Gas phase dosimetry based on nitrogen yield from nitrous oxide

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EDT 1974 · Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isotop., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 87-93

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-708X(74)90104-5· OSTI ID:4316669

McLaren, K G

Gas phase radiation dosimetry based on nitrogen yield (G(N/sub 2/)) from nitrous oxide was studied. Comparison of yields obtained on an absolute basis (ionization current dosimetry) by various workers using optimum experimental conditions (N/sub 2/O pressure 500 to 760 mm Hg, total doses < 1.2 x 10/sup 20/ eVg/sup -1/; irradiation temperature 20 to 30 deg C) shows poor reproducibility for the N/sub 2/O dosimeter system. In this work G(N/sub 2/) was found to be 9.03 plus or minus 0.10 (standard error --33 measurements) for gamma irradiation at dose rates of about 6 x 10/sup 13/ eV cm/sup -3/ mm Hg/sup -1/ hr/ sup -1/, and 8.59 plus or minus 0.2 3 (standard error -9 measurements) for 1 MeV electron irradiation at dose rates around 2 x 10/sup 15/ eV cm/sup -3/ mm Hg/ sup -1/ hr/sup -1/. The differen ce in the mean G(N/sub 2/) values for gamma and electron radiolyses is not statistically significant at the 99% confidence level. The accuracy of the ionization dosimetry method was checked by measuring G(H/sub 2/) and G(CH/sub 4/) yields from ethylene, which agreed well with values found in the literature. Nitrogen yields are lower than those of other workers, and experimental errors which could give spuriously high G(N/sub 2/) values are discussed. It is shown that the reproducibility of the ethylene dosimeter is superior to that of the nitrous oxide dosimeter. (auth)

• Research Organization: Australian Atomic Energy Commission Research Establishment, Lucas Heights
• NSA Number: NSA-29-026906
• OSTI ID: 4316669
• Journal Information: Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isotop., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 87-93, Journal Name: Int. J. Appl. Radiat. Isotop., v. 25, no. 2, pp. 87-93; ISSN IJARA
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CHEMICAL DOSEMETERS-- PERFORMANCE
*ELECTRON DOSIMETRY-- CHEMICAL DOSEMETERS
*GAMMA DOSIMETRY-- CHEMICAL DOSEMETERS
ETHYLENE
G VALUE
MEV RANGE 01-10
N46120* --Instrumentation--Radiation Detection Instruments-- Radiation Dosimeters
NITROGEN
NITROGEN OXIDES
RADIOLYSIS