title: Characterization and utilization of a Bonner sphere set based on gold activation foils.
abstract: Bonner sphere (BS) sets which use activation foils as the central thermal neutron sensor have advantages over active BS systems in certain environments, for example, pulsed fields, or fields with high photon components. In such environments, they may be the only type of neutron spectrometer which can be used. This paper describes work, using both measurements and calculations, to validate the response functions for a BS set based on gold activation foils. As an illustration of the use of such a system, a measurement is described of the contaminant neutron spectrum in the treatment room of a 21 MV hospital linear accelerator providing photon beams for radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Neutron Metrology Group, DQL, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK. david.thomas@npl.co.uk
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolkowski
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009502:Neutrons; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006046:Gold