Monte Carlo simulation of neutron shielding for proton therapy facilities

A study was performed to develop a Monte Carlo method of modeling neutron shielding of proton therapy facilities in a complex, realistic environment. The bulk neutron shielding of the Northeast Proton Therapy Center (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA) was used as the basis of the design work. A geometrical model of the facility was simulated using the LAHET Code System, a set of Monte Carlo codes developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Additional software tools for reading and analyzing the simulation data that the model provides have been developed and tested. In order to verify the computer simulations, neutron detection and data acquisition systems have been assembled, modified, and thoroughly tested in order to monitor the neutron dose equivalent during proton beam operation at several locations on a continuous basis. Preliminary tests show that the geometry and physics models proposed in this work are valid.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Folkert, Michael R. (Michael Ryan), 1975-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jacquelyn C. Yanch.

• Nuclear Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50492

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/50492