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

Abstract 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 252 Cf 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.