Measurements of radiation fields around high-energy proton accelerators.
Monitoring of ionising radiation around high-energy particle accelerators is a difficult task due to the complexity of the radiation field, which is made up of neutrons, charged hadrons, muons, photons and electrons, with energy spectra extending over a wide energy range. The dose-equivalent outside a thick shield is mainly owing to neutrons, with some contribution from photons and, to a minor extent, the other particles. Neutron dosimetry and spectrometry are thus of primary importance to correctly evaluate the exposure of personnel. This paper reviews the relevant techniques and instrumentation employed for monitoring radiation fields around high-energy proton accelerators, with particular emphasis on the recent development to increase the response of neutron measuring devices > 20 MeV. Rem-counters, pressurised ionisation chambers, superheated emulsions, tissue-equivalent proportional counters and Bonner sphere spectrometers are discussed.
Agosteo
Stefano
S
CESNEF, Polytechnic of Milan, Via Ponzio 34/3, Milan, Italy.
Silari
Marco
M
D004867:Equipment Design; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011522:Protons; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
D011522:Protons