A high current electrostatic accelerator for boron neutron capture therapy

The use of boron neutron capture therapy in clinical treatment will require the development of intense neutron sources suitable for operation in a hospital environment. Low-energy accelerator-based neutron sources have the potential for meeting the requirements for a clinical BNCT facility. This paper describes the design, installation, and initial operation of the first high current tandem accelerator for this application. The accelerator utilizes a highly power efficient switch-mode high voltage generator to deliver proton beams with energies of up to 4.1 MeV. The use of a multi-cusp high current negative ion source in combination with magnetically suppressed accelerating tubes allows the acceleration of proton beam currents up to 4 mA. The design principles and operation of the accelerator are described.