Fieldable computer system for determining gamma-ray pulse-height distributions, flux spectra, and dose rates from Little Boy
Our system consists of a LeCroy 3500 data acquisition system with a built-in CAMAC crate and eight bismuth-germanate detectors 7.62 cm in diameter and 7.62 cm long. Gamma-ray pulse-height distributions are acquired simultaneously for up to eight positions. The system was very carefully calibrated and characterized from 0.1 to 8.3 MeV using gamma-ray spectra from a variety of radioactive sources. By fitting the pulse-height distributions from the sources with a function containing 17 parameters, we determined theoretical repsonse functions. We use these response functions to unfold the distributions to obtain flux spectra. A flux-to-dose-rate conversion curve based on the work of Dimbylow and Francis is then used to obtain dose rates. Direct use of measured spectra and flux-to-dose-rate curves to obtain dose rates avoids the errors that can arise from spectrum dependence in simple gamma-ray dosimeter instruments. We present some gamma-ray doses for the Little Boy assembly operated at low power. These results can be used to determine the exposures of the Hiroshima survivors and thus aid in the establishment of radation exposure limits for the nuclear industry.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Technical Programming Services, Pleasanton, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5554037
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-83-3349; CONF-840202-5; ON: DE84003829
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
440103* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202 -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH GERMANATES
CALIBRATION
CAMAC SYSTEM
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DATA PROCESSING
DOSE RATEMETERS
FUNCTIONS
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
GERMANATES
GERMANIUM COMPOUNDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SIMULATION
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
SPECTRA UNFOLDING
SPECTROMETERS
WEAPONS