Design of a BNCT irradiation room based on proton accelerator and beryllium target

Abstract

Preliminary studies for the design of an accelerator-based BNCT clinical facility are presented. The Beam Shaping Assembly neutron activation was evaluated experimentally and with Monte Carlo simulations. The activations of patient, air and walls in the room, the absorbed doses by the patient and the in-air dose distributions were evaluated. Based on these calculations, different walls compositions were tested to optimize the environmental conditions. Borated concrete, advantageously reducing the thermal flux in the room, was proven the best choice.

Keywords: Accelerator-based BNCT; BNCT; Dosimetry; Neutron activation; Radiation protection.