IMPROVED NEUTRON SPECTROMETER AND EXPOSURE METER

THE UNCERTAINTY IN MEASURING NEUTRON DOSE EQUIVALENT RATES RESULTS IN UNCERTAINTY IN ASSIGNMENT OF THE PROPER DOSE TO OCCUPATIONAL RECORDS AND CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTROLS TO LIMIT THE EXPOSURE. A NOVEL PORTABLE NEUTRON SPECTROMETER IS PROPOSED WHICH WILL REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY OF SUCH MEASUREMENTS TO LESS THAN 20%. MANYCOMPONENTS OF THIS DEVICE ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE. SYSTEM INTEGRATION, CHARACTERIZATION, SUPPORTING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED. THIS RESEARCH PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A NOVEL NEUTRON SPECTROMETER AND EXPOSURE METER FOR RESEARCH AND FIELD APPLICATIONS. THERE IS WIDESPREAD NEED FOR THIS DEVICE IN THE RADIATION COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF INTERPRETING EXPOSURE TO NEUTRONS AND FOR EXPERIMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF NEUTRON SHIELDING DESIGN.