Search

The influence of neutron collimation on the shape of energy deposition spectra was investigated using a spherical walled proportional counter. Experimental dose averaged lineal energies were obtained and compared with theoretical values. The fractions of total absorbed dose corresponding to various intervals of lineal energies were also deduced from the measured distributions.

Abstract The various dose components generated by epithermal neutron beams in tissue-equivalent materials have different spatial distributions that also depend on the size and volume of the irradiated volume. NCT dosimetry requires the separate determination of dose components having different LET, because of their different RBE. Monte Carlo simulations have been developed concerning the absorbed doses and thermal neutron fluences, to investigate the extent of the differences that may occur by changing the shape and size of the irradiated volumes. Moreover, the doses and fluences that occur if specific isotopes (10B, 14N, 157Gd) are added to water have been evaluated. Highlights • Water phantoms with an incident epithermal neutron beam were simulated. • Spatial distributions of fluences and doses were evaluated. • The extent of variations induced by changes in phantom shape or composition were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]