Use of computer memory chips as the basis for a digital albedo neutron dosimeter.
We have measured the sensitivity of commercially available dynamic random access memories (D-RAMs) to alpha particles. Using a beam of 14-meV neutrons and a 6LiF crystal as a converter we have measured sensitivities to neutron radiation as high as 9.25 memory errors per millirem. We estimate that an optimized converter would produce even higher sensitivities as an albedo dosimeter in realistic radiation fields. Such a device would have a number of operational advantages.
D000512:Alpha Particles; D003201:Computers; D009502:Neutrons; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation*