Simple and low cost alternative method for detecting photoneutrons produced in some radiotherapy treatments using SSNTDs

A simple and low cost alternative which is able to identify thermal and fast neutrons in a clinical environment of radiotherapy is presented. CR-39 and LR-115 Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTDs) were used, estimating their viability. In order to register alpha tracks due to thermal neutrons, natural boric acid tablets were placed in close contact to the detector, whereas in order to detect epithermal neutrons, some were additionally covered in a thin cadmium layer. Different configurations were assembled, changing the position of the converter with respect to the detector and the incident neutron fluence, which was evaluated in different positions of a radiotherapy table. The contribution due to environmental 222Rn and its daughters to the track density registered by the detector during the measurements was found to be negligible. It is concluded that the designed experimental set up constitutes a trustworthy and affordable method to carry out neutron measurements with the recommended configurations provided for the CR-39 detector, and not with LR-115. •Neutrons from radiotherapy treatments are detected with a simple and cheap device.•CR-39 registers neutrons in three energy ranges using easily acquired converters.•Tablet made with natural boric acid is used to convert slow neutrons into alphas.•Etching conditions were optimized to differentiate alpha tracks from proton tracks.•Unlike LR-115, CR-39 was viable for neutron detection in different energy ranges.