Mini tandem accelerator-based neutron or gamma-ray generator for radiotherapy

© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

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Abstract

A miniature tandem accelerator is being developed to operate as a neutron or gamma-ray tube for radiotherapy applications. This new tool is operated with a high-frequency alternating current 1 mega-volt (MV) high-voltage pulser and a plasma-less H^-/D^- ion source, making it suitable to generate a high flux of fast or epithermal neutrons or high-energy gamma rays through the d-⁷Li, p-⁷Li or p-¹⁹F nuclear reactions. With the proper design, these mini tandem accelerator tubes can be modified for neutron, gamma-ray, or boron neutron capture therapy brachytherapy applications. By increasing the stripper foil voltage higher than 10 MV, proton brachytherapy can be performed for the treatment of small cancer tumors without the use of large and expensive high-energy accelerator systems.

Keywords

Tandem accelerator

Fast-neutron

Epithermal neutron

Gamma ray

Proton therapy

Brachytherapy

Boron neutron capture therapy

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Advances in Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine, Electronic ISSN: 2972-4392 Print ISSN: 3060-8554, Published by AccScience Publishing