title: Demonstration of a high-intensity neutron source based on a liquid-lithium target for Accelerator based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.
abstract: A free surface liquid-lithium jet target is operating routinely at Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF), bombarded with a ~1.91 MeV, ~1.2 mA continuous-wave narrow proton beam. The experiments demonstrate the liquid lithium target (LiLiT) capability to constitute an intense source of epithermal neutrons, for Accelerator based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). The target dissipates extremely high ion beam power densities (>3 kW/cm(2), >0.5 MW/cm(3)) for long periods of time, while maintaining stable conditions and localized residual activity. LiLiT generates ~3×10(10) n/s, which is more than one order of magnitude larger than conventional (7)Li(p,n)-based near threshold neutron sources. A shield and moderator assembly for BNCT, with LiLiT irradiated with protons at 1.91 MeV, was designed based on Monte Carlo (MCNP) simulations of BNCT-doses produced in a phantom. According to these simulations it was found that a ~15 mA near threshold proton current will apply the therapeutic doses in ~1h treatment duration. According to our present results, such high current beams can be dissipated in a liquid-lithium target, hence the target design is readily applicable for accelerator-based BNCT.
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel; Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Halfon
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Arenshtam
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kijel
authors: Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Paul
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Weissman
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Berkovits
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Eliyahu
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel; Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Feinberg
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kreisel
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Mardor
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Shimel
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Shor
authors: Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Silverman
authors: Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tessler
mesh_terms: D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009502:Neutrons
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium
keywords: Accelerator target; Accelerator-based BNCT; Liquid-lithium; Monte-Carlo simulations