The NCT-WES directional neutron spectrometer: validation of the response with monoenergetic neutron fields

Abstract A directional neutron spectrometer named NCT-WES (Neutron Capture Therapy Wide Energy Spectrometer) was developed for quality assurance of the therapeutic beam in Neutron (NCT). operates as a “parallelized” Bonner spheres spectrometer, embedding six semiconductor-based thermal detectors collimated cylindrical moderator. With objective validating simulation model used to derive its response matrix, irradiations reference monoenergetic fields were performed at National Physical Laboratory (UK). As energy distributions beams NCT extend from keV few MeV, this domain chosen, namely 71.5 keV, 144.2 565.1 841.9 and 1200.4 keV. The results experiment confirm correctness model, within an overall uncertainty lower than ± 2%.