title: Determination of conversion factors from air kerma to operational dose equivalent quantities for low-energy X-ray spectra.
abstract: The conversion coefficients from air kerma to ICRU operational dose equivalent quantities for STUK's realisation of the X-radiation qualities N-15 to N-60 of the ISO narrow (N) spectrum series were determined by utilising X-ray spectrum measurements. The pulse-height spectra were measured using a planar high-purity germanium spectrometer and unfolded to fluence spectra using Monte Carlo generated data of the spectrometer response. To verify the measuring and unfolding method, the first and second half-value layers and the air kerma rate were calculated from the fluence spectra and compared with the values measured using an ionisation chamber. For each radiation quality, the spectrum was characterised by the parameters given in ISO 4037-1. The conversion coefficients from the air kerma to the ICRU operational quantities Hp(10), Hp(0.07), H'(0.07) and H*(10) were calculated using monoenergetic conversion coefficients at zero angle of incidence. The results are discussed with respect to ISO 4037-4, and compared with published results for low-energy X-ray spectra.
authors.affiliation: STUK-Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority P.O. Box 14, FIN-00881 Helsinki, Finland. arvi.hakanen@stuk.fi
authors.forename: Arvi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakanen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosunen
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pöyry
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tapiovaara
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000465:Algorithms; D001822:Body Burden; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008954:Models, Biological; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D014965:X-Rays