Online neutron fluence measurement at University Hospital Essen neutron therapy facility using gallium arsenide LEDs

The detector and sensor group of the West German Proton Therapy Centre (WPE) has developed a novel real-time neutron fluence monitor based on tiny, inexpensive, commercially available GaAs-LEDs. The linear detection range for d(14)+Be neutrons was evaluated to be 5.0 × 108-2.0 × 1011 neutron.cm−2. However, this monitor can be used universally for neutrons of any energy distribution. Using scaling factors, fluence calibration curves for 1 MeV and 14 MeV D+T fusion neutrons have been calculated. The sensitivity of the detector increases with increasing neutron energy. This makes it suitable for the detection of high-energy neutrons, providing an extra advantage for use at a proton therapy facility where there is a high proportion of high-energy neutrons. The detector is practically not sensitive to photons. A prototype of the online GaAs-LED based neutron fluence monitor has been tested successfully at University Hospital Essen neutron therapy facility and will be implemented at WPE in the near future.