Development of high-intensity deuterium-deuterium and deuterium-trittium neutron sources and neutron filters for medical and industrial applications

This thesis consists of three main parts. The first part is related to boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), the second part to boron neutron capture synovectomy (BNCS), and the third part to the neutron generator development.;A monoenergetic neutron beam simulation study is carried out to determine the most suitable neutron energy for treatment of shallow and deep-seated brain tumors in the context of BNCT. Two figures-of-merit---the absorbed skin dose and the absorbed tumor dose at a given depth in the brain---are used to measure the neutron beam quality. Based on the results of this study, moderators, reflectors and delimiters are designed and optimized to moderate the high-energy neutrons from the fusion reactions D-D and D-T down to a suitable energy spectrum. Two different computational models have been used to study the dose distribution in the brain.;A monoenergetic neutron beam simulation study is carried out to determine the optimal neutron energy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Two figures-of-merit are used to measure the neutron beam quality, the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the skin absorbed dose, and the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the bone absorbed dose. It was found that thermal neutron beams are optimal for treatment. Computation of the dose distribution in the knee requires the simulation of particle transport from the neutron source to the knee phantom through the moderator.;The third part describes the development of high-intensity D-D and D-T neutron generators. Thick target neutron yield computations have been performed to estimate the neutron yield of titanium and scandium targets. With an average deuteron beam current of 1 A and an energy of 120 keV, a neutron production of about 1014 n/s can be estimated for a tritiated target. In mixed deuteron/triton beam operation, a beam current of 2 A at 150 keV is required for the same neutron output. Despite this lower neutron production, this mode of operation is advantageous because the target lifetime can be increased from a few hours to more than 1000 h. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...