Exploring the use of high energy medical linear accelerator in boron neutron capture therapy

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is based on the nuclear reaction that occurs when ¹⁰B loaded tissue is irradiated with thermal neutron yielding high linear energy transfer a particles and recoiling ⁷Li nuclei .Neutron sources for BNCT are currently limited to research nuclear reactors. However most reactors are not in close proximity to hospitals and their use for clinical trials can be difficult. High energy photon beams from medical linear accelerators produce undesirable neutrons, beside the clinically useful electron and photon beams, neutrons are produced from the photonuclear reaction of high energy photons with high Z-materials making the accelerator head. Such neutrons have been studied extensively, both in measurements and Monte Carlo calculations mainly from the point of radiation protection. In this work the neutron component from high energy medical linear accelerator, dose, and fluence had been studied for the purpose of shielding patient, staff and the general public from the contaminant neutrons.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo