基于3.5 MeV射频四极质子加速器硼中子俘获治疗装置的束流整形体设计

在硼中子俘获治疗(BNCT)装置中,束流整形体(BSA)的作用是将中子源产生的快中子束流慢化至超热中子能区(0.5 eVE10 keV),并尽可能减弱快中子、热中子和γ射线的成分,同时保证中子的方向性,其设计与优化是BNCT装置设计工作的核心内容之一.本文采用3.5 MeV,10 mA的质子束轰击锂靶,由核反应~7Li(p,n)~7Be产生的中子为源项,针对BSA的慢化体材料和结构、γ屏蔽层和热中子吸收层的厚度等参数进行蒙特卡罗模拟设计与优化.研究发现,采用Fluental和LiF两种慢化材料间隔2 cm层状堆叠的三明治BSA构型,在保证快中子剂量成分(D_f/φ_(epi)),γ剂量成分(D_γ/φ_(epi))和热中子比例φ_(th)/φ_(epi)满足IAEA-TECDOC-1223报告推荐要求的同时,在BSA出口处超热中子注量率优于单独使用Fluental和单独使用LiF的BSA设计.BSA出口处修正的Synder人头几何模型中的剂量分布计算结果显示:上述三明治构型的深度剂量分布与单独使用Fluental材料构型的结果基本相当,优于单独使用LiF构型,表明Fluental和LiF层状堆叠的三明治BSA构型是一种可行的BSA结构.     

Characteristics of a heavy water photoneutron source in boron neutron capture therapy

Bremsstrahlung photon beams produced by medical linear accelerators are currently the most commonly used method of radiation therapy for cancerous tumors. Photons with energies greater than 8-10 MeV potentially generate neutrons through photonuclear interactions in the accelerator's treatment head, patient's body, and treatment room ambient. Electrons impinging on a heavy target generate a cascade shower of bremsstrahlung photons, the energy spectrum of which shows an end point equal to the electron beam energy. By varying the target thickness, an optimum thickness exists for which, at the given electron energy, maximum photon flux is achievable. If a source of high-energy photons i.e. bremsstrahlung, is conveniently directed to a suitable D₂O target, a novel approach for production of an acceptable flux of filterable photoneturons for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) application is possible. This study consists of two parts. 1. Comparison and assessment of deuterium photonuclear cross section data. 2. Evaluation of the heavy water photonuclear source.     

BNCT中子源用RFQ加速器

 分析了加速器作为硼中子俘获治疗(BNCT)中子源的优势,提出以射频四极场（RFQ）加速器作为BNCT用中子源的首选机型。对该RFQ的参数进行了选择,利用质子轰击锂靶近阈反应产生的前冲中子束能散低、散角小的优势,设定RFQ最终能量为1.9 MeV。采用“匹配均温”设计方法进行了此强流质子RFQ的束流动力学设计,并对设计方案进行了传输模拟,在入口归一化均方根发射度为0.25 mm·mrad、流强为100 mA时,束流传输效率为99.3％。选择合适厚度的锂靶,经过整形即可得到满足BNCT治疗需要的中子束。     

Dosimetry measurements at the fast neutron therapy facility in Seattle

The fast neutron therapy facility at the University of Washington has been in routine clinical use for 25 years. 50.5 MeV protons produce neutrons in a beryllium target mounted on an isocentric gantry. Beam shaping is accomplished with a 40-leaf collimator. Dosimetry measurements for treatment planning and calibration are performed with tissue equivalent ion chambers. A layered phantom of alternating Solid Water^® and Plastic Water^® slabs has been developed for rapid dose verification measurements. The neutron field in the room has been used for radiation testing of electronic components.     

基于小型加速器的编码中子源成像研究

编码中子源成像可以在对中子注量率影响不大的情况下大大提高成像的准直比, 从而提高成像质量.北京大学开展了基于小型加速器的编码中子源成像技术研究工作. 不同于已有的基于反应堆的小面积编码板的研究工作, 北京大学建立了基于小型加速器的大面积编码板的编码中子源成像实验平台, 并对加速器中子源上的实验方法和数据处理进行了探索, 对比了重建算法, 获得了初步的重建照片.研究工作表明, 编码中子源成像技术可用于加速器中子源, 但重建图像质量仍须提高. 关键词： 加速器中子源 中子成像 编码源成像 图像重建     

基于HI-13串列加速器的中子俘获反应截面测量方法

利用BaF₂晶体对γ射线探测效率高、时间分辨率好的特点,研制了国内首套由40个BaF₂探测器单元组成的γ全吸收型探测装置,用于在线测量中子俘获反应截面。在HI-13串列加速器上建立250～850 keV的中子源,其0°角的源强约为5.09×10⁶ n/（Sr·s）,使用γ全吸收型探测装置,通过瞬发γ射线法测量了⁹³Nb、¹⁹⁷Au、^natC和空样品的实验数据。根据BaF₂探测器信号的特征,采用了基线补偿、软件阈值设置、时间窗限定、脉冲幅度积分增长率设置和快慢成分比设置等多种数字化波形分析方法,剔除噪声信号以提高效应本底比。以¹⁹⁷Au样品数据为标准,^natC样品数据为样品相关性本底,空样品数据为样品无关性本底,采用相对测量法得到了⁹³Nb的中子俘获反应截面实验数据。通过与ENDF评价库数据的比较,验证了测量装置和技术方法的可行性。     

10B-editing 1H-detection and 19F MRI strategies to optimize boron neutron capture therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a binary radiation therapy used to treat malignant brain tumours. It is based on the nuclear reaction (10B + n th --> [11B*] --> alpha + 7Li + 2.79 MeV) that occurs when 10B captures a thermal neutron to yield alpha particles and recoiling 7Li nuclei, both responsible of tumour cells destruction by short range and high ionization energy release. The clinical success of the therapy depends on the selective accumulation of the 10B carriers in the tumour and on the high thermal neutron capture cross-section of 10B. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods provide the possibility of monitoring, through 10B nuclei, the metabolic and physiological processes suitable to optimize the BNCT procedure. In this study, spatial distribution mapping of borocaptate (BSH) and 4-borono-phenylalanine (BPA), the two boron carriers used in clinical trials, has been obtained. The BSH map in excised rat brain and the 19F-BPA image in vivo rat brain, representative of BPA spatial distribution, were reported. The BSH image was obtained by means of double-resonance 10B-editing 1H-detection sequence, named M-Bend, exploiting the J-coupling interaction between 10B and 1H nuclei. Conversely, the BPA map was obtained by 19F-BPA using 19F-MRI. Both images were obtained at 7 T, in C6 glioma-bearing rat brain. Our results demonstrate the powerful of non conventional MRI techniques to optimize the BNCT procedure.     

Measurement of dose enhancement by neutron capture of boron in Cf interstitial brachytherapy

The effect of boron concentration in water on the gamma, fast and slow neutrons and alpha particles components at the central, forward and backward surfaces inside tumor phantom of 4.2 cm diameter and 4.4cm height, during brachytherapy by neutrons from ²⁵²Cf were investigated. The source was at the centre of a cubic shaped water phantom of 30 cm side. The study was carried for different concentrations of boron from H₃BO₃, Li₂B₄O₇ and H₃¹⁰BO₃. The effect of source to tumor distance on the different components of radiation was also measured. The results indicated that the use of ¹⁰B compounds enhances the damage and is recommended for successful boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).     

Study of accelerator neutrino detection at a spallation source

We study the detection of accelerator neutrinos produced at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS).Using the code FLUKA,we have simulated the production of neutrinos in a proton beam on a tungsten target and obtained the yield efficiency,numerical flux,and average energy of different flavors of neutrinos.Furthermore,detection of these accelerator neutrinos is investigated in two reaction channels:neutrino-electron reactions and neutrino-carbon reactions.The expected numbers of different flavors of neutrinos have also been calculated.     

A high-gradient accelerator based on a faster-than-light radiation source

A wide-band microwave generator using a faster-than-light source is proposed to be used as a charged particle accelerator. According to theoretical estimates, an electric field amplitude as high as ～10¹¹ V/m or more can be attained at the focus of a paraboloidal emitting surface with a focal parameter of ～1 m. These estimates are supported by numerical calculations. The schematic diagram of such an accelerator is suggested.     

Intense thermal neutron source based on MCF

The conceptual scheme of an ecologically clean thermal neutron source (TNS) based on muon-catalyzed fusion (MCF) is proposed. The preliminary design shows that an MCF-based TNS can produce the maximum value of unperturbed thermal neutron flux 10¹⁵ n/cm² s using for muon production a beam power of about 14 MW supplied by an accelerator of the next generation.     

Proposal of a novel high intense neutron source for radiation therapy

When using the¹H(t, n)³He reaction instead of the³H(d, n)⁴He reaction for a high intense neutron source, the power dissipated in the target which limits the maximum obtainable intensity is a factor of 70 less. Therefore higher fluxes than withd-T sources can be obtained with nearly no low energy background which is important for radiation therapy. The relevant properties of this source are discussed and its practicability is investigated.     

Photo-ionized lithium source for plasma accelerator applications

A photo-ionized lithium source is developed for plasma acceleration applications. A homogeneous column of lithium neutral vapor with a density of 2×10^15-3 is confined by helium gas in a heat-pipe oven. A UV laser pulse ionizes the vapor. In this device, the length of the neutral vapor and plasma column is 25 cm. The plasma density was measured by laser interferometry in the visible on the lithium neutrals and by CO₂ laser interferometry on the plasma electrons. The maximum measured plasma density was 2.9×10 ¹⁴ cm^-3, limited by the available UV fluence (≈83 mJ/cm²), corresponding to a 15% ionization fraction. After ionization, the plasma density decreases by a factor of two in about 12 μs. These results show that such a plasma source is scaleable to lengths of the order of 1 m and should satisfy all the requirements for demonstrating the acceleration of electrons by 1 GeV in a 1-GeV/m amplitude plasma wake     

Beam dynamics studies on the 100 MeV/100 kW electron linear accelerator for NSC KIPT neutron source

We designed a 100 MeV/100 kW electron linear accelerator for NSC KIPT, which will be used to drive a neutron source on the basis of subcritical assembly. Beam dynamics studies have been conducted to reach the design requirements (E=100 MeV, P=100 kW, dE/E<1% for 99% particles). In this paper, we will present the progress of the design and the dynamic simulation results. For high intensity and long beam pulse linear accelerators, the BBU effect is one big issue; special care has been taken in the accelerating structure design. To satisfy the energy spread requirement at the linac exit, the particles with large energy difference from the synchronous particle should be eliminated at a low energy stage to ease the design of the collimation system and radiation shielding. A dispersion free chicane with 4 bending magnets is introduced downstream of the 1st accelerating section; the unwanted particles will be collimated there.     

Muon opportunities at the proposed pulsed lepton source and the spallation neutron source

Some possibilities for including muon facilities at the proposed Pulsed Lepton Source and the Spallation Neutron Source are discussed.     

Intercomparative studies of brachytherapy techniques combined with CF Boron neutron capture therapy

In this work the depth dose distribution for γ-rays, slow and fast neutrons, nuclear recoils and -particles inside a tumor phantom filled with 100 ppm ¹⁰B in distilled water was measured. The depth dose distributions were measured and represented on three-dimensional plots when a ²⁵²Cf neutron source was situated in interstitial, surface and intracavitary brachytherapy techniques. Comparison of the three brachytherapy techniques when combined with BNCT revealed that the damage induced in the tumor by the -particles as nuclear recoils in the interstitial geometry is much more than the other two techniques.     

中国散裂中子源反角白光中子束流参数的初步测量

中国散裂中子源(CSNS)已于2018年5月建设完工,随后进行了试运行.其中的反角白光中子束线(Back-n)可用于中子核数据测量、中子物理研究和核技术应用等多方面的实验.本文报道对该中子束的品质参数测量实验过程以及最终实验结果.实验主要采用中子飞行时间法,利用~(235)U,~(238)U裂变室和~6Li-Si探测器测量了中子能谱和中子注量率,又利用闪烁体-互补金属氧化物半导体探测系统测量了中子束斑的剖面,得到了该束线的初步实验测量结果.其中白光中子的全能谱测量范围eV—100 MeV,给出了不确定度分析;给出了中子注量率两个实验厅位置的满功率值;给出了白光中子在直径60 mm情况下的全能区束斑.通过与模拟结果的比较探讨了以上结果的合理性,并提出了改进计划.这些实验结果为以后该束线的核数据测量和探测器标定实验奠定了基础.     

中子管用潘宁离子源氢负离子产生机理及实验研究

为了克服目前潘宁(PIG)离子源中子管引出正离子所带来的诸多不利因素,使用PIG型氢负离子源作为中子管的离子源,研究了氢负离子产生的机理,以期在中子管中获得应用。给出了PIG离子源结构,根据氢负离子产生的方式和条件,结合CST软件仿真实验,确定在对阴极和引出孔附近区域存在氢负离子,而且是氢负离子密度比较大的区域。实验中,通过负离子源产生系统证实了氢负离子的存在及分布规律,中子监测仪测量自成靶50mm负离子源陶瓷中子管,中子产额较传统正离子中子管高出一个数量级以上。     

中子管用潘宁离子源氢负离子产生机理及实验研究

为了克服目前潘宁(PIG)离子源中子管引出正离子所带来的诸多不利因素,使用PIG型氢负离子源作为中子管的离子源,研究了氢负离子产生的机理,以期在中子管中获得应用。给出了PIG离子源结构,根据氢负离子产生的方式和条件,结合CST软件仿真实验,确定在对阴极和引出孔附近区域存在氢负离子,而且是氢负离子密度比较大的区域。实验中,通过负离子源产生系统证实了氢负离子的存在及分布规律,中子监测仪测量自成靶50 mm负离子源陶瓷中子管,中子产额较传统正离子中子管高出一个数量级以上。