First microdosimetric measurements with a TEPC based on a GEM

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2004;110(1-4):839-43. doi: 10.1093/rpd/nch144.

Abstract

A new type of mini multi-element tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) based on a gas electron multiplier (GEM) has been designed and constructed. This counter is in particular suitable to be constructed with a small sensitive volume so that it can be used for microdosimetry in intense pulsed radiation fields to measure the microdosimetric spectrum in the beam of, for instance, a clinical linear accelerator. The concept lends itself also for a mini multi-element version of the counter to be used for applications in which a high sensitivity is required. In this paper, we present the first microdosimetric measurements of this novel counter exposed to a 14 MeV monoenergetic neutron beam and a californium (252Cf) source for a counter cavity diameter of 1.8 mm simulating 1.0 microm tissue site size. The measured spectra showed an excellent agreement with spectra from the literature. The specific advantages of the TEPC-GEM are discussed.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Body Burden
  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design / methods
  • Equipment Failure Analysis / methods*
  • Linear Energy Transfer
  • Neutrons*
  • Quality Control
  • Radiation Protection / instrumentation*
  • Radiation Protection / methods*
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Relative Biological Effectiveness
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Risk Factors
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Scintillation Counting / instrumentation*
  • Scintillation Counting / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity