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D’Avino V, Ambrosino F, Bedogni R, Campoy AIC, La Verde G, Vernetto S, Vigorito CF, Pugliese M. Characterization of Thermoluminescent Dosimeters for Neutron Dosimetry at High Altitudes. Sensors (Basel) 2022; 22:5721. [PMID: 35957277 PMCID: PMC9370843 DOI: 10.3390/s22155721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Neutrons constitute a significant component of the secondary cosmic rays and are one of the most important contributors to natural cosmic ray radiation background dose. The study of the cosmic ray neutrons' contribution to the dose equivalent received by humans is an interesting and challenging task for the scientific community. In addition, international regulations demand assessing the biological risk due to radiation exposure for both workers and the general population. Because the dose rate due to cosmic radiation increases significantly with altitude, the objective of this work was to characterize the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLDs) from the perspective of exposing them at high altitudes for longtime neutron dose monitoring. The pair of TLD-700 and TLD-600 is amply used to obtain the information on gamma and neutron dose in mixed neutron-gamma fields due to the present difference in 6Li isotope concentration. A thermoluminescence dosimeter system based on pair of TLD-600/700 was characterized to enable it for neutron dosimetry in the thermal energy range. The system was calibrated in terms of neutron ambient dose equivalent in an experimental setup using a 241Am-B radionuclide neutron source coated by a moderator material, polyethylene, creating a thermalized neutron field. Afterward, the pair of TLD-600/700 was exposed at the CERN-EU High-Energy Reference Field (CERF) facility in Geneva, which delivers a neutron field with a spectrum similar to that of secondary cosmic rays. The dosimetric system provided a dose value comparable with the calculated one demonstrating a good performance for neutron dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria D’Avino
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ambrosino
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Bedogni
- Frascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy; (R.B.); (A.I.C.C.)
| | - Abner Ivan C. Campoy
- Frascati National Laboratories, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy; (R.B.); (A.I.C.C.)
| | - Giuseppe La Verde
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Vernetto
- National Institute for Astrophysics—Astrophysical Observatory of Turin (INAF-OATO), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
- Section of Turin, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Carlo Francesco Vigorito
- Section of Turin, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy;
- Department of Physics, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Mariagabriella Pugliese
- Section of Naples, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (V.D.); (G.L.V.)
- Department of Physics “Ettore Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
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