A telescope-design directional neutron spectrometer

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2004;110(1-4):533-7. doi: 10.1093/rpd/nch278.

Abstract

A directional spectrometer that uses a superheated emulsion of dichlorotetrafluoroethane at the centre of a 30 cm diameter moderating-sphere of nylon-6. The system has a telescope-design wherein the detector views a narrow solid angle of about 1/6 steradians. The hydrogenous sphere effectively attenuates laterally incident neutrons, thus providing a strong angular dependence of the response. The central detector is sequentially operated at seven temperatures between 25 and 55 degrees C in order to generate a matrix of nested response functions suitable for few-channel spectrometry. The response matrix of the system has been determined by calibrations with monoenergetic neutrons and by Monte Carlo neutron transport calculations. The double-differential unfolding method developed for this system applies the principle of maximum entropy and allows for the rigorous use of all a priori information. The spectrometer is intended for use in the mixed neutron/photon fields encountered in the nuclear power industry, being suitable for spatially distributed radiation sources with maximum neutron energies up to 10 MeV.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Body Burden
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis / methods*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Linear Energy Transfer
  • Neutrons*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Protection / instrumentation*
  • Radiation Protection / methods
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / methods
  • Relative Biological Effectiveness
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrum Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods