Measurement of the neutron-induced cross sections of relevant materials for boron neutron capture therapy

We propose a series of measurements to characterise the neutronic spectroscopic response of 4-Borono-Phenylalanine and Gadopentetic Acid, two molecules of interest in the framework of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. BNCT is an irradiation technique whereby a thermal neutron is captured, and the heavy particles (helium and lithium nuclei) consequently emitted are used to locally irradiate cancer cells. For each of the two molecules, we will measure the total neutron scattering cross section, and the prompt-gamma emission spectra. The former is of interest to benchmark Monte-Carlo computer simulations optimising irradiation procedures in the cancer treatment, the latter provides information on the gamma rays emitted during thermal neutron absorption that, contrarily to the heavy particles released by boron, can damage neighbouring healthy cells.