title: Study of a method based on TLD detectors for in-phantom dosimetry in BNCT.
abstract: A method has been developed, based on thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD), aimed at measuring the absorbed dose in tissue-equivalent phantoms exposed to thermal or epithermal neutrons, separating the contributions of various secondary radiation generated by neutrons. The proposed method takes advantage of the very low sensitivity of CaF2:Tm (TLD-300) to low energy neutrons and to the different responses to thermal neutrons of LiF:Mg,Ti dosemeters with different 6Li percentage (TLD-100, TLD-700, TLD-600). The comparison of the results with those obtained by means of gel dosemeters and activation foils has confirmed the reliability of the method. The experimental modalities allowing reliable results have been studied. The glow curves of TLD-300 after gamma or neutron irradiation have been compared; moreover, both internal irradiation effect and energy dependence have been investigated. For TLD-600, TLD-100 and TLD-700, the suitable fluence limits have been determined in order to avoid radiation damage and loss of linearity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics of the University, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy. grazia.gambarini@mi.infn.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambarini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klamert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agosteo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birattari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scolari
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008904:Miniaturization; D009502:Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; 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; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers