The response of various neutron dosemeters at high energy neutrons

Abstract

The results of the energy response of several neutron dosemeters at high energy neutrons are presented. The experiments were carried out at normal incidence and at a wedge angle of 60° for neutron energies of 50 and 70 MeV and a dose equivalent ranging from ∼4 to ∼15 mSv. In this study, fission and various proton recoil track detectors were used. The response of fission track detectors was found equal to about 8±3 sparks mSv −1 at 50 and 70 MeV. The poly allyl diglycol carbonate (PADC/CR-39) materials were PN3 and PN4 from NE Technology and supergrade PM355 from Pershore. The response of chemically etched grade material (PN3) was found to be higher than those of electrochemically etched samples of PM and PN4 by a factor of ∼1.4(±25%) to ∼5.2(±40%) depending on the material, neutron energy and dose equivalent. For all the PADC materials used in this study, the response at a wedge angle of 60° was generally less by almost ∼20% to 50% compared with the normal incidence. All the used PADC materials showed a very good linearity reading with dose.