Speakers
Description
Monitoring neutron ambient dose equivalent H*(10) is a key requirement for radiation protection in a wide range of facilities, including nuclear industry, research accelerators, and modern medical facilities. Commercial ambient neutron dosimeters currently available were mostly designed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, presenting well-known limitations in portability, energy response coverage, and performance in pulsed radiation fields [1].
This contribution presents the design and experimental validation of two novel neutron dosimeters developed within the LINrem project to address these technological gaps: LINrem, an ultra-portable non-extended range dosimeter (total mass <4 kg, thermal to 10 MeV), and LINremext, an extended-range dosimeter (total mass <11 kg, thermal to 10 GeV). Both designs were developed through Monte Carlo-assisted numerical optimization of the moderator geometry to match the ICRP 74 fluence-to-H*(10) conversion factors. The design strategy and systematic uncertainties of the energy response are discussed in detail and supported by Monte Carlo simulations.
Experimental results from validation campaigns in diverse neutron environments are presented, including reference neutron fields, intercomparisons at particle accelerator facilities, and research nuclear reactors. Results are compared against standard commercial ambient neutron dosimeters, demonstrating consistency with design specifications and supporting advancement toward higher technology readiness levels.
[1] A. Tarifeno-Saldivia et al., Ambient dosimetry in pulsed neutron fields with LINrem detectors, Radiation Physics and Chemistry 224 (2024) 112101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112101