Development and Dosimetry of an `Epithermal' Neutron Beam for Possible Use in Neutron Capture Therapy I. `Epithermal' Neutron Beam Development

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Abstract
The possibility exists of destroying neoplastic cells in vivo by introducing a suitable neutron-capturing isotope such as 10B and subsequently irradiating the area with a beam of thermal neutrons (energy < 05eV). An advantage can be gained by using epithermal neutrons (energy 10 KeV to 05eV), since they provide deeper penetration in tissue than do thermal neutrons. The Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor has been used to obtain an epithermal neutron beam giving a thermal neutron flux density of 142×1010 n/cm2-sec at 3 cm depth in tissue; the beam used gave the highest number of epithermal neutrons per unit of contaminating radiations.