title: Response of neutron detectors to high-energy mixed radiation fields.
abstract: Radiation protection around CERN's high-energy accelerators represents a major challenge due to the presence of complex, mixed radiation fields. Behind thick shielding neutrons dominate and their energy ranges from fractions of eV to about 1 GeV. In this work the response of various portable detectors sensitive to neutrons was studied at CERN's High-Energy Reference Field Facility (CERF). The measurements were carried out with conventional rem counters, which usually cover neutron energies up to 20 MeV, the Thermo WENDI-2, which is specified to measure neutrons up to several GeV, and a tissue-equivalent proportional counter. The experimentally determined neutron dose equivalent results were compared with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Based on these studies field calibration factors can be determined, which result in a more reliable estimate of H*(10) in an unknown, but presumably similar high-energy field around an accelerator than a calibration factor determined in a radiation field of a reference neutron source.
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland. Sabine.Mayer@psi.ch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forkel-Wirth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuerstner
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Theis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vincke
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D038622:Internationality; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009502:Neutrons; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013557:Switzerland