Measurements of γ-rays and neutrons in BNCT irradiation field using thermoluminescent phosphor

Abstract

Abstract Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an innovative cancer therapy that selectively destroys only cancer cells by utilizing the reaction between boron agents, which selectively accumulate in cancer cells, and neutron beams. However, the irradiation field in BNCT is a mixture of multiple radiation types, making accurate dose evaluation difficult. For dose evaluation in cancer tissue, which is particularly important, it is essential to discriminate between neutrons and γ-rays mixed in the BNCT irradiation field and to measure them correctly. In this paper, we introduce a new method for selective measurement of neutrons and γ-rays using a thermoluminescent phosphor, which is expected to be a promising method for improving the accuracy of dose evaluations.