Development and rad dose calibration of 2.0 to 9.0 MeV gamma sources.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Holland, Joe Paschal
Other Authors: Parish, Theodore (degree committee member.)
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: 1982.
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to ProQuest Copy
Link to OAKTrust copy
ProQuest, Abstract
Description
Abstract:Two types of radiation sources were developed and calibrated, a ('16)N source with an intensity of approximately 0.0035 Gray/hr (350 mrad/hr) and a set of five capture gamma sources with intensities of approximately 0.03-0.07 Gray/hr. To characterize these sources spectrum measurements using a Ge(Li) detector were made and recorded. The Ge(Li) measurements were found to be of limited usefulness since an accurate efficiency calibration of the Ge(Li) was not possible. Using a Tissue Equivalent Extrapolation Chamber (TEEC) an absorbed dose calibration and depth dose plot were produced for each source. Irradiations of personnel dosimeters were made, and the results compared to the TEEC calibrations. These results indicated that all dosimeters tested underestimated the penetrating dose by 50% and 500% and overestimated the shallow dose by the same factors. The dosimeters also had spurious neutron responses or misinterpreted totally the irradiation, i.e. "film misplaced in badge". The conclusion was that prior to use in high energy photon fields as dosimeter system should have a complete evaluation and calibration performed using sources with energies similar to those expected in the work environment. A limited selection of portable health physics instrumentation was also irradiated and compared to TEEC results. This instrumentation under responded by 50% to 500%. The major finding of this research was that the present conceptual basis for specifying absorbed dose may be too limited for use with high energy photons.
Item Description:"Major subject: Nuclear Engineering."
Typescript (photocopy).
Vita.
Physical Description:xi, 108 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-99).