Performance test of liquid-moderator-based neutron spectrometer for BNCT: Mono-energetic and spontaneous fission spectrum neutron measurements

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an effective cancer therapy that uses neutron irradiation; it is necessary to evaluate the neutron spectrum in the treatment field as precisely as possible. To conduct such evaluations, we developed a new device, called a liquid-moderator-based neutron spectrometer. In the present study, the performance of the developed spectrometer was tested by measuring a mono-energetic neutron field and a fast neutron field generated by a ²⁵²Cf neutron source. Finally, we revealed that the response function of the spectrometer could be appropriately calculated and confirmed the capability of the device to measure the neutron energy spectra between 1 keV and 10 MeV.