title: Neutron measurements in the vicinity of a self-shielded PET cyclotron.
abstract: The radionuclides used in positron emission tomography (PET) are short-lived and generally must be produced on site using a cyclotron. A common end product of the nuclear reactions used to produce the PET radionuclides is neutron radiation. These neutrons could potentially contribute to the annual effective dose received by hospital personnel. A Bonner sphere spectrometer was used to measure neutron energy spectra at three locations near a self-shielded PET cyclotron. This cyclotron accelerates protons to 11 MeV. The neutron measurements reported were made during the production of 18F via the 18O(p,n)18F reaction (Q = -2.4 MeV). Neutron spectra were obtained with the BUMS unfolding code and converted to dose equivalent rates.
authors.affiliation: Neely Nuclear Research Center, G. W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA. nolan.hertel@me.gatech.edu
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Z-L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Valenzano
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mengesha
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002138:Calibration / Q000592:standards; D017357:Cyclotrons / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009502:Neutrons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes