Tissue current-to-dose conversion factors for neutrons with energies from 0.5 to 60 MeV

Abstract

To assist in the evaluation of the hazard associated with exposure to high-energy neutrons, a Monte Carlo computer program was used to calculate the energy deposition as a function of depth in a 30-cm-thick infinite slab of tissue resulting from neutrons incident on the slab at energies up to 60 MeV. The program treated non-elastic and elastic interactions, including evaporation processes and nuclear recoils. Cases of both normal and isotropic incidence were calculated for neutrons of 0.5, 2, 10, 18, 30 and 60 MeV. From these data, current-to-dose conversion factors were extracted for the average whole-body dose, the dose at a 5-cm depth, and the maximum dose. A set of quality factors (QF's) was adopted for tranforming rad dose to rem dose.