Compact Neutron Generator for BNCT
Neutron sources are commonly used in research, industry, and clinical applications. Many of these are in sealed radiological sources used in petroleum engineering (e.g., well logging for oil exploration), in medicine (cancer treatment, pacemakers, and dia
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Compact Neutron Generator for BNCT Ka-Ngo Leung
Contents 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................
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4.2 RF-Driven Plasma Source for Neutron Production ...................................................
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4.3 Compact Neutron Generator for High Neutron Yield...............................................
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4.4 Moderator Design for the Coaxial Neutron Generator .............................................
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4.5 Use of a Subcritical Multiplier for BNCT ...................................................................
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4.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................
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References ...............................................................................................................................
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4.1
Introduction
Neutron sources are commonly used in research, industry, and clinical applications. Many of these are in sealed radiological sources used in petroleum engineering (e.g., well logging for oil exploration), in medicine (cancer treatment, pacemakers, and diagnostics), in homes (smoke detectors), and to make electricity (in radiothermal generators that generate power in remote areas ranging from lighthouses to outer space). For example, Cf-252 and Am-Be are used to provide multi-MeV neutrons for activation analysis and well logging. Radioactive sources can be portable or fixed, and most are quite small, ranging from tiny brachytherapy needles or seeds
K.-N. Leung Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA e-mail: [email protected] W.A.G. Sauerwein et al. (eds.), Neutron Capture Therapy, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-31334-9_4, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
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(implanted for localized cancer treatment) to thimble-sized plugs sealed within secure capsules for industrial gauges. In recent years, substantial effort has been spent in the development of radio frequency (RF) plasma-based neutron generators that can provide high yields of neutrons for clinical applications such as boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). By using the D-D fusion reaction, 2.4 MeV neutrons can be produced with a compact generator operating with ~100 keV of deuterium beam energy. Similarly, 14 MeV neutrons can be produced by the D-T fusion reaction. These RF plasmabased neutron sources are safe to operate and they can be turned on and off conveniently. A number of these D-D neutron generators have already been operating in universities, research institutions, and private industries around the world to replace the radioisotope neutron sources. In particular, a compact D-D neutron generator has been installed in Turin, Italy, for BNCT development. BNCT brings together two components. The first component is the delivery of 10 B – a stable isotope of boron with a large cross section for thermal neutron absorption – preferent
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