A Comparative Study of Neutron Irradiation for Genetic Mutations: Spallation, Reactor, and Compact Neutron Source

Abstract

Neutron beam, being electrically neutral and highly penetrating, offers unique advantages for irradiation of biological species such as plants, seeds, and microorganisms. We comprehensively investigate the potential of neutron irradiation for inducing genetic mutations using simulations of J-PARC BL10, JRR-3 TNRF, and KUANS for spallation, reactor, and compact neutron sources. We analyze neutron flux, energy deposition rates, and Linear Energy Transfer (LET) distributions. KUANS demonstrated the highest dose rate of 17 Gy/h, significantly surpassing BL10, due to the large solid angle by the optimal sample placement. The findings highlight KUANS's suitability for efficient genetic mutations and neutron breeding, particularly for inducing targeted mutations in biological samples. The LET range of KUANS is concentrated in 20-70 keV/{\mu}m, which is potentially ideal for inducing specific genetic mutations. The importance of choosing neutron sources based on LET requirements to maximize mutation induction efficiency is emphasized. This research shows the potential of compact neutron sources like KUANS for effective biological irradiation and neutron breeding, offering a viable alternative to larger facilities. The neutron filters used in BL10 and TNRF effectively excluded low-energy neutrons with keeping the high LET component. The neutron capture reaction, 14N(n,p)14C, was found to be the main dose under thermal neutron-dominated conditions.