Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes
Neutrons constitute a significant component of the secondary cosmic rays and are one of the most important contributors to natural cosmic ray radiation background dose. The study of the cosmic ray neutrons’ contribution to the dose equivalent received by humans is an interesting and challenging task...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/15/5721 |
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| author | Vittoria D’Avino Fabrizio Ambrosino Roberto Bedogni Abner Ivan C. Campoy Giuseppe La Verde Silvia Vernetto Carlo Francesco Vigorito Mariagabriella Pugliese |
| author_facet | Vittoria D’Avino Fabrizio Ambrosino Roberto Bedogni Abner Ivan C. Campoy Giuseppe La Verde Silvia Vernetto Carlo Francesco Vigorito Mariagabriella Pugliese |
| author_sort | Vittoria D’Avino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neutrons constitute a significant component of the secondary cosmic rays and are one of the most important contributors to natural cosmic ray radiation background dose. The study of the cosmic ray neutrons’ contribution to the dose equivalent received by humans is an interesting and challenging task for the scientific community. In addition, international regulations demand assessing the biological risk due to radiation exposure for both workers and the general population. Because the dose rate due to cosmic radiation increases significantly with altitude, the objective of this work was to characterize the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLDs) from the perspective of exposing them at high altitudes for longtime neutron dose monitoring. The pair of TLD-700 and TLD-600 is amply used to obtain the information on gamma and neutron dose in mixed neutron-gamma fields due to the present difference in 6Li isotope concentration. A thermoluminescence dosimeter system based on pair of TLD-600/700 was characterized to enable it for neutron dosimetry in the thermal energy range. The system was calibrated in terms of neutron ambient dose equivalent in an experimental setup using a 241Am-B radionuclide neutron source coated by a moderator material, polyethylene, creating a thermalized neutron field. Afterward, the pair of TLD-600/700 was exposed at the CERN-EU High-Energy Reference Field (CERF) facility in Geneva, which delivers a neutron field with a spectrum similar to that of secondary cosmic rays. The dosimetric system provided a dose value comparable with the calculated one demonstrating a good performance for neutron dosimetry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:05:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53420cc9ded34a91aba8dc6face8ff36 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:05:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-53420cc9ded34a91aba8dc6face8ff362023-12-01T23:10:06ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-07-012215572110.3390/s22155721Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High AltitudesVittoria D’Avino0Fabrizio Ambrosino1Roberto Bedogni2Abner Ivan C. Campoy3Giuseppe La Verde4Silvia Vernetto5Carlo Francesco Vigorito6Mariagabriella Pugliese7Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, ItalySection of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, ItalyFrascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, ItalyFrascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, ItalySection of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, ItalyNational Institute for Astrophysics—Astrophysical Observatory of Turin (INAF-OATO), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, ItalySection of Turin, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, ItalySection of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, ItalyNeutrons constitute a significant component of the secondary cosmic rays and are one of the most important contributors to natural cosmic ray radiation background dose. The study of the cosmic ray neutrons’ contribution to the dose equivalent received by humans is an interesting and challenging task for the scientific community. In addition, international regulations demand assessing the biological risk due to radiation exposure for both workers and the general population. Because the dose rate due to cosmic radiation increases significantly with altitude, the objective of this work was to characterize the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLDs) from the perspective of exposing them at high altitudes for longtime neutron dose monitoring. The pair of TLD-700 and TLD-600 is amply used to obtain the information on gamma and neutron dose in mixed neutron-gamma fields due to the present difference in 6Li isotope concentration. A thermoluminescence dosimeter system based on pair of TLD-600/700 was characterized to enable it for neutron dosimetry in the thermal energy range. The system was calibrated in terms of neutron ambient dose equivalent in an experimental setup using a 241Am-B radionuclide neutron source coated by a moderator material, polyethylene, creating a thermalized neutron field. Afterward, the pair of TLD-600/700 was exposed at the CERN-EU High-Energy Reference Field (CERF) facility in Geneva, which delivers a neutron field with a spectrum similar to that of secondary cosmic rays. The dosimetric system provided a dose value comparable with the calculated one demonstrating a good performance for neutron dosimetry.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/15/5721charged particleneutron detectorscosmic radiation monitoringneutron dosimetrySouth Atlantic anomalythermoluminescent dosimeters calibration |
| spellingShingle | Vittoria D’Avino Fabrizio Ambrosino Roberto Bedogni Abner Ivan C. Campoy Giuseppe La Verde Silvia Vernetto Carlo Francesco Vigorito Mariagabriella Pugliese Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes Sensors charged particle neutron detectors cosmic radiation monitoring neutron dosimetry South Atlantic anomaly thermoluminescent dosimeters calibration |
| title | Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes |
| title_full | Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes |
| title_short | Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes |
| title_sort | characterization of thermoluminescent dosimeters for neutron dosimetry at high altitudes |
| topic | charged particle neutron detectors cosmic radiation monitoring neutron dosimetry South Atlantic anomaly thermoluminescent dosimeters calibration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/15/5721 |
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