Dosimetric studies of e-, γ-, n- Irradiation fields of the M-30 microtron (18.5 mev)

Abstract

The results of the implementation and study of the radiation characteristics of high-energy electron (e-), gamma (γ-), and neutron (n-) radiation fields of the M-30 microtron with a maximum energy of 18.5 MeV are presented. Dosimetric characteristics were studied using the method of thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) and using samples TLD-100H (LiF: Mg,Cu,P) and TLD-500K (Al2O3:C). Three e-, γ-, and n-experiments were performed at the same M-30 electron flux; the dosimetric indicators Yγ,n;e = Dγ,n/De, where Dγ,n is the intensity of the dosimetric peaks of TSL after γ- or n-irradiation, and De is, respectively, e-irradiation. We discuss the relative stability of these dosimeters' Yγ,e parameters at gamma irradiations and the presence of a partial correlation of Yn,e values in neutron fields. The latter is associated with the peculiarity of radiation defect formation in the material of dosimeters when interacting with nuclear particles of different types. The research results confirm the general ideas about the physics of electron radiation conversion into beams of nuclear particles of different natures. The data obtained are important in developing methods for dosimetric support of radiation technologies that use beams of mixed high-energy nuclear radiation, particularly for radiation therapy.