Neutron Dose measurement in the carbon ion therapy area at HIRFL (IMP) as 12C ions with energies from 165 to 350MeV/u

TL;DR

This study measures neutron dose distributions in carbon ion therapy at HIRFL, compares experimental data with FLUKA simulations, and provides insights for shielding design and dose assessment in high-energy heavy ion medical applications.

Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive measurement of neutron dose distributions for 12C ions at energies from 165 to 350 MeV/u and validates FLUKA simulations against experimental data.

Findings

Experimental data agree well with FLUKA calculations.

Neutron energy spectra were characterized using FLUKA.

Results aid in shielding design and dose assessment for heavy ion therapy.

Abstract

The neutron dose distributions on observation distances and on observation angles were measured using a Wendi-II neutron dose-meter at the deep tumor therapy terminal at HIRFL (Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou) as 12C ions with energies from 165 to 350 MeV/u bombarding on thick solid water targets with different thickness according to the ion energies. The experimental results were compared with those calculated by FLUKA code. It is found that the experimental data was in good agreement with the calculated results. The neutron energy spectra were also studied by using the FLUKA code. The results are valuable for the shielding design of high energy heavy ion medical machines and for the individual dose assessment.