Development of an optical fiber type detector using a Eu:LiCaAlF6 scintillator for neutron monitoring in boron neutron capture therapy

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 802; pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Watanabe, Kenichi, Kawabata, Yuya, Yamazaki, Atsushi, Uritani, Akira, Iguchi, Tetsuo, Fukuda, Kentaro, Yanagida, Takayuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Boron neutron capture therapy; LiCaAlF6 scintillator; Neutron flux monitor; Neutron-gamma ray discrimination; Neutron flux monitor; LiCaAlF6 scintillator; Neutron-gamma ray discrimination; Boron neutron capture therapy
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2015.08.056

We have developed a small neutron detector probe as a thermal neutron flux monitor for boron neutron capture therapy. The detector consists of an optical fiber and a small Eu:LiCaAlF6 scintillator. In order to improve neutron-gamma ray discrimination capability, we use the small-size scintillator, whose size is controlled to be smaller than fast electron range produced by gamma-rays and larger than the range of charged particles induced by 6Li(n,t) reactions. We confirmed the improved neutron-gamma ray discrimination capability by comparing the detector responses between a small-size scintillator and a slab one. We also evaluated the neutron sensitivity of the fabricated optical fiber type neutron detector to be 2×10−4cm2.