A method for measuring tissue-equivalent dose using a pin diode and activation foil in epithermal neutron beams with EN < 100 keV.
Silicon (Si) pin diodes can be used for neutron dosimetry by observing the change in forward bias voltage caused by neutron induced displacement damage in the diode junction. Pin diode energy response depends on Si displacement damage KERMA (K(Si)). It is hypothesised that tissue-equivalent (TE) neutron dose could be expressed as a linear combination of K(Si) and foil activation terms. Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP) of parallel monoenergetic neutron beams incident on a cylindrical TE phantom were used to calculate TE dose, K(Si) and Au, Cu and Mn foil activations along the central axis of the phantom. For spectra with neutron energies <100 keV, it is possible to estimate the TE kerma based on silicon damage kerma and Cu or Mn foil measurements. More accurate estimates are possible for spectra where the maximum neutron energy does not exceed 30 keV.
Carolan
Martin G
MG
Illawarra Cancer Care Centre, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. carolanm@iahs.nsw.gov.au
Rosenfeld
Anatoly B
AB
D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001822:Body Burden; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D009502:Neutrons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D012666:Semiconductors; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods