Neutron Activation Analysis Based on AB-BNCT Treatment Room

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Nuclear Engineering

Background:

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a targeted radiotherapy for tumors.
• Accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) offers advantages like higher neutron yield and safety.
• Activation products from BNCT can cause residual radiation, posing risks to radiation workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the ambient dose equivalent rate in the treatment room of an AB-BNCT facility.
• To assess the safety of the treatment room for radiation workers after accelerator shutdown.
• To analyze the contribution of different components to the radiation dose.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Monte Carlo method with the Geant4 platform for simulation.
• Modeled the AB-BNCT neutron source proposed by Li.
• Simulated the dose induced by radionuclides near the Beam Shaping Assembly (BSA).

Main Results:

• The concrete wall was identified as the primary contributor to radiation dose.
• The simulated dose rate after 13 minutes of shutdown was 2.45 μSv h⁻¹.
• This dose rate is below the established limit of 2.5 μSv h⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The treatment room is safe for workers 13 minutes after accelerator shutdown.
• Radiation dose evaluation is crucial for AB-BNCT facilities to ensure worker safety.
• The study validates the safety of the investigated AB-BNCT neutron source model.