Californium-252 dosimetry in phantoms of various dimensions

By using a tissue-equivalent (TE) ionization chamber filled with TE gas and a magnesium ionization chamber filled with argon gas as the dosimeter pair for the twin-chamber method, the authors obtained the neutron and gamma-ray components of the radiation dose from californium 252 (252Cf). The distribution of dose components as a function of different phantom dimensions was determined. The effect of neutron absorption and scattering was evaluated, as well as the absorption and production of gamma rays in the phantom. The results can be used for improvement of 252 Cf dosimetry when using a body of finite dimensions.