Energy response of different types of RADOS personal dosemeters with MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) and MCP-N (LiF:Mg,Cu,P) TL detectors

The photon energy response of different RADOS (Mirion Technologies) personal dosemeters with MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) and MCP-N (LiF:Mg,Cu,P) thermoluminescence (TL) detectors was investigated. Three types of badges were applied. The irradiation with reference photon radiation qualities N (the narrow spectrum series), and S-Cs and S-Co nuclide radiation qualities, specified in ISO 4037 [International Organization for Standardization (ISO). X and gamma reference radiations for calibrating dosemeters and doserate meters and for determining their response as a function of photon energy. ISO 4037. Part 1-4 (1999)], in the energy range of 16-1250 keV, were performed at the Dosimetry Laboratory Seibersdorf. The results demonstrated that a readout of a single MTS-N or MCP-N detector under the Al filter can be used to determine Hp(10) according to requirements of IEC 61066 [International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Thermoluminescence dosimetry systems for personal and environmental monitoring. International Standard IEC 61066 (2006)] for TL systems for personal dosimetry. The new RADOS badge with the experimental type of a holder (i.e. Cu/Al filters) is a very good tool for identifying the radiation quality (photon energy).     

Air kerma to dose equivalent conversion coefficients not included in ISO 4037-3

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued a standard series on photon reference radiation qualities (ISO 4037). In this work, conversion coefficients from air kerma to dose equivalent quantities not included in ISO 4037-3 are supplied for the following quantities: For H(p)(0.07) for X and gamma radiation qualities for the rod, the pillar and the slab phantom and for H(p)(3) for X and gamma radiation qualities for the slab phantom. In addition, an overview of conversion coefficients suggested for use for all quantities relevant in radiation protection is provided.     

Consideration on calibration and correction factors of an Hp10 chamber for different radiation qualities and angles of incidence

This paper presents the characterisation performed at IRSN (France) of an H(p)(10) chamber in terms of calibration coefficient and correction factors for the radiation qualities of ISO narrow spectrum series. The chamber response, expressed in H(p)(10) using conversion coefficients h(p)(K)(10; N, alpha) listed in ISO 4037-3 in the energy range from 30 to 1250 keV and for angles of incidence between 0 and 70 degrees, was found to be within approximately 10%. However, for photon energies <30 keV, an overresponse of the chamber that could reach 100% was observed. Nevertheless, this overresponse was reduced to 25% using the conversion coefficients estimated at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). This implies that the X-ray spectra produced by the IRSN X-ray units are very similar to those produced by PTB, both containing a little bit more high-energy photons than the spectra used in ISO 4037-3. The dose rate dependence of the chamber tested by gamma radiation from (60)Co sources was found to be within 2% in the range of 0.3 mSv h(-1) to 1 Sv h(-1). The H(p)(10) chamber can measure directly the conventional true value of H(p)(10) after calibration by a reference laboratory, and can be used for transferring H(p)(10) reference quantities from a reference laboratory.     

X射线半值层测量方法研究

根据ISO 4037建立了窄谱系列规范辐射质,研究了射束宽窄与探测距离对X射线半值层测量的影响.结果显示:当X射线能量较高时,在半值层的测量中,不可忽略散射的影响,需要在窄束下测量;在依据ISO 4037建立的窄谱X射线半值层的测量中,当管电压高于60 kV,对应的射束的能量高于45.8 keV时,需要在窄柬测量;适当的增加探测距离也可减少散射对半值层测量的影响.     

Study of the photon radiation performance of electronic personal dosemeters

Following the specifications and test methods given by international standards IEC-61526 and ISO 4037, the dosimetry department of the IPSN studied the photon radiation performance of seven recent electronic personal dosemeters: The personal dosimetric performance of each piece of equipment was tested with X and gamma radiation between 12 keV and 1.25 MeV.     

Air kerma to Hp(3) conversion coefficients for a new cylinder phantom for photon reference radiation qualities

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued a standard series on photon reference radiation qualities (ISO 4037). In this series, no conversion coefficients are contained for the quantity personal dose equivalent at a 3 mm depth, H(p)(3). In the past, for this quantity, a slab phantom was recommended as a calibration phantom; however, a cylinder phantom much better approximates the shape of a human head than a slab phantom. Therefore, in this work, the conversion coefficients from air kerma to H(p)(3) for the cylinder phantom are supplied for X- and gamma radiation qualities defined in ISO 4037.     

防护水平X射线电离室的校准及不确定度分析

防护水平电离室剂量计是辐射防护的主要计量器具,需要在窄谱参考辐射质下进行检定和校准。利用EGSnrc软件模拟了参考辐射质X射线能谱,分析得到的能谱分辨率和平均能量与ISO 4037-1推荐值的最大偏差分别为7.1％和1.04％,均满足规范要求。依托60~250kV X射线空气比释动能国家基准装置,在窄谱系列参考辐射质下完成了距离X光机1m处参考点的空气比释动能量值复现;然后通过替代法对两个传递电离室进行校准并完成量值传递;最后利用传递电离室复现的2.25m处的空气比释动能率对PTW-32002球形电离室进行校准,获得相应的校准因子,校准因子相对扩展不确定度为2.2%(k=2)。     

低本底环境低能X射线参考辐射场的研究

在平均γ射线剂量率为9.9 nSv/h的环境下进行10 ～50 keV低能X射线参考辐射场研究.利用电离室RC6M测量辐射野的均匀性,使用9种材料的K荧光刻度碲化镉探测器,测量了微型X光机能谱,并计算了空气比释动能率.结果显示:在距X射线出口55 cm处水平方向均匀性好于95％辐射野尺寸约为14 cm,竖直方向辐射野尺寸为16 cm,按窄谱系列附加过滤后能谱与ISO4037中标准模拟谱基本吻合.     

Personal monitor glass badge: theoretical dosemeter response calculated with the Monte Carlo transport code MCNPX

This paper describes the results of the simulation of a radiophotoluminescent (RPL) dosemeter with the Monte Carlo transport code MCNPX. The aim of this study is to calculate the response with MCNPX of the RPL dosemeter in terms of equivalent doses H(p) (0.07) and H(p)(10) using X-ray photon radiation qualities N series, together with S-Cs and S-Co nuclide radiation qualities, specified in ISO 4037-1. After comparison with reference values versus experimental results, the deviation of the theoretical responses of the RPL dosemeter proved to be lower than 5 % for reference values and lower than 10 % for experimental results. This good correlation validates the model over the energy range studied.     

Simulated and measured Hp(10) response of the personal dosemeter Seibersdorf

The Hp(10) energy response of the personal dosemeter Seibersdorf and its two different filtered LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) thermoluminescence (TL) detectors are investigated. A close-to-reality simulation model of the personal dosemeter badge including the wrapped detector card was implemented with the MCNP Monte Carlo N-particle transport code. The comparison of measured and computationally calculated response using a semi-empirical TL efficiency function is carried out to provide information about the quality of the results of both methods, experiment and simulation. Similar to the experimental calibration conditions, the irradiation of dosemeters centred on the front surface of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) water slab phantom is simulated using ISO-4037 reference photon radiation qualities with mean energies between 24 keV and 1.25 MeV and corresponding ISO conversion coefficients. The comparison of the simulated and measured relative Hp(10) energy responses resulted in good agreement within some percent except for the filtered TL element at lower photon energies.     

Simulation studies on a prototype ionisation chamber for measurement of personal dose equivalent, Hp(10)

A prototype ionisation chamber for direct measurement of the personal dose equivalent, Hp(10), similar to the one developed by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesantalt (PTB), was designed and constructed by the Metrological Laboratory of Ionizing Radiation (LMRI) of Nuclear and Technological Institute (ITN). Tests already performed have shown that the behaviour of this chamber is very similar to the PTB chamber, mainly the energy dependence for the X-ray radiation qualities of the ISO 4037-1 narrow series N-30, N-40, N-60, N-80, N-100 and N-120 and also for gamma radiation of 137Cs and 60Co. However, the results obtained also show a dependence on the energy and angles of incident radiation and a low magnitude of the electrical response of the ionisation chamber. In order to optimise the performance of the chamber, the LMRI initiated numerical simulation of this ionisation chamber by Monte Carlo method using the MCNPX code.     

Determination of conversion factors from air kerma to operational dose equivalent quantities for low-energy X-ray spectra

The conversion coefficients from air kerma to ICRU operational dose equivalent quantities for STUK's realisation of the X-radiation qualities N-15 to N-60 of the ISO narrow (N) spectrum series were determined by utilising X-ray spectrum measurements. The pulse-height spectra were measured using a planar high-purity germanium spectrometer and unfolded to fluence spectra using Monte Carlo generated data of the spectrometer response. To verify the measuring and unfolding method, the first and second half-value layers and the air kerma rate were calculated from the fluence spectra and compared with the values measured using an ionisation chamber. For each radiation quality, the spectrum was characterised by the parameters given in ISO 4037-1. The conversion coefficients from the air kerma to the ICRU operational quantities H(p)(10), H(p)(0.07), H'(0.07) and H(*)(10) were calculated using monoenergetic conversion coefficients at zero angle of incidence. The results are discussed with respect to ISO 4037-4, and compared with published results for low-energy X-ray spectra.     

Dose rate dependency of electronic personal dosemeters measuring X- and gamma-ray radiation

Three models of electronic personal dosemeters (EPDs)-Siemens Mk 2.3, Rados RAD-60S and Vertec Bleeper Sv-were irradiated with seven photon beam qualities: 60Co, 137Cs and the ISO narrow spectrum series X-ray qualities N-250, N-200, N-150, N-60 and N-20. The personal dose equivalent rates delivered to the devices varied between 0.002 and 0.25 mSv s(-1). Measurements were made with the EPDs mounted free-in-air as well as against Lucite and water phantoms. Results for all models of EPDs showed differences in personal dose equivalent energy response for different energies covered by this range of radiation qualities, with different models showing variations from 15 to 65%. In some cases, the personal dose equivalent rate response of these devices varied by a factor of 3 between irradiations at typical calibration dose rates and those normally encountered by nuclear energy workers.     

Corrections to air kerma and exposure measured with free air ionisation chambers for charge of photoelectrons, Compton electrons and Auger electrons

The signal charge from a free air ionisation chamber for the measurement of air kerma and exposure consists of not only the charge of ion pairs produced by secondary electrons (i.e. photoelectrons, Compton electrons and Auger electrons), but also the charge of the secondary electrons and single and multiple charged ions formed by the release of the secondary electrons. In the present work, correction factors for air kerma and exposure for the charge of the secondary electrons and ions were calculated for photons with energies in the range from 1 to 400 keV. The effects of an increase in the W value of air for low-energy electrons were also taken into consideration. It was found that the correction factors for air kerma and exposure have a maximum value near a photon energy of 30 keV; in the lower energy region, the correction factor for exposure monotonically decreases with a decrease in photon energy except for a small dip due to K-edge absorption by argon atoms in air. The values of the correction factors were found to be 0.9951 and 0.9892, respectively, for a spectrum with a mean energy of 7.5 keV, the reference X-ray spectrum with the lowest mean energy in ISO 4037-1. The air kerma correction is smaller than that for exposure, because for air kerma the signal due to the charge of secondary electrons and ions is partly compensated by the decrease in the number of ion pairs produced by the secondary electrons due to the increase of the W value of air for lower energy electrons.     

Calibration of dosemeters used in mammography with different X ray qualities: EUROMET project no. 526

The effect of different X ray radiation qualities on the calibration of mammographic dosemeters was investigated within the framework of a EUROMET (European Collaboration in Measurement Standards) project. The calibration coefficients for two ionization chambers and two semiconductor detectors were established in 13 dosimetry calibration laboratories for radiation qualities used in mammography. They were compared with coefficients for other radiation qualities, including those defined in ISO 4037-1, with first half value layers in the mammographic range. The results indicate that the choice of the radiation quality is not crucial for instruments with a small energy dependence of the response. However, the radiation quality has to be chosen carefully if instruments with a marked dependence of their response to the radiation energy are calibrated.     

低空气比释动能率系列过滤X射线辐射质的测量与研究

以ISO 4037中推荐的低空气比释动能率系列过滤X射线参考辐射为研究对象,设计合理的半值层测量实验,测量获取第一半值层的值;对建立的辐射质,利用碲锌镉能谱仪测量其过滤X射线能谱,将测量得到的脉冲高度谱经过数据处理和转换,计算出平均能量;根据X射线在材料铝和铜中的衰减规律,拟合单能X射线衰减曲线,计算出该系列过滤X射线的有效能量。测量和计算结果与推荐值进行了比较,两者符合较好。与ISO的半值层数值进行对比,偏差均小于5.0%。     

甲醛氨测定仪校准方法研究

摘要：甲醛氨测定仪可以用于空气或水中的甲醛含量和氨含量测定,所以对甲醛氨测定仪校准方法就显得格外重要,文章着重介绍了甲醛氨测定仪的测校准方法的研究。     

Characterisation of micro-sized and nano-sized tungsten oxide-epoxy composites for radiation shielding of diagnostic X-rays

Characteristics of X-ray transmissions were investigated for epoxy composites filled with 2–10 vol% WO₃ loadings using synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at 10–40 keV. The results obtained were used to determine the equivalent X-ray energies for the operating X-ray tube voltages of mammography and radiology machines. The results confirmed the superior attenuation ability of nano-sized WO₃-epoxy composites in the energy range of 10–25 keV when compared to their micro-sized counterparts. However, at higher synchrotron radiation energies (i.e., 30–40 keV), the X-ray transmission characteristics were similar with no apparent size effect for both nano-sized and micro-sized WO₃-epoxy composites. The equivalent X-ray energies for the operating X-ray tube voltages of the mammography unit (25–49 kV) were in the range of 15–25 keV. Similarly, for a radiology unit operating at 40–60 kV, the equivalent energy range was 25–40 keV, and for operating voltages greater than 60 kV (i.e., 70–100 kV), the equivalent energy was in excess of 40 keV. The mechanical properties of epoxy composites increased initially with an increase in the filler loading but a further increase in the WO₃ loading resulted in deterioration of flexural strength, modulus and hardness.     

Mixed high energy photon and electron radiation fields for calibrating radiation protection dosemeters

According to ISO 4037-3, calibrations of radiation protection dosemeters with photon radiation of energies above 3 MeV are performed under conditions of charged particle equilibrium. No information is provided concerning how to determine the response of dosemeters to radiation fields in the more general case when these conditions are not fulfilled. This paper deals with the production of mixed high energy photon and electron fields characterised by a lack or an excess of charged particles relative to conditions of equilibrium and describes a new procedure for the dosimetry in such fields. Through variation of the charged particle fluence fraction with respect to a nearly constant photon fluence, Hp(10) and H'(10) values varied by up to a factor of 1.74. The above mentioned basic study was utilised in the recent IAEA intercomparison (Co-ordinated Research Project 1996-1998) and EURADOS 'trial performance test' (1996-1998) for individual monitoring of photon radiation in testing response characteristics of individual dosemeters in non-charged particle equilibrium conditions.     

硅光电二极管探测器在低能X射线辐射场上的标定

在同步辐射X射线能量标定前,需要对作为传递探测器的硅光电二极管进行标定.利用低能X射线10～50 kV空气比释动能基准装置,研究硅光电二极管的辐射响应并用它测量辐射场的均匀野大小.将硅光电二级管AXUV-100G置于低能X射线基准辐射场中,测得AXUV-100G作为传递探测器在10～40 keV能量范围的能量响应较高,...