title: Development of a low-energy monoenergetic neutron source for applications in low-dose radiobiological and radiochemical research.
abstract: The McMaster University 3 MV KN Van de Graff accelerator facility primarily dedicated to in vivo neutron activation measurements has been used to produce moderate dose rates of monoenergetic fast neutrons of energy ranging from 150 to 600 keV with a small energy spread of about 25 keV (1sigma width of Gaussian) by bombarding thin lithium targets with 2.00-2.40 MeV protons. The calculated dose rate of the monoenergetic neutrons produced using thin lithium targets as functions of beam energy, target thickness, lab angle relative to beam direction, and the solid angle subtended by the sample with the target has also been reported.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences Unit, McMaster University, Nuclear Research Building, Hamilton, Ont., Canada L8S 4K1. aslam@mcmaster.ca
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Prestwich
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Waker
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005459:Fluorides; D007554:Isotopes; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008094:Lithium; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011786:Quality Control; D011854:Radiochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D018020:Lithium Compounds; C027651:lithium fluoride; D008094:Lithium; D005459:Fluorides