Lee K W, Sheu R J
Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Sec. 2, Kung Fu Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, R.O.C. Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Lungtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Sec. 2, Kung Fu Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, R.O.C. Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Sec. 2, Kung Fu Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2015 Apr;164(3):210-8. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncu298. Epub 2014 Oct 3.
High-energy neutrons (>10 MeV) contribute substantially to the dose fraction but result in only a small or negligible response in most conventional moderated-type neutron detectors. Neutron dosemeters used for radiation protection purpose are commonly calibrated with (252)Cf neutron sources and are used in various workplace. A workplace-specific correction factor is suggested. In this study, the effect of the neutron spectrum on the accuracy of dose measurements was investigated. A set of neutron spectra representing various neutron environments was selected to study the dose responses of a series of Bonner spheres, including standard and extended-range spheres. By comparing (252)Cf-calibrated dose responses with reference values based on fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients, this paper presents recommendations for neutron field characterisation and appropriate correction factors for responses of conventional neutron dosemeters used in environments with high-energy neutrons. The correction depends on the estimated percentage of high-energy neutrons in the spectrum or the ratio between the measured responses of two Bonner spheres (the 4P6_8 extended-range sphere versus the 6″ standard sphere).
