Computational Study of Radiation Doses at the UNLV Accelerator Facility
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
11-6-2016
Publication Title
EPJ Web of Conferences
Volume
153
First page number:
7027
Abstract
Linear electron accelerators (linacs) are used to generate bremsstrahlung photons through the interaction of an electron beam with a heavy metal target. These bremsstrahlung photons with endpoint energy equal to that of the impinging electron beam are typically collimated into a desired beam shape (fan or cone beams). At electron energies larger than 10 MeV [1], the interaction of the newly produced photons with the linac component materials leads to the production of neutrons. These neutrons are often undesired and pollute the collimated photon beam while increasing the dose rates at the facility due to the linac operation. MCNPX 2.7.0 [2] code was used to investigate the production of neutrons due to the normal operation of a 15 MeV linac. Dose rates within the UNLV accelerator facility were calculated for both photons and neutrons. Furthermore, the irradiation of several materials using the K15 linac was modeled; the resulting neutron fluxes and dose rates were determined.
Language
english
Repository Citation
Hodges, M.,
Barzilov, A.,
Chen, Y.,
Lowe, D.
(2016).
Computational Study of Radiation Doses at the UNLV Accelerator Facility.
EPJ Web of Conferences, 153
7027.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201715307027