title: Neutron spectra due (13)N production in a PET cyclotron.
abstract: Monte Carlo and experimental methods have been used to characterize the neutron radiation field around PET (Positron Emission Tomography) cyclotrons. In this work, the Monte Carlo code MCNPX was used to estimate the neutron spectra, the neutron fluence rates and the ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)) in seven locations around a PET cyclotron during (13)N production. In order to validate these calculations, H*(10) was measured in three sites and were compared with the calculated doses. All the spectra have two peaks, one above 0.1MeV due to the evaporation neutrons and another in the thermal region due to the room-return effects. Despite the relatively large difference between the measured and calculated H*(10) for one point, the agreement was considered good, compared with that obtained for (18)F production in a previous work.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Benavente
authors.affiliation: Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares de la UAZ, C. Cipres, 10, 98068, Zacatecas, Mexico. Electronic address: fermineutron@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Vega-Carrillo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: masl@cdtn.br.
authors.forename: M A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Engenharia Nuclear, Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências e Técnicas Nucleares, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares de la UAZ, C. Cipres, 10, 98068, Zacatecas, Mexico.
authors.forename: T C F
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, CDTN, Av. Presidente Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D017357:Cyclotrons / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D009590:Nitrogen Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D009590:Nitrogen Radioisotopes
keywords: Cyclotron; Neutron spectrometry; Thermoluminescent dosimetry