The Measurement of the Neutron Yield of the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be Reaction in Lithium Targets

SIMPLE SUMMARY: A compact neutron source has been proposed and created at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk, Russia. The source comprises an original design tandem accelerator, solid lithium target, and a neutron beam shaping assembly. The neutron source is capable of producing the high neutron flux for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Currently, the BNCT technique has entered into clinical practice in the world: two clinics began treating patients, and four more BNCT clinics are ready to start operating. The neutron source proposed at the Budker Institute served as a prototype for a facility created for a clinic in Xiamen (China). It is planned to equip the National Medical Research Center of Oncology (Moscow, Russia) and National Oncological Hadron Therapy Center (Pavia, Italy) with the same neutron sources. Due to the impending use of an accelerator neutron source for treating patients, the validation of the neutron yield of the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be reaction in lithium metal targets is required. The theoretical neutron yield has not been evaluated experimentally so far. ABSTRACT: A compact accelerator-based neutron source has been proposed and created at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk, Russia. An original design tandem accelerator is used to provide a proton beam. The neutron flux is generated as a result of the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction using the solid lithium target. A beam shaping assembly is applied to convert this flux into a beam of epithermal neutrons with characteristics suitable for BNCT. The BNCT technique is being tested in in vitro and in vivo studies, and dosimetry methods are being developed. Currently, the BNCT technique has entered into clinical practice in the world: after successful clinical trials, two clinics in Japan began treating patients, and four more BNCT clinics are ready to start operating. The neutron source proposed at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics served as a prototype for a facility created for a clinic in Xiamen (China). It is planned to equip the National Medical Research Center of Oncology (Moscow, Russia) and National Oncological Hadron Therapy Center (Pavia, Italy) with the same neutron sources. Due to the impending use of an accelerator neutron source for treating patients, the validation of the neutron yield of the (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be reaction in lithium metal targets is required. The theoretical neutron yield has not been evaluated experimentally so far.