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 10B dose is under development focusing on CdZnTe (CZT) solid state detectors as photon sensors. Since BNCT facilities are characterised by a ( n + γ ) 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 γ background, the CZT detector is able to discriminate the 10B signal from the neutron capture peaks of 113Cd.