An algorithm for unfolding neutron dose and dose equivalent from digitized recoil-particle tracks

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6484066

Bolch, W E

Previous work conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has demonstrated the feasibility of a digital approach to neutron dosimetry. In contrast to current analog methods, the digital approach specifically refers to methods of collection and processing of ionization products created by recoil particles within detector volumes. A dosimeter utilizing the digital approach would consist of both a detector and a computer algorithm. The detector would measure the integral number of subexcitation electrons produced by recoil particles within various subvolumes of its sensitive volume. The computer algorithm would unfold the quantities absorbed dose, linear energy transfer, and dose equivalent given that digital track-structure information. ORNL researchers have completed a Monte Carlo simulation code of one detector design utilizing the operating principles of time-projection chambers. This thesis presents and verifies one version of the dosimeter's computer algorithm. This algorithm processes the output of the ORNL simulation code, but is applicable to all detectors capable of digitizing recoil-particle tracks. Key features include direct measurement of track lengths and identification of particle type for each registered event. The resulting dosimeter should allow more accurate determinations of neutron dose and dose equivalent compared with conventional dosimeters, which cannot measure these quantities directly. Verification of the algorithm was accomplished by running a variety of recoil particles through the simulated detector volume and comparing the resulting absorbed dose and dose equivalent to those unfolded by the algorithm.

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR00033
• OSTI ID: 6484066
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR/00033-T302; ON: DE87009216
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440102* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Radiation Dosemeters
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
ALGORITHMS
COMPUTER CODES
DATA PROCESSING
DIELECTRIC TRACK DETECTORS
DIGITIZERS
DOSIMETRY
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
KERMA
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
N CODES
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARTICLE TRACKS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
PROCESSING
PULSE CIRCUITS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RECOILS
SIGNAL CONDITIONERS
SPECTRA UNFOLDING
TESTING