Neutron dosimetry using electrochemical etching

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5264687

Su, S J; Stillwagon, G B; Morgan, K Z

Registration of ..cap alpha..-tracks and fast-neutron-induced recoils tracks by the electrochemical etching technique as applied to sensitive polymer foils (e.g., polycarbonate) provides a simple, sensitive and inexpensive means of fast neutron personnel dosimetry as well as a valuable research tool for microdosimetry. When tracks were amplified by our electrochemical technique and the etching results compared with conventional etching technique a striking difference was noted. The electrochemically etched tracks were of much larger diameter (approx. 100 ..mu..m) and gave superior contrast. Two optical devices--the transparency projector and microfiche reader--were adapted to facilitate counting of the tracks appearing on our polycarbonate foils. The projector produced a magnification of 14X for a screen to projector distance of 5.0 meter and read's magnification was 50X. A Poisson distribution was determined for the number of tracks located in a particular area of the foil and experimentally verified by random counting of quarter sections of the microfiche reader screen. Finally, in an effort to determine dose equivalent (rem), a conversion factor is being determined by finding the sensitivity response (tracks/neutron) of recoil particle induced tracks as a function of monoenergetic fast neutrons and comparing results with those obtained by others.

• Research Organization: Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta (USA). School of Nuclear Engineering
• OSTI ID: 5264687
• Report Number(s): CONF-770720-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440102* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Radiation Dosemeters
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
DIELECTRIC TRACK DETECTORS
DOSIMETRY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
ETCHING
FUNCTIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICRODOSIMETRY
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY
POLYCARBONATES
RADIATION DETECTORS
READOUT SYSTEMS
RECOILS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SENSITIVITY
SURFACE FINISHING