Fast Neutron Sensitivity of TL Detectors using Proton Radiator Techniques

Abstract

TL materials have a small intrinsic sensitivity for fast neutrons. In order to increase this sensitivity one uses hydrogen containing radiators giving recoil protons as a result of the neutron interaction. By combining the proton radiator technique with the use of TL detectors having various glow peaks with a different response to recoil protons an additional sensitivity yield can be reached. The paper deals with the calculation procedure for the (radiator) sensitivity component. For the LiF phosphors TLD-600 and TLD-700 calculated and experimentally determined fast neutron sensitivities are presented for the glow peaks V and VII. The results show that for accident dosimetry a sufficient agreement of the dedector response with the dose-to-fluence conversion factors is obtained.

Keywords:

• fast neutrons
• glow curve
• proton detection
• recoils
• sensitivity
• sensitivity analysis
• thermoluminescence
• thermoluminescent dosemeters
• thermoluminescent dosimetry