About this Research Topic
Particle accelerators are increasingly used in different applications. The prompt radiation field in these accelerator environments consists of gamma and neutron radiation. Various forms of neutron activation studies are also used for analysis of geological, archaeological, environmental samples. It is crucial to know the neutron dose from these neutron sources for proper planning of the experiments as well as to ensure protection of personnel and environment against any over exposure. Neutron dosimetry is important over a wide range of energy, spanning over more than ten orders of magnitude. No single method can be effectively applied to assess the neutron dose over this entire energy range. Different techniques involving different types of interaction are applied which endeavor to achieve higher accuracy. In this context, this Research Topic proposes to discuss the development and advances in neutron dosimetric techniques and the underlying physics.
In this collection of articles, it is intended to address the difficulties and complexities involved in personal and environmental neutron dosimetry. Different techniques are required to assess the neutron dose over the wide range of energies and the intensity of the neutron fields involved – development of these different techniques, the underlying physics, advantage and disadvantage of these techniques will be discussed. The neutron field is often associated with gamma radiation. In the case the detector used for neutron dosimetry is sensitive also to gamma radiation, efficient discrimination of the neutron response from the gamma response needs to be established to achieve a good accuracy in the measured dose. Due to the variation in quality factor for neutrons the dose quantities are not directly measurable, but for a given reaction system or source, the neutron spectrum is invariant. So, it is plausible to measure neutron spectrum and determine the dose using the fluence to dose conversion factors. But fast neutron spectrometry is a complex method – techniques of unfolding of measured data into the neutron spectrum and subsequent dose determination will be addressed.
We propose to bring together a collection of articles to discuss the following:
• History and development of neutron dosimetry,
• Albedo method of neutron dosimetry using LiF or other TLD’s and its advantages
• Use of activation detectors for neutron dose measurement
• Track detectors e.g., CR-39 and others as neutron dosimeter and new developments in the area (different methods of processing the irradiated detector, etc.)
• Response of rem meters above 20 MeV and its mitigation,
• Use of Bonner sphere and its extension to GeV range
• Bubble detectors, superheated drop detectors, etc. for neutron dosimetry
• Radiophotoluminescent (RPL) detectors for neutron dosimetry
• Complexities in dose determination from fast neutrons
• Invariance of neutron spectrum over dose for a given reaction system – dose determination from spectrum measurement and spectrum unfolding technique
• Other related topics
In this collection of articles, it is intended to address the difficulties and complexities involved in personal and environmental neutron dosimetry. Different techniques are required to assess the neutron dose over the wide range of energies and the intensity of the neutron fields involved – development of these different techniques, the underlying physics, advantage and disadvantage of these techniques will be discussed. The neutron field is often associated with gamma radiation. In the case the detector used for neutron dosimetry is sensitive also to gamma radiation, efficient discrimination of the neutron response from the gamma response needs to be established to achieve a good accuracy in the measured dose. Due to the variation in quality factor for neutrons the dose quantities are not directly measurable, but for a given reaction system or source, the neutron spectrum is invariant. So, it is plausible to measure neutron spectrum and determine the dose using the fluence to dose conversion factors. But fast neutron spectrometry is a complex method – techniques of unfolding of measured data into the neutron spectrum and subsequent dose determination will be addressed.
We propose to bring together a collection of articles to discuss the following:
• History and development of neutron dosimetry,
• Albedo method of neutron dosimetry using LiF or other TLD’s and its advantages
• Use of activation detectors for neutron dose measurement
• Track detectors e.g., CR-39 and others as neutron dosimeter and new developments in the area (different methods of processing the irradiated detector, etc.)
• Response of rem meters above 20 MeV and its mitigation,
• Use of Bonner sphere and its extension to GeV range
• Bubble detectors, superheated drop detectors, etc. for neutron dosimetry
• Radiophotoluminescent (RPL) detectors for neutron dosimetry
• Complexities in dose determination from fast neutrons
• Invariance of neutron spectrum over dose for a given reaction system – dose determination from spectrum measurement and spectrum unfolding technique
• Other related topics
Keywords: Dosimetry, Albedo technique, CR-39, Slow neutrons, Fast neutrons, Fluence-to-dose conversion, Unfolding, Activation detectors
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
