Feasibility of an epithermal neutron source for BNCT based on RFQ accelerator

The use of boron neutron capture therapy for the treatment of deep-seated tumours, such as glioblastoma multiform e, requires neutron beams of suitable energy and intensity. The analysis of the therapeutic gain shows that a high tumour control probability with sublethal dose at healthy tissues can be achieved, in most cases, by using neutron beams of a few keV energy, with a flux of about 109 neutrons/cm2 s. Therapeutic neutron beams with high-spectral purity in this energy range could be produced by accelerator-based neutron sources through a suitable neutron-producing reaction. We investigate the feasibility of a solution based on a small radio frequency quadrupole for a proton beam current of 30 mA and an energy of 2 MeV. An appropriate choice of the function parameters of the RFQ (modulation, efficiency of acceleration, phase shift, etc., ...) allows one to design relatively compact accelerators, which could eventually lead to setup hospital-based BNCT facilities