Design of Beam Shaping Assemblies for Accelerator-Based BNCT With Multi-Terminals

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Nuclear Engineering
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) requires moderated neutron beams at specific therapeutic energies.
• Accelerator-produced fast neutrons need to be moderated using a Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To design multi-terminal BSAs for moderating fast neutrons from a proton accelerator for BNCT.
• To ensure the designed neutron beams meet International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) treatment recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized MCNPX Monte Carlo simulation software.
• Modeled a 2.5 MeV/30 mA proton accelerator.
• Designed and simulated multi-terminal BSAs.

Main Results:

• Designed BSAs successfully moderated fast neutrons to therapeutic energies.
• Neutron beam parameters at the exit ports met IAEA treatment recommendations for both thermal and epithermal beams.
• Clinical parameters for thermal and epithermal neutron beams were calculated.

Conclusions:

• The designed multi-terminal BSAs are suitable for producing therapeutic neutron beams for BNCT.
• The simulation approach validates the BSA design for clinical applications in BNCT.