Abstract
Neutron spectrometry in science and technology applications in general and accurate exotic photoneutron (PN) dosimetry of cancer patients undergoing high-dose high-energy X-rays therapy in medical accelerators in particular is of vital need. In this study, a novel passive multi-directional multi-detector neutron spectrometry system was developed and home-made using 6 polycarbonate/10B detectors on 6 sides of polyethylene (PE) cubes used bare and also embedded at center of PE spheres of 8 different diameters. The system provided well-resolved unfolded directional PN spectra showing thermal and fast PN peaks of 6 sides and mean spectrum in 5 field sizes at isocenter and other locations in 18 MV Siemens ONCOR medical linear accelerator bunker. The neutron spectrometry system developed has unique characteristics such as being simple, efficient, low cost, practical, and insensitive to low-LET radiation with well-resolved directional and mean spectra easily applicable in medicine, health, environment, science and technology in developing and developed laboratories.
Highlights
Neutron spectrometry in science and technology applications in general and accurate exotic photoneutron (PN) dosimetry of cancer patients undergoing high-dose high-energy X-rays therapy in medical accelerators in particular is of vital need
Neutron spectrometry is of vital need in many areas of health, medicine, environment, science and technology, in particular for accurate exotic photoneutron (PN) dosimetry of cancer patients undergoing high-dose highenergy X-ray therapy in medical linear accelerators for estimating undesired second primary cancer risks of organs[1,2]
Some directional neutron spectrometry methods have been advanced such as: superheated emulsions at the center of one single 30 cm diameter nylon-6 moderating-sphere with a telescope-design wherein the detector views a narrow solid angle of about 1/6 steradians from an Am-Be source[19]; multiple thermal neutron pulsed detectors in one moderating sphere exposed externally to Am-Be neutrons from different directions[22]; three orthogonal 3He tubes used inside a single high-density PE sphere exposed to Am-Be neutrons[12], and design of an ultra-sensitive single cylindrical moderator directional neutron spectrometer based on seven 3He detectors applied to low-fluence cosmic-ray-induced neutrons at ground level[24]
Summary
Neutron spectrometry in science and technology applications in general and accurate exotic photoneutron (PN) dosimetry of cancer patients undergoing high-dose high-energy X-rays therapy in medical accelerators in particular is of vital need. Accurate determination of patients’ fast, epithermal and thermal PN doses separately and as sum value for estimating the second primary cancer risks of organs[1] To fulfill such needs, some directional neutron spectrometry methods have been advanced such as: superheated emulsions at the center of one single 30 cm diameter nylon-6 moderating-sphere with a telescope-design wherein the detector views a narrow solid angle of about 1/6 steradians from an Am-Be source[19]; multiple thermal neutron pulsed detectors in one moderating sphere exposed externally to Am-Be neutrons from different directions[22]; three orthogonal 3He tubes used inside a single high-density PE sphere exposed to Am-Be neutrons[12], and design of an ultra-sensitive single cylindrical moderator directional neutron spectrometer based on seven 3He detectors applied to low-fluence cosmic-ray-induced neutrons at ground level[24]. These advances are strong supports to vital need to a simple passive multi-directional neutron spectrometry system
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