Dose effect of the 33S(n,α) 30Si reaction in BNCT using the new n_TOF-CERN data

Authors:   M Sabaté-Gilarte,J Praena,I Porras,J Quesada,The n_TOF Collaboration,
Journal: Radiation Protection Dosimetry
https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncx178
Abstract: 33S is a stable isotope of sulphur which is being studied as a potential cooperative target for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) in accelerator-based neutron sources because of its large (n,α) cross section in the epithermal neutron energy range. Previous measurements resolved the resonances with a discrepant description of the lowest-lying and strongest one (at 13.5 keV). However, the evaluations of the major databases do not include resonances, except EAF-2010 which shows smaller values in this range than the experimental data. Furthermore, the glaring lack of data below 10 keV down to thermal (25.3 meV) has motivated a new measurement at n_TOF at CERN in order to cover the whole energy range. The inclusion of this new 33S(n,α) cross section in Monte Carlo simulations provides a more accurate estimation of the deposited kerma rate in tissue due to the presence of 33S. The results of those simulations represent the goal of this work.