title: Combined TL and 10B-alanine ESR dosimetry for BNCT.
abstract: The dosimetric technique described in this paper is based on electron spin resonance (ESR) detectors using an alanine-boric compound acid enriched with (10)B, and beryllium oxide thermoluminescent (TL) detectors; with this combined dosimetry, it is possible to discriminate the doses due to thermal neutrons and gamma radiation in a mixed field. Irradiations were carried out inside the thermal column of a TRIGA MARK II water-pool-type research nuclear reactor, also used for Boron Neutron Capture therapy (BNCT) applications, with thermal neutron fluence from 10(9) to 10(14) nth cm(-2). The ESR dosemeters using the alanine-boron compound indicated ESR signals about 30-fold stronger than those using only alanine. Moreover, a negligible correction for the gamma contribution, measured with TL detectors, almost insensitive to thermal neutrons, was necessary. Therefore, a simultaneous analysis of our TL and ESR detectors allows discrimination between thermal neutron and gamma doses, as required in BNCT.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmacochimico Tossicologico e Biologico, Università di Palermo and INFN (Sezione di Catania), Via Archirafi 32-90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartolotta
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: D'Oca
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lo Giudice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brai
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manera
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D001895:Boron / Q000528:radiation effects; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000528:radiation effects; D009502:Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018511:Systems Integration; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D001895:Boron