Linear vs. function-based dose algorithm designs

The performance requirements prescribed in IEC 62387-1, 2007 recommend linear, additive algorithms for external dosimetry [IEC. Radiation protection instrumentation--passive integrating dosimetry systems for environmental and personal monitoring--Part 1: General characteristics and performance requirements. IEC 62387-1 (2007)]. Neither of the two current standards for performance of external dosimetry in the USA address the additivity of dose results [American National Standards Institute, Inc. American National Standard for dosimetry personnel dosimetry performance criteria for testing. ANSI/HPS N13.11 (2009); Department of Energy. Department of Energy Standard for the performance testing of personnel dosimetry systems. DOE/EH-0027 (1986)]. While there are significant merits to adopting a purely linear solution to estimating doses from multi-element external dosemeters, differences in the standards result in technical as well as perception challenges in designing a single algorithm approach that will satisfy both IEC and USA external dosimetry performance requirements. The dosimetry performance testing standards in the USA do not incorporate type testing, but rely on biennial performance tests to demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of pure and mixed fields. The test results are used exclusively to judge the system proficiency, with no specific requirements on the algorithm design. Technical challenges include mixed beta/photon fields with a beta dose as low as 0.30 mSv mixed with 0.05 mSv of low-energy photons. Perception-based challenges, resulting from over 20 y of experience with this type of performance testing in the USA, include the common belief that the overall quality of the dosemeter performance can be judged from performance to pure fields. This paper presents synthetic testing results from currently accredited function-based algorithms and new developed purely linear algorithms. A comparison of the performance data highlights the benefits of each approach and demonstrates that, at least for some dosemeter designs, it is possible for a single purely linear algorithm to satisfy both US and IEC performance requirements.