Facility
Neutron Source NUANS Specifications
Overview of NUANS
NUANS (Nagoya University Accelerator-driven Neutron Source) is a compact accelerator-driven neutron source owned and operated by our laboratory. It is mainly dedicated to BNCT developments.
The system uses a Dynamitron accelerator to accelerate protons, which then bombard a lithium target to generate neutrons.
Currently, protons are accelerated up to 2.6 MeV, and the beam current is 2 mA in the operation. NUANS serves as the cornerstone for multidisciplinary projects, ranging from the development of advanced neutron detection devices and biological effect evaluation in BNCT.
The Dynamitron accelerator installed at Yoshihashi Laboratory
Accelerator & Neutron Source Specs
The IBA Dynamitron accelerator at NUANS is a robust electrostatic system capable of delivering high-current continuous wave (DC) proton beams stably.
| Accelerator Type | Electrostatic Dynamitron Accelerator (manufactured by IBA) |
|---|---|
| Accelerated Particle | Proton |
| Max Proton Energy | 2.8 MeV |
| Max Beam Current | 15 mA |
| Beam Mode | DC (Continuous Wave) |
Current Operations: Operating at a proton beam energy of 2.6 MeV, producing an approximate neutron flux of 4×108 n/cm2/sec/mA (Gold foils experiment).
Neutron Energy Spectrum
The neutron energy spectrum obtained from Monte Carlo calculations using PHITS is shown below.
calculating...
References
This section introduces research on neutron yield, neutron field measurement, and target development at NUANS. Please refer to these publications when citing.
- Nishitani, T., Tanagami, Y., Yoshihashi, S., et al. Neutron yield calculation of p-Li thick target by using PHITS with JENDL-4.0/HE and ENDF/B-VII for BNCT application. J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 2022;59(5), 605-613. Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2021.1996297
- Watanabe K, Yoshihashi S, Ishikawa A, et al. First experimental verification of the neutron field of Nagoya University Accelerator-driven neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy. Appl Radiat Isot. 2021;168:109553. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109553
- Yoshihashi, S., Tsuneyoshi, T., Tsuchida, K., et al. High heat removal technique for a lithium neutron generation target used for an accelerator-driven BNCT system. JINST. 2021;16(04), P04016. Link: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-0221/16/04/P04016
- Honda, S., Yoshihashi, S., Tomita, S., et al. Development of a Sealed Li target as an accelerator-driven neutron source for Boron neutron capture therapy at Nagoya University. Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. Sect A. 2022;1040, 167140. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.167140
- Honda, S., Yoshihashi, S., Hamaji, Y., et al., Evaluation of heat removal performance of a sealed Li target for an accelerator-driven neutron source of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy at Nagoya University. Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. Sect A. 2022;1042, 167414. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.166074