Pulse shape discrimination in a portable beta-gamma dose rate meter

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.1983.4332329· OSTI ID:5913405

Johnson, L O; Alvarez, J L; Hoggan, J M

A portable beta-gamma dose rate instrument capable of tissue-equivalent dose rate measurements in mixed beta-gamma fields has been developed and tested. The detector is a 5 mg/cm/sup 2/-thick plastic scintillator with a 4 mg/cm/sup 2/-window and a 1 cm-thick lucite light pipe to achieve the backscatter geometry required for this application. Pulse shape discrimination techniques are used to minimize contributions from Cerenkov events within the lucite light pipe, photomultiplier tube glass, and direct interaction within the photomultiplier tube dynode structure. The response of the prototype instrument has been demonstrated to be independent of beta end-point energy to a precision of + or - 5% from 150 keV to 2.9 MeV and 1 mRem/h to 200 Rem/h. Response to gamma radiation in the energy range >400 keV is also accurate, but low energy photon response (<100 keV) is considerably lower than expected.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, R.L. Dickson, DOE/RESL Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5913405
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 30:1; ISSN IETNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440102* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Radiation Dosemeters
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BACKSCATTERING
BETA PARTICLES
BODY
CHARGED PARTICLES
DISCRIMINATORS
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DOSE RATEMETERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
ESTERS
GAMMA RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 100-1000
LIGHT PIPES
LUCITE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 01-10
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PHOTONS
PHOTOTUBES
PLASTICS
POLYACRYLATES
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
PULSE CIRCUITS
PULSE DISCRIMINATORS
PULSES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION DOSE UNITS
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SHAPE
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TISSUES
UNITS