Study on Liquid Lithium Target System for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)

The concept of the liquid lithium target system for the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using an accelerator was formulated. A lithium flow loop was designed and fabricated for development of lithium jet nozzles that provide a stable lithium plane jet. A water flow loop was designed, fabricated and used for development of lithium jet nozzles. Experiment of water plane jet was conducted to investigate the stability of high velocity plane jets. A large amount of droplets were entrained from the jet surface when the jet was unstable. The jet was observed by being illuminated with a stroboscope. It was found that a stable plane jet was realized by using a nozzle with the gap of 0.5mm and the length of 70mm. It was concluded that a fully developed flow without inlet disturbances at the outlet of the nozzle was required for the stability of the high velocity plane jet.