Innovative 3D sensitive CdZnTe solid state detector for dose monitoring in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)

A BNCT-dedicated SPECT system to monitor in real time the B-10 dose is under development focusing on CdZnTe (CZT) solid state detectors as photon sensors. Since BNCT facilities are characterised by a (n + gamma) radiation field and considering the high value of cadmium neutron absorption cross section, we evaluated the response of a CZT detector using the irradiation thermal neutron facility of the Pavia University research nuclear reactor. The reported measurements showed that, despite the thermal neutron and gamma background, the CZT detector is able to discriminate the B-10 signal from the neutron capture peaks of Cd-113.