terms. In addition, the electroneutron spectrum was measured using a passive Bonner sphere spectrometer. With estimated spectra were calculated, per history, the total neutron fluence, the ambient dose equivalent, the ambient dose, the mean energy, and the spectrum-averaged neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients. With the measured spectrum were calculated, per monitor unit, the total neutron flux, the ambient dose equivalent; additionally, were calculated the mean energy and the spectrum-averaged neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients. Doses were calculated using the fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients from the ICRP 74, LB 6411 neutron area monitor and those of the ambient dose, recently defined by the ICRP/ICRU joint publication. To 1 m from the isocenter calculations and measurements were carried out around a 12 MV linear accelerator for medical using with a solid water phantom.