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Design and application of a damage-track neutron dosimeter useable in the 1 eV to 17 MeV neutron energy region

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5592458
This research has led to the development of a neutron damage-track dosimeter useable, and approximately rem-responding, in the neutron energy region between 1 eV and 17 MeV. The dosimeter response is a function of a selectively filtered neutron-induced alpha track density and the neutron-induced recoil track density recorded in 400 ..mu..m, low background (7 tracks/cm/sup 2/) CR-39 polymer foils. The alpha particles are generated in an external /sup 6/LiF.-Teflon radiator disc by the /sup 6/Li(n,..cap alpha..)/sup 3/H reaction. The neutron-induced damage-tracks amplified in the detector foils by an optimum combined etching technique as determined in this research. The combined etch consists of a two hour chemical etch in 45 percent KOH at 60/sup 0/C that is followed by a two and one-half hour electrochemical etch in 45 percent KOH at 25/sup 0/C, 2 kHz, and 23 kV/cm. The dose response of the dosimeter has been determined in various neutron spectra that have average neutron energies ranging from 2 keV to 17 MeV. The reseach also describes an investigation of photoneutron contamination in high energy medical therapy accelerator x-ray beams. Three types of damage-track dosimeters were utilized to measure the additional dose deposited in the patient treatment volume from not only those photoneutrons produced in the high Z accelerator components but also the photoneutrons produced by the elemental constituents of tissue within the patient.
Research Organization:
Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta (USA)
OSTI ID:
5592458
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English