Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy Marco Sumini1, Giacomo Grasso1, Federico Rocchi1, Agostino Tartari2 1 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory of Montecuccolino, University of Bologna, Italy 2 Physics Department, University of Ferrara and INFN Ferrara, Italy One of the major problems in the widespread diffusion of neutron capture therapy installations, both for research and treatment purposes, is the lack of safe neutron sources. By safe it is meant a source that satisfies at leats three requirements: 1) doesn’t rely upon even small quantities of fertile/fissile materials; 2) doesn’t rely upon the strong emissions of radioisotopes; 3) can be switched off and turned on at will. In 2002 we presented a preliminary design for a thermal neutron source based on the Plasma Focus technology for TAORMINA-like treatment protocols. The Plasma Focus (PF) technology in fact satisfies all the three requirements mentioned above. PF machines can produce fast neutrons by triggering D-D or D-T nuclear fusion reactions in a repetitively generated pulsed plasma discharge. Deuterium and Tritium are used at fairly low values of pressure (a few hundred Pa), so that only small amounts of these gases are required. The typical neutron yield per discharge is proportional to the square of the input energy E which is stored in a high voltage capacitor bank. For D-D reactions and for E = 50 kJ, the neutron yield results to be about 2.5·1010 n/discharge, while for D-T reactions at the same input energy the yield is about 2.5·1012 n/discharge. For these values of E it is possible to build PF machines capable of 1 Hz discharge repetition rates with a continuous workload up to total neutron yields for a D-T plasma of about 3·1014 n in 2 minutes. In the present paper we present a different PF design which can accommodate two special types of irradiators, one that can be used to provide thermal neutrons for TAORMINA-like treatments, and another that can provide epithermal neutrons for standard protocols. The PF end-user can shift between these two at will depending on the day-by-day needs. Evaluations of the performances of the two irradiators will be presented by Montecarlo (MCNP code) simulation of the neutron transport processes.
Marco Sumini, Giacomo Grasso, Federico Rocchi, Agostino Tartari (2008). Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy. Roma : ENEA.
Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy
SUMINI, MARCO;GRASSO, GIACOMO;ROCCHI, FEDERICO;
2008
Abstract
Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy Marco Sumini1, Giacomo Grasso1, Federico Rocchi1, Agostino Tartari2 1 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory of Montecuccolino, University of Bologna, Italy 2 Physics Department, University of Ferrara and INFN Ferrara, Italy One of the major problems in the widespread diffusion of neutron capture therapy installations, both for research and treatment purposes, is the lack of safe neutron sources. By safe it is meant a source that satisfies at leats three requirements: 1) doesn’t rely upon even small quantities of fertile/fissile materials; 2) doesn’t rely upon the strong emissions of radioisotopes; 3) can be switched off and turned on at will. In 2002 we presented a preliminary design for a thermal neutron source based on the Plasma Focus technology for TAORMINA-like treatment protocols. The Plasma Focus (PF) technology in fact satisfies all the three requirements mentioned above. PF machines can produce fast neutrons by triggering D-D or D-T nuclear fusion reactions in a repetitively generated pulsed plasma discharge. Deuterium and Tritium are used at fairly low values of pressure (a few hundred Pa), so that only small amounts of these gases are required. The typical neutron yield per discharge is proportional to the square of the input energy E which is stored in a high voltage capacitor bank. For D-D reactions and for E = 50 kJ, the neutron yield results to be about 2.5·1010 n/discharge, while for D-T reactions at the same input energy the yield is about 2.5·1012 n/discharge. For these values of E it is possible to build PF machines capable of 1 Hz discharge repetition rates with a continuous workload up to total neutron yields for a D-T plasma of about 3·1014 n in 2 minutes. In the present paper we present a different PF design which can accommodate two special types of irradiators, one that can be used to provide thermal neutrons for TAORMINA-like treatments, and another that can provide epithermal neutrons for standard protocols. The PF end-user can shift between these two at will depending on the day-by-day needs. Evaluations of the performances of the two irradiators will be presented by Montecarlo (MCNP code) simulation of the neutron transport processes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
