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Title: Calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for extremities

Abstract

The Pacific Northwest Laboratory is developing a standard for the performance testing of personnel extremity dosimeters for the US Department of Energy. Part of this effort requires the calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for finger and wrist extremities. This study focuses on conversion factors for two types of extremity models: namely the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom (as specified in the draft standard for performance testing of extremity dosimeters) and more realistic extremity models composed of tissue-and-bone. Calculations for each type of model are based on both bare and D[sub 2]O-moderated [sup 252]Cf sources. The results are then tabulated and compared with whole-body conversion factors. More appropriate energy-averaged quality factors for the extremity models have also been computed from the neutron fluence in 50 equally spaced energy bins with energies from 2.53 [times] 10[sup [minus]8] to 15 MeV. Tabulated results show that conversion factors for both types of extremity phantom are 15 to 30% lower than the corresponcung whole-body phantom conversion factors for [sup 252]Cf neutron sources. This difference in extremity and whole-body conversion factors is attributable to the proportionally smaller amount of back-scattering that occurs in the extremity phantoms compared with whole-body phantoms.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
7368449
Report Number(s):
DOE/EH-0318; PNL-SA-20504
ON: DE93013939
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; 62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ARMS; NEUTRON DOSIMETRY; DOSEMETERS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; LEGS; ACRYLATES; CALIFORNIUM 252; DOSE EQUIVALENTS; NEUTRON FLUENCE; NEUTRONS; PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY; PHANTOMS; RADIATION PROTECTION; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BARYONS; BODY; BODY AREAS; CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES; CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS; DOSIMETRY; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FERMIONS; HADRONS; HEAVY NUCLEI; ISOTOPES; LIMBS; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MOCKUP; NUCLEI; NUCLEONS; RADIOISOTOPES; SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES; STRUCTURAL MODELS; TESTING; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 560101* - Biomedical Sciences, Applied Studies- Radiation Effects- Dosimetry & Monitoring- (1992-); 550603 - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Stewart, R D, Harty, R, McDonald, J C, and Tanner, J E. Calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for extremities. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Stewart, R D, Harty, R, McDonald, J C, & Tanner, J E. Calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for extremities. United States.
Stewart, R D, Harty, R, McDonald, J C, and Tanner, J E. 1993. "Calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for extremities". United States.
@article{osti_7368449,
title = {Calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for extremities},
author = {Stewart, R D and Harty, R and McDonald, J C and Tanner, J E},
abstractNote = {The Pacific Northwest Laboratory is developing a standard for the performance testing of personnel extremity dosimeters for the US Department of Energy. Part of this effort requires the calculation of neutron fluence-to-dose conversion factors for finger and wrist extremities. This study focuses on conversion factors for two types of extremity models: namely the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom (as specified in the draft standard for performance testing of extremity dosimeters) and more realistic extremity models composed of tissue-and-bone. Calculations for each type of model are based on both bare and D[sub 2]O-moderated [sup 252]Cf sources. The results are then tabulated and compared with whole-body conversion factors. More appropriate energy-averaged quality factors for the extremity models have also been computed from the neutron fluence in 50 equally spaced energy bins with energies from 2.53 [times] 10[sup [minus]8] to 15 MeV. Tabulated results show that conversion factors for both types of extremity phantom are 15 to 30% lower than the corresponcung whole-body phantom conversion factors for [sup 252]Cf neutron sources. This difference in extremity and whole-body conversion factors is attributable to the proportionally smaller amount of back-scattering that occurs in the extremity phantoms compared with whole-body phantoms.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7368449}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}

Technical Report:
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