A PERFORMANCE STUDY OF A NEW PERSONAL NEUTRON DOSIMETRY SYSTEM AT SNRC

Abstract

This research reviews the performance of a commercial personal fast neutron dosimetry system that has recently been installed in the External Dosimetry Laboratory at Soreq Nuclear Research Center (SNRC). Different kinds of neutron sources like ${}{}^{\mathbf{241}}\boldsymbol{Am}$-Be, ${}{}^{\mathbf{252}}\boldsymbol{Cf}$ and some neutron generators are used in the industry as well as in some research institutes and reactors. The workers in these places need to be regularly monitored for neutron radiation. These workers' individual neutron doses have been estimated at SNRC until recently by a 30-year-old in-house-made system based on the CR-39 ® solid state nuclear track (SSNT) detector technology. Last year, a new Landauer CR-39 ® neutron dosimetry system was adopted, the Neutrak system. This system employs a standard etching technique using NaOH solution, and measures the SSNT dosimeters automatically and in a repeatable manner. This paper reviews the performance of Landauer's commercial personal neutron dosimetry system. The system performance shows excellent results in terms of linearity, repeatability, robustness, etch parameters sensitivity and detection threshold.