Calibration of neutron dosimeters for radiation protection use at the ALBA synchrotron experimental hall

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2020Source: Radiation Physics and ChemistryAuthor(s): M.J. García-Fusté, A. Devienne, M. Romero-Expósito, M.A. Caballero-Pacheco, C. DomingoAbstractBright beams of synchrotron radiation are produced from a 3 GeV electron accelerator at the Spanish synchrotron facility ALBA. The electron acceleration and storage mechanisms lead to complex secondary radiation fields. These fields include electrons, photons and neutrons of a wide energy range, and have an important pulsed behaviour and very significant spatial variations. In order to perform correct dose assessments for radiation protection purposes, it is necessary to measure separately electrons, photons and neutrons. In the case of neutron dosimetry, given the strong dependence with energy of the radiation weighting factor and of the fluence to ambient dose equivalent conversion coefficient, it is necessary to have some spectrometric information to correctly assess dose. Neutron dosimeters designed at UAB, based on PADC (Poly Allyl Diglycol Carbonate) track detectors, were exposed in different places of the ALBA experimental hall and tunnel. As to date, no calibration facility provides neutron fields similar to those found at ALBA, ambient dose equivalent was originally evaluated with calibration coefficients obtained from calibration at an Am-Be neutron source. A procedure for calibrating the dosimeters based on the knowledge, either by simulation or experimental determinati...

Source: Radiation Physics and Chemistry - February 4, 2020 Category: Physics Source Type: research