A tissue equivalent proportional counter filled with a mixture of tissue equivalent gas and 3He for neutron monitoring
Résumé
Tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) allow the measurement of the ambient dose equivalent H* (10) in mixed fields. IRSN has been studying the design and the response of a TEPC in terms of neutron H* (10). First, a cylindrical counter was filled with propane gas at a low pressure. H* (10) measured in monoenergetic neutron fields underestimated the reference (>50%) at low energies (< 500 keV). A small amount of 3 He was then added to the gas in order to increase the response. The underestimation observed decreased but the results (> 40%) were not totally complying with the objectives (< 20%). Finally the choice was made to improve the analysis of the microdosimetric spectra y·d(y) in order to identify the energy of the incident neutrons. The analysis allows a better estimate of H* (10). The aim of this article is to describe the TEPC and the effect of these methods of optimisation. © 2006 Oxford University Press.
Mots clés
helium
propane
biomimetic material
isotope
article
controlled study
microdosimetry
neutron dosimetry
neutron radiation
process optimization
proportional counter
radiation field
radiation monitoring
body burden
chemistry
equipment
equipment design
evaluation
gas
instrumentation
methodology
neutron
radiation dose
radiation exposure
radiation response
radiometry
relative biologic effectiveness
Biomimetic Materials
Body Burden
Dose-Response Relationship
Radiation
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Gases
Helium
Isotopes
Neutrons
Propane
Radiation Dosage
Radiometry
Relative Biological Effectiveness