Determination of the γ-ray dose in an epithermal neutron beam

C. P.J. Raaijmakers*, M. W. Konijnenberg, B. J. Mijnheer, F. Stecher-Rasmussen, H. Verhagen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Neutron beams used for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) are always accompanied by photons. These two irradiation components have different relative biological effectiveness. Therefore it is necessary to determine the neutron and photon absorbed dose in the mixed field separately. All gamma-ray detectors however are also sensitive for neutrons. In this work preliminary results are presented using TLD-700 chips, a Mg(Ar) ionisation chamber and a GM-counter to determined the gamma-ray component in a mixed beam of gamma-rays and neutrons. The results show a good agreement between the GM-counter and the ionisation chamber, indicating a small relative neutron sensitivity (k(u)) for these detectors. The sensitivity of TLD-700 for thermal neutrons however gives rise to a detector response for which a correction is necessary. The uncertainty however in the relative gamma-ray sensitivity (h(u)) of the detectors is at this moment too large to determine accurate values of the relative neutron sensitivities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18-20
Number of pages3
JournalStrahlentherapie und Onkologie
Volume169
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

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