Simulation and calibration of an active neutron dosemeter

Area of Science:

• Nuclear instrumentation
• Radiation detection and measurement

Background:

• The development of accurate neutron dosimetry is critical for radiation protection.
• The Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU) has been advancing active neutron dosimetry technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the latest development stages of the HMGU active neutron dosemeter.
• To validate the dosemeter's performance against established measurement standards.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Geant4 simulations to calculate the dosemeter's response function.
• Conducted measurements in monoenergetic neutron fields at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).
• Compared simulated and measured response functions to optimize the dosemeter.

Main Results:

• The response function calculated with Geant4 was compared with experimental measurements.
• Count-to-dose conversion factors were adjusted based on the comparison.
• The dosemeter's performance was calibrated to the Hp(10) personal dose equivalent.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully validated the HMGU active neutron dosemeter's performance.
• The developed methods allow for accurate calibration to Hp(10).
• This advancement contributes to improved neutron radiation monitoring.