(33)S as a cooperative capturer for BNCT

Appl Radiat Isot. 2014 Jun:88:203-5. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.12.039. Epub 2014 Jan 9.

Abstract

(33)S is a stable isotope of sulfur for which the emission of an α-particle is the dominant exit channel for neutron-induced reactions. In this work the enhancement of both the absorbed and the equivalent biologically weighted dose in a BNCT treatment with 13.5keV neutrons, due to the presence of (33)S, has been tested by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The kerma-fluence factors for the ICRU-4 tissue have been calculated using standard weighting factors. The simulations depend crucially on the scarce (33)S(n,α)(30)Si cross-section data. The presence of a high resonance at 13.5keV was established by previous authors providing discrepant resonance parameters. No experimental data below 10keV are available. All of this has motivated a proposal of experiment at the n_TOF facility at CERN. A setup was designed and tested in 2011. Some results of the successful test will be shown. The experiment is scheduled for the period November to December 2012.

Keywords: Cross-section measurement; Epithermal neutron beam; Monte Carlo simulations; Neutron capture therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption, Radiation
  • Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Particle Accelerators / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Sulfur Isotopes / chemistry*
  • Sulfur Isotopes / radiation effects*

Substances

  • Sulfur Isotopes