Light scattering apparatus and method for determining radiation exposure to plastic detectors

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874862

Hermes, Robert E ^[1]

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1. White Rock, NM

An improved system and method of analyzing cumulative radiation exposure registered as pits on track etch foils of radiation dosimeters. The light scattering apparatus and method of the present invention increases the speed of analysis while it also provides the ability to analyze exposure levels beyond that which may be properly measured with conventional techniques. Dosimeters often contain small plastic sheets that register accumulated damage when exposed to a radiation source. When the plastic sheet from the dosimeter is chemically etched, a track etch foil is produced wherein pits or holes are created in the plastic. The number of these pits, or holes, per unit of area (pit density) correspond to the amount of cumulative radiation exposure which is being optically measured by the apparatus. To measure the cumulative radiation exposure of a track etch foil a high intensity collimated beam is passed through foil such that the pits and holes within the track etch foil cause a portion of the impinging light beam to become scattered upon exit. The scattered light is focused with a lens, while the primary collimated light beam (unscattered light) is blocked. The scattered light is focused by the lens onto an optical detector capable of registering the optical power of the scattered light which corresponds to the cumulative radiation to which the track etch foil has been exposed.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6476910
• OSTI ID: 874862
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

light
scattering
apparatus
method
determining
radiation
exposure
plastic
detectors
improved
analyzing
cumulative
registered
pits
track
etch
foils
dosimeters
increases
speed
analysis
provides
ability
analyze
levels
properly
measured
conventional
techniques
contain
sheets
register
accumulated
damage
exposed
source
sheet
dosimeter
chemically
etched
foil
produced
holes
created
unit
pit
density
amount
optically
measure
intensity
collimated
beam
passed
portion
impinging
scattered
exit
focused
lens
primary
unscattered
blocked
optical
detector
capable
registering
power
corresponds
light beam
radiation source
collimated beam
radiation dosimeter
track etch
/356/250/