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Secondary photon fields produced in accelerator-based sources for neutron generation.
S Agosteo1, A Cesana, L Garlati
1Dipartimento di Ingegneria Nucleare, Politecnico di Milano, via Ponzio 34/3, 20133 Milano, Italy. stefano.agosteo@polimi.it
Radiation Protection Dosimetry
|December 31, 2005
Summary
Neutron production using ion accelerators generates intense photon fields. Understanding these associated photons is crucial for applications like boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and radiation damage studies.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear physics
- Accelerator science
Background:
- Low-energy ion accelerators are used for neutron production in diverse applications.
- Accelerator-based neutron sources are vital for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).
- Photon fields accompanying neutron production can significantly impact experimental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the photon field associated with neutrons produced from proton interactions with lithium fluoride (LiF) and beryllium targets.
- To investigate the influence of target thickness on neutron and photon field characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Protons with energies ranging from 4.0 to 6.8 MeV were directed at a thin 7LiF target and a thick beryllium target.
- The associated photon fields were measured to determine their intensity and energy distribution.
Main Results:
- Both thin 7LiF and thick beryllium targets produced intense photon fields when bombarded with protons.
- The generated photon fields exhibited energy distributions extending up to several MeV.
Conclusions:
- Proton-induced neutron production from both thin and thick targets results in significant associated photon fields.
- Characterization of these photon fields is essential for optimizing accelerator-based neutron sources, particularly for BNCT applications.