I. Sorokin

BINP accelerator based epithermal neutron source.

Innovative facility for neutron capture therapy has been built at BINP. This facility is based on compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915-2.5 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction. In the article, diagnostic techniques for proton beam and neutrons developed are described, results of experiments on proton beam transport and neutron generation are shown, discussed, and plans are presented.

Proton beam of 2 MeV 1.6 mA on a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation

A source of epithermal neutrons based on a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation for boron neutron capture therapy of malignant tumors was proposed and constructed. Stationary proton beam with 2 MeV energy, 1.6 mA current, 0.1% energy monochromaticity and 0.5% current stability has just been obtained.

First neutron generation in the BINP accelerator based neutron source.

Pilot innovative facility for neutron capture therapy was built at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk. This facility is based on a compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction. The results of the first experiments on neutron generation are reported and discussed.

Current progress and future prospects of the VITA based neutron source

At the BINP, a pilot accelerator based epithermal neutron source is now in use. Most recent investigations on the facility are related with studying the dark current, X-ray radiation measuring, optimization of H(-)-beam injection and new gas stripping target calibrating. The results of these studies, ways of providing stability to the accelerator are presented and discussed, as well as the ways of creating the therapeutic beam and strategies of applying the facility for clinical use.

A new concept of a vacuum insulation tandem accelerator.

A tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation has been proposed and developed in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. Negative hydrogen ions are accelerated by the positive 1 MV potential of the high voltage electrode, converted into protons in the gas stripping target inside the electrode, and then the protons are accelerated again by the same potential. The potential for high voltage and intermediate electrodes is supplied by the sectioned rectifier through a sectioned bushing insulator with a resistive divider. In this work, we propose a radical improvement of the accelerator concept. It is proposed to abandon the separate placement of the accelerator and the power supply and connect them through the bushing insulator. The source of high voltage is proposed to be located inside the accelerator insulator with high voltage and intermediate electrodes mounted on it. This will reduce the facility height from 7 m to 3m and make it really compact and attractive for placing in a clinic. This will significantly increase the stability of the accelerator because the potential for intermediate electrodes can be fed directly from the relevant sections of the rectifier.

First experimental results from 2 MeV proton tandem accelerator for neutron production.

A 2 MeV proton tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation was developed and first experiments are carried out in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk). The accelerator is designed for neutron production via reaction (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be for the boron neutron-capture therapy of the brain tumors, and for explosive detection based on 9.1724 MeV resonance gamma, which are produced via reaction (13)C(p,gamma)(14)N, absorption in nitrogen.

Tandem Accelerator with Vacuum Insulation for Boron-Neutron-Capture Therapy and Detection of Explosives by Resonance Absorption of γ-Rays

The status of the design work on an electrostatic tandem-accelerator with vacuum insulation for 2.5 MeV protons and up to 40 mA constant current is reported. This machine is to be used for solving problems of neutron therapy and the detection of explosives by nuclear-resonance absorption of γ-rays.

Suppression of an unwanted flow of charged particles in a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation

In the construction of a tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation several changes were made. This allowed us to suppress the unwanted flow of charged particles in the accelerator, to improve its high-voltage stability, and to increase the proton beam current from 1.6 mA to 5 mA.

Obtainment of 5 mA 2 MeV Proton Beam in the Vacuum Insulation Tandem Accelerator

In BINP the neutron source for BNCT based on proton accelerator was designed and built. It is necessary for the therapy to ensure a stable proton beam current of not less than 3 mA with energy 2 MeV. During the injection of negative hydrogen ion beam into the accelerator the unwanted charged particles are produced, affecting the stability of beam parameters. The article describes methods of suppression of undesirable charged particles and the results of experiments.

Electrical strength of the high-voltage gaps of the tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation

New type of accelerator - electrostatic tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation - was proposed and constructed for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The accelerator has a high acceleration rate of charged particles, which gives hope for its stable operation without breakdowns at high currents. Specialties of the accelerator are large surface area of the accelerating electrodes (41 m2) and large stored energy (tens of joules). The results of experiments, carried out on the high-voltage stand and the tandem accelerator, are presented. The influence of breakdowns on the electrical strength of the high-voltage accelerator elements are studied. This investigation allows increasing proton energy up to 2.3 MeV and current up to 5 mA.