Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC
Abstract Accurate neutron detection in mixed photon-neutron and pulsed radiation fields is technically challenging, impacting industrial and medical applications. This paper presents the first measurements of thermal neutrons in conventional radiotherapy accelerators using a silicon carbide (SiC) P–...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13052-w |
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| author | Martín Pérez Felipe Zamorano Celeste Fleta Carles Muñoz-Montplet Diego Jurado-Bruggeman Marcio Jiménez Pablo Guardia Gina Grabulosa-Morera Roger Morales-Pérez Gemma Rius Philippe Godignon Giulio Pellegrini Consuelo Guardiola |
| author_facet | Martín Pérez Felipe Zamorano Celeste Fleta Carles Muñoz-Montplet Diego Jurado-Bruggeman Marcio Jiménez Pablo Guardia Gina Grabulosa-Morera Roger Morales-Pérez Gemma Rius Philippe Godignon Giulio Pellegrini Consuelo Guardiola |
| author_sort | Martín Pérez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Accurate neutron detection in mixed photon-neutron and pulsed radiation fields is technically challenging, impacting industrial and medical applications. This paper presents the first measurements of thermal neutrons in conventional radiotherapy accelerators using a silicon carbide (SiC) P–N diode with different neutron converters. SiC detectors enable real-time estimation of secondary thermal neutron contributions, crucial for emerging radiotherapy techniques requiring precise neutron fluence monitoring. Beyond medical applications, the presented detectors show potential for neutron dosimetry, radiation monitoring, nuclear safety, and scientific research. The SiC diode active detection layer is less than 30 µm thick, and provides excellent gamma rejection ( $$5\times 10^{-8}$$ ), allowing discrimination of neutrons-induced events in mixed radiation fields. Experimental tests conducted on a TrueBeam radiotherapy LINAC demonstrated a thermal neutron detection efficiency of (4.32 ± 0.02)% for a (50 ± 10) µm thick $$^6$$ LiF neutron converter. The detector, placed at 1.2 m from the accelerator isocenter, was used to measure neutron fluences at different monitor unit (MU) rates, ranging from 100 to 600 MU/min, with the LINAC operating at 15 MV. Under these conditions, the detector exhibited good linearity, without saturation or dead time effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa68dd4c8b2b41dfab2d27185e5c1f7e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa68dd4c8b2b41dfab2d27185e5c1f7e2025-08-24T11:26:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-13052-wEvaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINACMartín Pérez0Felipe Zamorano1Celeste Fleta2Carles Muñoz-Montplet3Diego Jurado-Bruggeman4Marcio Jiménez5Pablo Guardia6Gina Grabulosa-Morera7Roger Morales-Pérez8Gemma Rius9Philippe Godignon10Giulio Pellegrini11Consuelo Guardiola12Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO)Medical Physics and Radiation Protection Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC)Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC)Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC)Abstract Accurate neutron detection in mixed photon-neutron and pulsed radiation fields is technically challenging, impacting industrial and medical applications. This paper presents the first measurements of thermal neutrons in conventional radiotherapy accelerators using a silicon carbide (SiC) P–N diode with different neutron converters. SiC detectors enable real-time estimation of secondary thermal neutron contributions, crucial for emerging radiotherapy techniques requiring precise neutron fluence monitoring. Beyond medical applications, the presented detectors show potential for neutron dosimetry, radiation monitoring, nuclear safety, and scientific research. The SiC diode active detection layer is less than 30 µm thick, and provides excellent gamma rejection ( $$5\times 10^{-8}$$ ), allowing discrimination of neutrons-induced events in mixed radiation fields. Experimental tests conducted on a TrueBeam radiotherapy LINAC demonstrated a thermal neutron detection efficiency of (4.32 ± 0.02)% for a (50 ± 10) µm thick $$^6$$ LiF neutron converter. The detector, placed at 1.2 m from the accelerator isocenter, was used to measure neutron fluences at different monitor unit (MU) rates, ranging from 100 to 600 MU/min, with the LINAC operating at 15 MV. Under these conditions, the detector exhibited good linearity, without saturation or dead time effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13052-wNeutron detectorsSiCRadiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Martín Pérez Felipe Zamorano Celeste Fleta Carles Muñoz-Montplet Diego Jurado-Bruggeman Marcio Jiménez Pablo Guardia Gina Grabulosa-Morera Roger Morales-Pérez Gemma Rius Philippe Godignon Giulio Pellegrini Consuelo Guardiola Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC Scientific Reports Neutron detectors SiC Radiotherapy |
| title | Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC |
| title_full | Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC |
| title_short | Evaluation of a silicon carbide P–N diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy LINAC |
| title_sort | evaluation of a silicon carbide p n diode for thermal neutron detection in a radiotherapy linac |
| topic | Neutron detectors SiC Radiotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13052-w |
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