Current progress and future prospects of the VITA based neutron source.

At the BINP, a pilot accelerator based epithermal neutron source is now in use. Most recent investigations on the facility are related with studying the dark current, X-ray radiation measuring, optimization of H(-)-beam injection and new gas stripping target calibrating. The results of these studies, ways of providing stability to the accelerator are presented and discussed, as well as the ways of creating the therapeutic beam and strategies of applying the facility for clinical use.

BINP accelerator based epithermal neutron source.

Innovative facility for neutron capture therapy has been built at BINP. This facility is based on compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915-2.5 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction. In the article, diagnostic techniques for proton beam and neutrons developed are described, results of experiments on proton beam transport and neutron generation are shown, discussed, and plans are presented.

New technical solution for using the time-of-flight technique to measure neutron spectra.

New technical solution is proposed for using the time-of-flight technique to measure neutron spectra on VITA-facility. During 200 ns the energy of protons increases from 1.865 up to 1.915 MeV by supplying the square pulse of 50 kV on the neutron-generating target, which is isolated from facility body. During these 200 ns the generation of neutrons is performed. The spectrum can be obtained measuring the time of flight by a remote neutron detector.