The response of various neutron dose meters considering the application at a high energy particle accelerator

F. Gutermuth; T. Radon; G. Fehrenbacher; J. G. Festag

doi:10.1515/kern-2003-0072

Article

The response of various neutron dose meters considering the application at a high energy particle accelerator

F. Gutermuth , T. Radon , G. Fehrenbacher and J. G. Festag

Published/Copyright: March 11, 2022

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From the journal Kerntechnik Volume 68 Issue 4

Abstract

The applicability of several neutron detectors for dose measurements at a neutron field typical for high energy particle accelerators is investigated. The response of four commercially available active neutron dose meters and two passive detectors to neutrons from a ²⁴¹Am-Be(α,n) source and to neutrons at the CERN EU high energy reference field was determined experimentally and simulated using the Monte-Carlo code FLUKA. Fluence response functions and dose responses for the different detectors were calculated in the energy range between 1 keV and 10 GeV. The results show that the dose response to the high energy neutron field at CERN of the conventional rem-counters is lower by a factor of 2 to 2.5 if compared to the dose response to a ²⁴¹Am-Be(α,n) neutron source. The rem-counters exhibiting an additional layer of lead inside the moderating structure showed dose readings which differ only up to 25 %. A thermoluminescent based neutron detector was tested for comparison. These passive detectors revealed a neutron response similar to a rem-counter and may be preferable for situations with highly pulsed beams.

Abstract

Verschiedene Neutronendetektoren wurden im Hinblick auf ihre Eignung zu Dosismessungen in einem Neutronenfeld, welches als typisch für die Verhältnisse an Hochenergieteilchenbeschleunigern angesehen werden kann, untersucht. Das Ansprechvermögen von vier kommerziell erhältlichen aktiven Neutronendosimetern und zwei passiven Detektoren wurde für Neutronenstrahlung am CERN EU Hochenergie-Referenzmessplatz und für eine ²⁴¹Am-Be(α,n)-Quelle experimentell bestimmt. Weiterhin wurde die Fluenz-und die Dosis-Antwortfunktion für die verschiedenen Detektoren durch Monte-Carlo Simulation mit dem Programm FLUKA im Energiebereich von 1 keV bis 10 GeV berechnet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Dosis-Antwort der konventionellen REM-Zähler für das Neutronenfeld am CERN um einen Faktor 2 bis 2,5 kleiner ist als für das Feld der ²⁴¹Am-Be(α,n)-Quelle. Hingegen zeigten die getesteten REM-Zähler mit zusätzlichem Blei-Absorber im Moderator Dosismesswerte, welche sich für die beiden Felder um wenige Prozent bis maximal um 25% unterscheiden. Die parallel getesteten Thermolumineszenz-Detektoren zeigten ein Neutronenansprechvermögen ähnlich dem eines REM-Zählers. Der Einsatz dieser passiven Neutronendosimeter bietet sich besonders in stark gepulsten Strahlungsfeldern an.

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the radiation protection group at CERN which is running CERF. The possibilities which are offered in the frame of this project are unique and are highly appreciated. Special thanks to Evangelia Dimovasili and Marco Silari for their hospitality during the last two years. The latter also provided the neutron spectra for CERF which have been used here. Our summer student in the year 2002 Parthena Sansourekidou contributed to the investigation of the thermoluminescent based detectors which is kindly acknowledged.

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Received: 2003-05-27

Published Online: 2022-03-11

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https://doi.org/10.1515/kern-2003-0072