The nature of dark matter is one of the most important outstanding issues in particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics. A leading hypothesis is that Weakly Interacting Massive Particles, or WIMPs, were produced in the early universe and make up the dark matter. So far this matter has only been observed through its gravitational effects. WIMPs cannot be Standard Model particles and so their d...

PURPOSE Research and development of various accelerator-based irradiation systems for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is underway throughout the world. Many of these systems are nearing or have started clinical trials. Before the start of treatment with BNCT, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for the fast neutrons (over 10 keV) incident to the irradiation field must be estimated....

We have developed a thermal-neutron coded-aperture imager that reveals the locations of hydrogenous materials from which thermal neutrons are being emitted. This imaging detector can be combined with an accelerator to form an active interrogation system in which fast neutrons are produced in a heavy metal target by means of excitation by high energy photons. The photo-induced neutrons can be ei...

Biological effects of ionizing radiations produced by an explosion of a nuclear device may be complicated by the heterogeneity and extreme intensity of the emissions. Changes in biological systems may be induced that are not attributable to blast, heat, or single-type radiation effects. Many data and discussions have resulted from laboratory studies of radiations, but until recently scant infor...

The physical and radiobiological experiments performed with the fast neutron beams at the cyclotron of the University of Louvain are described and discussed in view of their therapeutic applications.