title: Spectral performance of a composite single-crystal filtered thermal neutron beam for BNCT research at the University of Missouri.
abstract: Parameter studies, design calculations and initial neutronic performance measurements have been completed for a new thermal neutron beamline to be used for neutron capture therapy cell and small-animal radiobiology studies at the University of Missouri Research Reactor. The beamline features the use of single-crystal silicon and bismuth sections for neutron filtering and for reduction of incident gamma radiation. The calculated and measured thermal neutron fluxes produced at the irradiation location are 9.6 x 10(8) and 8.8 x 10(8)neutrons/cm(2)s, respectively. Calculated and measured cadmium ratios (Au foils) are 217 and 132. These results indicate a well-thermalized neutron spectrum with sufficient thermal neutron flux for a variety of small animal BNCT studies.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nigg
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hawthorne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKibben
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001729:Bismuth; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003460:Crystallization; D004867:Equipment Design; D005214:Fast Neutrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D001729:Bismuth; D012825:Silicon