Measurements of the photonuclear neutron yield of 15 MV medical linear accelerator

A. Alfuraih; M. Chin; N. Spyrou

doi:10.1007/s10967-008-1504-y

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Volume/Issue:: Volume 278: Issue 3

Measurements of the photonuclear neutron yield of 15 MV medical linear accelerator

Authors:

A. Alfuraih

A. Alfuraih University of Surrey Department of Physics Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH UK

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M. Chin

M. Chin University of Surrey Department of Physics Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH UK

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N. Spyrou

N. Spyrou University of Surrey Department of Physics Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH UK

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Pages:: 681–684

Online Publication Date:: 28 Nov 2008

Publication Date:: 01 Dec 2008

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-1504-y

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Abstract

High energy medical linear accelerators (>10 MV) are increasingly used in radiotherapy. At such high photon energies neutron production via photonuclear reactions in the heavy elements which compose the linac head is inevitable. Neutrons from linacs can contribute to an additional dose to staff, patients and the general public. Our intention is two-fold; to provide shielding against the neutron contamination and to establish the depthdose curve of thermal neutrons within human tissue, with an aim to utilise linacs in boron neuron capture therapy (BNCT). In our studies neutron measurements were undertaken, with a Varian Clinac 2100C/D linear accelerator operating at 15 MV nominal energy, by irradiating 18 cm thick 30×30 cm² block of tissue equivalent material. Measurements were taken using indium and aluminum activation foil at the centre of the block. Our results show that by leaving the linac jaws open neutron production is increased compared to the case when these are shut, for one minute exposure at 400MU. In this work we present a comparison between our results and existing literature and attempt to explore some sharp contrasts.

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Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

Print ISSN:: 0236-5731

Online ISSN:: 1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	1968
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	12
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2780 (Online)