A facility for measurements of nuclear cross sections for fast neutron cancer therapy

A facility for measurements of neutron-induced double-differential light-io n production cross-sections, for application within. e.g.. fast neutron can cer therapy, is described. The central detection elements are three-detecto r telescopes consisting of two silicon detectors and a CsI crystal. Use of Delta E-Delta E-E techniques allows good particle identification for p, d. t, He-3 and alpha particles over an energy range from a few MeV up to 100 M eV. Active plastic scintillator collimators are used to define the telescop e solid angle. Measurements can be pel formed using up to eight telescopes at 20 degrees intervals simultaneously, thus covering a wide angular range. The performance of the equipment is illustrated using experimental data ta ken with a carbon target at E-n = 95 MeV. Distortions of the measured charg ed-particle spectra due to energy and particle losses in the target are cor rected using a nea ly developed computer code. Results from such correction calculations are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.