Digital characterization of recoil charged-particle tracks for neutron measurements

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6705655

Turner, J E; Hunter, S R; Hamm, R N; Wright, H A; Hurst, G S; Gibson, W A

We are developing a new optical ionization detector for imaging the track of a charged neutron-recoil particle in a gas. Electrons produced in the path of the recoil particle are excited by an external, high-voltage, RF, electric field of short duration. Their oscillatory motion causes ionization and excitation of nearby gas molecules, which then emit light in subsequent de-excitation. Two digital cameras image the optical radiation across two perpendicular planes and analyze it for the numbers of electrons in various volume elements along the track. These numbers constitute the digital characterization of the track. This information can then be used to infer the energy deposited in the track and the track LET in the gas. We have now observed alpha-particle tracks in a chamber utilizing these principles. The application of such a device for neutron dosimetry and neutron spectrometry will be described. 4 refs., 3 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Pellissippi International, Knoxville, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6705655
• Report Number(s): CONF-881151-26; ON: DE89002210
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440102* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Radiation Dosemeters
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
655000 -- Medical Physics
CAMERAS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
DOSIMETRY
IMAGE CONVERTERS
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGE TUBES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRON DOSIMETRY
NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY
PARTICLE TRACKS
PROCESSING
RECOILS
SPECTROSCOPY