Radiological estimation and validation for the Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Facility at the Ibaraki Neutron Medical Research Center

Nakashima, Hiroshi; Nakamura, Takemi  ; Kobayashi, Hitoshi*; Tanaka, Susumu*; Kumada, Hiroaki*

Aiming of development of facilities for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) that can be installed in hospitals, an accelerator-based BNCT facility is being developed at the Ibaraki Neutron Medical Research Center under a collaboration among the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, the University of Tsukuba, and other institutions. It consists of a proton accelerator, having a maximum beam power of 80 kW, and a target, moderator, collimator and shield (TMCS) system. For the design concept, to satisfy the BNCT beam conditions and achieve a low activation, the radiation behavior in the TMCS system was simulated by the Monte Carlo method and this system configuration was optimized accordingly. In addition, the radiation estimation of the TMCS system was verified via several experiments and its applicability for BNCT was proved. This report reviews the estimation and validation studies for the development of the accelerator-based BNCT facility.