Calculation of the neutron sensitivity of TL detectors

Abstract

A procedure is described for the calculation of the sensitivity of TL detectors in neutron radiation fields. Since in neutron TL dosimeters secondary particles of different types arise at different locations, it is therefore appropriate to consider single components for the calculation of the sensitivity. The following components are taken into account: the interaction of the primary neutrons with the TL material, secondary particles coming out of a radiator, (n, γ)-reactions in the body and the interaction of the albedo neutrons with the TL material. The fundamental steps in the procedure for the calculation of the neutron sensitivity of TL detectors are (a) finding the relation between detector reading and dose through a 60Co gamma calibration, (b) calculation of the dose distribution in L for the different charged secondaries, (c) calculation of the TL effective dose by means of the relative light conversion factor n( L), (d) to get from this dose a value for the detector reading according to the calibration (a). Results are given for CaSO 4 combined with a polyethylene (PE) radiator, CaF 2 embedded in polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and LiF.