Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Calculation of thermal neutron scattering data of MgF2 and its effect on beam shaping assembly for BNCT

  • Jiaqi Hu (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Zhaopeng Qiao (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Lunhe Fan (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Yongqiang Tang (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Liangzhi Cao (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Tiejun Zu (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Qingming He (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Zhifeng Li (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University) ;
  • Sheng Wang (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University)
  • Received : 2022.05.26
  • Accepted : 2022.12.21
  • Published : 2023.04.25
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Abstract

MgF2 as a moderator material has been extensively used in the beam shaping assembly (BSA) that plays an important role in the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Regarded as important for applications, the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF2 were calculated, based on the phonon expansion model. The structural properties of MgF2 were researched by the VASP code based on the ab-initio methods. The PHONOPY code was employed to calculate the phonon density of states. Furthermore, the NJOY code was used to calculate the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF2. The calculated inelastic cross sections plus absorption cross sections are in agreement with the available experimental data. The neutron transport in the BSA has been simulated by using a hybrid Monte-Carlo-Deterministic code NECP-MCX. The results indicated that compared with the calculation of the free gas model, the thermal neutron flux and epithermal neutron flux at the BSA exit port calculated by using the thermal neutron scattering data of MgF2 were reduced by 27.7% and 8.2%, respectively.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the supports from the Guang-dong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant Nos. 2020B1515120035, 2021A1515010265, 2022A1515011462) and Innovative Scientific Program of CNNC.

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