Preliminary investigation on a method for determining the cumulative dose of low-energy neutrons independently
10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2025.04.018
- VernacularTitle:一种单独测定低能中子累积剂量方法的初步探讨
- Author:
Lei DENG
1
,
2
;
Faming CAO
3
;
Zhe WANG
3
;
Yu TU
2
;
Ning ZHOU
3
Author Information
1. Insititue of Occupational Medicine of Jiangxi, Nanchang 330006, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
3. Insititue of Occupational Medicine of Jiangxi, Nanchang 330006, China.
- Publication Type:OriginalArticles
- Keywords:
Solid-state nuclear track detector;
Low-energy neutron;
Track etching kinetics;
Ambient dose equivalent
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health
2025;34(4):578-583
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To study a method for determining the cumulative dose of low-energy neutrons ( < 100 keV) independently based on a CR-39 detector. Methods According to the theory of track etching kinetics, the differences in the tracks formed by low-energy neutrons or fast neutrons in a BN + CR-39 detector under broad-spectrum neutron irradiation were analyzed. A method was proposed to identify the tracks produced by low-energy neutrons under specific etching conditions while avoiding interference from fast neutron tracks. Results Experimental results demonstrated that the BN + CR-39 detector using TASTRAK PADC CR-39 track-detecting plastic could independently detect the tracks of low-energy neutrons when etched in a 6.25 mol/L NaOH solution for 1 h. The track density showed a good linear relationship with the ambient dose equivalent of low-energy neutrons, and the calibration coefficient was 0.0366 μSv·tr−1·cm2. Conclusion The BN + CR-39 detector proposed in this study demonstrated high sensitivity to low-energy neutrons. The track identification method can be used for effective and independent determination of the cumulative dose equivalent of low-energy neutrons.
