Improvement of a p(65)+Be neutron beam for therapy at Cyclone, Louvain-la-Neuve

The variable energy cyclotron of the Catholic University of Louvain is used to produce intense neutron beams for neutron therapy purposes. As a first step, neutrons were produced by bombarding a Be target with 50 MeV deuterons; at present they are produced by 65 MeV protons. This paper describes the improvements to the target system. A new (17 mm) Be target together with the old (10 mm) Be target are inserted in a movable support which allows the production of neutrons either by 65 MeV protons or by 50 MeV deuterons. Both targets can be removed for proton beam therapy. The dosimetric characteristics of the p(65)+Be and d(50)+Be neutron beams are compared: dose rate, gamma-contribution, depth dose and room activation.