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Martinez-Cañadas, M. A., Porras, I., Macias, M., Praena, J., Fontana, C. L., Bonaldi, C., et al. (2026). First experimental validation of the MgF2 core of the Beam Shaping Assembly from the NeMeSiS project for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 246, 113969–10pp.
Abstract: A Beam Shaping Assembly model was proposed by the Neutrons for Medicine and Scientific applications project for its application to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The first experimental test of the core moderator was performed at the MONNET facility at the Joint Research Centre in Geel, Belgium. To this end, the conducted experiment had three main goals: first, an energy and angular characterization of the 7Li(p,n) at 2.1 MeV; second, the validation of the magnesium fluoride (MgF2) total cross-section following transmission measurements through thin samples; third, the measurement of the moderation capabilities of MgF2 after irradiating several blocks of the material. All measurements used a lithium glass detectors with the time-of-flight technique. Monte Carlo simulations were done to calculate the necessary corrections, as well as several checks and further analysis. In this work we illustrate the chronology in all these sequential steps.
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Olivares Herrador, J., Wroe, L. M., Latina, A., Corsini, R., Wuensch, W., Stapnes, S., et al. (2026). Feasibility of High-Intensity Electron Linacs as Drivers for Compact Neutron Sources. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 73(1), 2–11.
Abstract: The increasing demand for neutron production facilities is driven both by the growing use of neutrons in a wide range of applications and by the progressive shutdown of major existing sources. These trends highlight the need for efficient and compact alternatives to traditional spallation and reactor-based systems. In this context, the present work investigates the potential of normal-conducting compact electron linacs, operating in the energy range of 20-500 MeV, as drivers for neutron generation. Using detailed G4beamline simulations, the optimal dimensions of a tungsten target are determined, and the resulting neutron emission spectrum is characterized. Two electron linac designs are evaluated as drivers for such a target: the HPCI X-band linac and the CTF3 drive-beam S-band linac. The study demonstrates that neutron source strengths up to 1.5 x 10(15) n/s can be achieved, with energy consumption per neutron produced as low as 5.6 x 10-(10) J/n. These findings suggest that electron-linac-based neutron sources offer a compact and energy-efficient solution suitable for a wide range of applications in research, industry, and medicine.
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Torres-Sanchez, P., Babiano-Suarez, V., Correa, J. B., Gameiro, B., Lerendegui-Marco, J., Ladarescu, I., et al. (2026). First experimental demonstration of Compton imaging of 10B at clinical concentrations for real-time dosimetry in BNCT. Phys. Med. Biol., 71(16), 165030–17pp.
Abstract: Objective. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) requires accurate knowledge of the boron distribution during treatment to enable reliable dosimetry and treatment verification. Compton imaging of the 478 keV prompt gamma rays emitted following neutron capture by 10B has been proposed as a promising technique for real-time boron monitoring. This work aims to experimentally evaluate the feasibility of Compton imaging under clinically relevant boron concentrations and realistic neutron-induced background conditions. Approach. A dedicated experimental campaign was performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France) using the i-TED Compton camera array. Three experimental configurations with progressively increasing neutron-induced background were investigated, including a water phantom containing 65 ppm 10B, representative of typical tumor concentrations during BNCT. Experimental measurements were complemented by detailed Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations to interpret detector performance, identify current limitations, and assess potential detector improvements. Main results. The experiments demonstrate, for the first time, Compton imaging of 10B at a clinically relevant concentration of 65 ppm under neutron irradiation. The reconstructed 478 keV gamma-ray emission was correctly localized with a spatial resolution of 22 mm (FWHM) and a signal-to-background ratio of 6.4. The study also identifies the principal limitations affecting detector performance, namely high count-rate effects and contamination from back-scattered Compton events. Dedicated analyses and simulations show that optimized event filtering substantially mitigates image degradation, while future detector developments based on pixelated scintillator arrays and improved timing capabilities are expected to significantly enhance performance under BNCT operating conditions. Significance. These results constitute the first experimental validation of Compton imaging for boron monitoring at clinically relevant concentrations and demonstrate the potential of the technique for real-time BNCT dosimetry. The identified detector improvements provide a technically grounded pathway towards clinical implementation of gamma-ray imaging-based dose monitoring in BNCT.
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Torres-Sanchez, P., Lerendegui-Marco, J., Balibrea-Correa, J., Babiano-Suarez, V., Gameiro, B., Ladarescu, I., et al. (2025). The potential of the i-TED Compton camera array for real-time boron imaging and determination during treatments in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 217, 111649–9pp.
Abstract: This paper explores the adaptation and application of i-TED Compton imagers for real-time dosimetry in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). The i-TED array, previously utilized in nuclear astrophysics experiments at CERN, is being optimized for detecting and imaging 478 keV gamma-rays, critical for accurate BNCT dosimetry. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations were used to optimize the i-TED detector configuration and enhance its performance in the challenging radiation environment typical of BNCT. Additionally, advanced 3D image reconstruction algorithms, including a combination of back-projection and List-Mode Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (LM-MLEM), are implemented and validated through simulations. Preliminary experimental tests at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) demonstrate the potential of i-TED in simplified conditions, with ongoing experiments focusing on testing imaging capabilities in realistic BNCT conditions.
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