The Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) developed and realized a Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) proton accelerator. This machine is of interest to BNCT for the delivery of 5 MeV protons with 30 mA current in a Continuous Wave (CW) mode, able to produce a high intensity neutron source from the reaction 9Be(p,n)9B. It was shown, that with an appropriate Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA) this accelerator can ensure an in air thermal neutron flux of 4.3 ∙ 109 cm-2 s-1. Such a neutron beam is suitable to treat shallow cancers like skin melanoma. To treat deep seated tumours, epithermal neutrons are needed. From the experience of the various groups treating especially brain tumours, the optimal neutron energy was set around 10 keV. However, more recent studies based on treatment planning simulations using CT scans of real patients affected by lung tumours demonstrated that for such deep-seated cancers the ideal energy is peaked towards 1 keV. The same holds for knee osteosarcoma. In this work the tailoring of an epithermal neutron beam with energy spectrum around 1 keV at the RFQ facility is presented.
Tailoring of an epithermal neutron beam for the RFQ-based facility of INFN
POSTUMA, IAN;BORTOLUSSI, SILVA;PROTTI, NICOLETTA;FATEMI, SETAREH;BIANCHINI, LINDA;VALSECCHI, JACOPO;ALTIERI, SAVERIO;
2016-01-01
Abstract
The Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) developed and realized a Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) proton accelerator. This machine is of interest to BNCT for the delivery of 5 MeV protons with 30 mA current in a Continuous Wave (CW) mode, able to produce a high intensity neutron source from the reaction 9Be(p,n)9B. It was shown, that with an appropriate Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA) this accelerator can ensure an in air thermal neutron flux of 4.3 ∙ 109 cm-2 s-1. Such a neutron beam is suitable to treat shallow cancers like skin melanoma. To treat deep seated tumours, epithermal neutrons are needed. From the experience of the various groups treating especially brain tumours, the optimal neutron energy was set around 10 keV. However, more recent studies based on treatment planning simulations using CT scans of real patients affected by lung tumours demonstrated that for such deep-seated cancers the ideal energy is peaked towards 1 keV. The same holds for knee osteosarcoma. In this work the tailoring of an epithermal neutron beam with energy spectrum around 1 keV at the RFQ facility is presented.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
