Measurement of neutron dose from p+181Ta reaction at different proton energies via LET spectrometry

Abstract

While measuring the neutron dose in accelerator radiation environment using CR-39 detector for radiation protection purpose, LET (linear energy transfer) spectrometry method is implemented when the information about the radiation source term is unknown. In this work, the neutron dose has been measured for p+181Ta reaction at different proton energies i.e. 8–20 MeV by LET spectrometry method using CR-39 detectors. The track density in CR-39 was found to increase exponentially with the proton energy and an empirical relation has been established. The dosimetric quantities viz. absorbed dose (DLET) and dose equivalent (HLET) were determined from the LET spectra and both these quantities were found to be increasing with the proton energy. Empirical relations were generated, which will be useful for predicting dose in similar radiation environment. The dosimetric data generated in this study would be useful for radiation protection of occupational workers working in the accelerator radiation environment.