B.J. Patil

Design of 6Mev linear accelerator based pulsed thermal neutron source: FLUKA simulation and experiment.

The 6MeV LINAC based pulsed thermal neutron source has been designed for bulk materials analysis. The design was optimized by varying different parameters of the target and materials for each region using FLUKA code. The optimized design of thermal neutron source gives flux of 3×10(6)ncm(-2)s(-1) with more than 80% of thermal neutrons and neutron to gamma ratio was 1×10(4)ncm(-2)mR(-1). The results of prototype experiment and simulation are found to be in good agreement with each other.

Measurement of angular distribution of neutron flux for the 6 MeV race-track microtron based pulsed neutron source

The 6MeV race track microtron based pulsed neutron source has been designed specifically for the elemental analysis of short lived activation products, where the low neutron flux requirement is desirable. Electrons impinges on a e-gamma target to generate bremsstrahlung radiations, which further produces neutrons by photonuclear reaction in gamma-n target. The optimisation of these targets along with their spectra were estimated using FLUKA code. The measurement of neutron flux was carried out by activation of vanadium at different scattering angles. Angular distribution of neutron flux indicates that the flux decreases with increase in the angle and are in good agreement with the FLUKA simulation.

Thermoluminescence of nanocrystalline CaSO4: Dy for gamma dosimetry and calculation of trapping parameters using deconvolution method

Nanorods of CaSO4: Dy having diameter 20 nm and length 200 nm have been synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method. These samples were irradiated with gamma radiation for the dose varying from 0.1 Gy to 50 kGy and their TL characteristics have been studied. TL dose response shows a linear behavior up to 5 kGy and further saturates with increase in the dose. A Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD) program was used for the analysis of TL glow curves. Trapping parameters for various peaks have been calculated by using CGCD program.

Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence study of CaSO4 : Dy nanophosphor for 6 MeV energy electron dosimetry

Nanoparticles of CaSO 4 : Dy with size around 25 nm, were synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method for the purpose of high energy electron dosimetry. The nanocrytstalline samples were irradiated with 6 MeV energy electrons having fluence varied from 3 × 10 14 to 2 × 10 15 e/cm 2 .The pre and post irradiated samples were characterized by the XRD, SEM, PL and TL techniques. The XRD spectra show the orthorhombic phase and do not change with the electron fluence. Moreover, the particle size found to be around 25 nm and marginally increased from 25 nm to 34 nm with the increase in the electron fluence. SEM image confirms the existence of the nanoparticle around 30 to 40 nm. In PL emission spectra, a shift towards lower wavelength has been observed with decrease in particle size from micrometer to nanometer. This mainly attributes to the extension in the band gap of Dy 3+ ions. The TL spectra exhibit four peaks at around 437,545,638, and 748 K respectively. The TL response curve shows that the peak intensity initially increased with electron fluence, and at a fluence of 9 × 10 14 e/cm 2 saturates then decreased with increase in the electron fluence. It is mainly due to the generation of different kinds of trapping centers. The present study indicates that the CaSO 4 : Dy phosphor can be used for the measurement of dose of 6 MeV energy electrons over a range varying from 1 kGy to 25 kGy.

Design and development of the 6–18 MeV electron beam system for medical and other applications

ABSTRACT A system for the electron and photon therapy has been designed and developed at SAMEER, IITB, Mumbai. All the components of the system such as the 270° beam bending electromagnet, trim coils, magnet chamber, electron scattering foil, slits, applicators, etc., were designed and fabricated indigenously. The electrons of 6, 8, 9, 12, 15 and 18 MeV energies were provided by a linear accelerator, indigenously designed and made at SAMEER, IITB campus, Mumbai. The electron beam from the LINAC enters the magnet chamber horizontally, and after deflection and focusing in the 270° bending magnet, comes out of the exit port, and travels a straight path vertically down. After passing through the beryllium and tantalum scattering foils, the electron beam gets scattered and turns into a solid cone shape such that the diameter increases with the travel distance. The simulation results indicate that at the exit port of the 270° beam bending magnet, the electron beam has a divergence angle of ≤ 3 mrad and diameter ∼2–3 mm, and remains constant over 6–18 MeV. Normally, 6–18 MeV electrons are used for the electron therapy of skin and malignant cancer near the skin surface. On a plane at a distance of 100 cm from the scattering foils, the size of the electron beam could be varied from 10 cm × 10 cm to 25 cm × 25 cm using suitable applicators and slits. Different types of applicators were therefore designed and fabricated to provide required beam profile and dose of electrons to a patient. The 6 MeV cyclic electron accelerator called Race-Track Microtron of S. P. Pune University, Pune, was extensively used for studying the performances of the scattering foils, electron beam uniformity and radiation dose measurement. Different types of thermoluminescent dosimetry dosimeters were developed to measure dose in the range of 1–10kGy.

6 MeV electron beam induced diffusion of iodine in isotactic polypropylene

Polypropylene is irradiated by 6 MeV electrons in presence of Iodine and subsequently characterized by the techniques such as weight gain, weight loss, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). It is unambiguously observed that the electron beam assists the doping and trapping of volatile Iodine in Polypropylene. Presence of the Iodine during irradiation strongly supports the radiation-induced decrease in the band gap up to almost visible region. Further, the doped Iodine strongly interacts and decreases the crystalline structure of the Polypropylene. It is also observed that the nanoclusters of Iodine having size around 100 nm are formed on the surface of Polypropylene due to electron irradiation.