Low cost CCD camera protection against neutron radiation damage

Abstract

At a radiotherapy department cancer patients are treated with high energy electron and photon beams. These beams are produced by a linear accelerator. A closed circuit television system is used to monitor patients during treatment. Although CCD cameras are rather resistant to stray radiation, they are damaged by the low flux of neutrons which are produced by the linac as a side effect. PVC can be used to reduce damage to CCD cameras induced by neutron radiation. A box with 6 cm thick walls will extend the life of the camera at least by a factor of two. A PVC neutron shield is inexpensive. PVC is easy to obtain and the box is simple to construct. A similar box made out of PE will not reduce neutron damage to a CCD camera. Although PE is a good medium to moderate faster neutrons, thereby reducing some of the bulk defects, it will not capture thermal neutrons which induce surface damage.