Accelerator-Based BNCT
There is a generalized perception that the availability of suitable particle accelerators installed in hospitals, as neutron sources, may be crucial for the advancement of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). In this chapter, a variety of possible charge
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Accelerator-Based BNCT Andres J. Kreiner Dedicated to the memory of Alejandro A. Burlon
Contents 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................
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3.2 Different Neutron-Producing Reactions of Interest for Accelerator-based BNCT........................................................................................ 3.2.1 The Endothermic 7Li(p,n)7Be and 9Be(p,n)9B Reactions ..................................... 3.2.2 Exothermic-Deuteron-Induced Reactions ...........................................................
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3.3 Beam-Shaping Assemblies............................................................................................
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3.4 Accelerators and Facilities ........................................................................................... 3.4.1 Electrostatic Accelerators .................................................................................... 3.4.2 Electrodynamic Machines ...................................................................................
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3.5 Summary and Conclusions...........................................................................................
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References ..............................................................................................................................
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A.J. Kreiner Physics Department, Gerencia de Investigación y Aplicaciones, Centro Atomico Constituyentes, Av. Gral Paz 1499, 1650 San Martin, Argentina Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad de San Martín, San Martín, Argentina CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina e-mail: [email protected] W.A.G. Sauerwein et al. (eds.), Neutron Capture Therapy, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-31334-9_3, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
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3.1
A.J. Kreiner
Introduction
Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), as testified by the present book and the lively biennial series of international conferences held uninterruptedly around the world since 1982, is considered by a significant international community as a promising option for the treatment of certain types of cancer [37, 53]. While a great deal of progress has been made and will continue to be made using nuclear reactors, we are convinced that the advancement of BNCT requires neutron sources suitable for installation in hospital environments. Low-energy particle accelerators are most appropriate for this purpose and can be constructed for modest cost, comparable to that of other conventional radiotherapy medical devices [7]. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the presence of these devices in specialized health-care institutions may be decisive for the future of BNCT in terms of a qualitative improvement in our ability to gather data and experience, patient recruitment, on-site resources, and institutional commitment. A major advantage of accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) over reactor-based neutron sources is the potential for siting within a hospital. Accelerators offer a number of advantages over reactor-based
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