[ RadSafe ] Neutron flux from electron accelerators

[alstonchris at netscape.net]

Jeff



I don't know about positrons, but the binding E for many nuclei starts around 8 MeV, so you get a photoneutron out when a photon delivers that much, or?more, E to the nucleus.? The photon could have been generated by a high-E electron slamming into a high-Z target (e.g., tungsten, as in a medical linac): et?voila, Bremsstrahlung.? Most of the photoneutrons then, I suspect, will arise in the photons' target, although one does get activation products in the electron target.


Cheers
cja


-----Original Message-----
From: Kulp, Jeffrey B <kulpjb at wsu.edu>
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Sent: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 7:28 pm
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Neutron flux from electron accelerators



Hello radsafers,

 

                I am curious how neutrons are produced in an electron
(and positron?) accelerator. Can anyone offer a brief explanation?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jeff Kulp

Washington State University

Radiation Safety Office

Pullman, WA 99164-1302

(509) 335-8175

 

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