The e_LiBANS facility: a new compact thermal neutron source based on a medical electron LINAC

TL;DR

This paper presents a new compact thermal neutron source based on a medical electron LINAC, capable of producing a homogeneous thermal neutron field suitable for various research and medical applications, with tunable intensity and low contamination.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel photonuclear neutron source using a medical LINAC coupled with a converter and moderator, with detailed experimental characterization.

Findings

Achieves a thermal neutron flux of about 10^6 cm^-2 s^-1

Provides a homogeneous neutron field with low gamma contamination

Neutron flux can be tuned by adjusting LINAC current

Abstract

A new photonuclear thermal neutron facility has been developed at the Physics Department of University of Torino. The facility is based on a medical electron LINAC coupled to a compact converter and moderator assembly. A homogenous thermal neutron field of the order of 10$^6$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ is achievable in the enclosed irradiation cavity with low gamma and fast neutron contaminations. Its intensity can be tuned varying the LINAC current. These characteristics make the source appropriate for several applications like detectors development, material studies and BNCT preclinical research. This work describes the project and the experimental characterization of the facility. This includes the measurement of the thermal neutron fluence rate, the determination of the neutron energy spectrum and of the thermal neutron field uniformity and the evaluation of the gamma contamination.