Patent · US Expired

Neutron dosimeter

US4699751A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 24, 1983
Grant dateOct 13, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 24, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A dosimeter which incorporates new methods for determining neutron dose. Less than one millirad of dose due to neutrons of all energies down to approximately 10.sup.3 eV can be measured, and the response can be adjusted by design of the dosimeter. The dosimeter utilizes the sputtering of material from a target due to the action of the neutrons and measuring of the amount of sputtered material to determine the dose. The sputtered material may be, for example, a noble gas or an inert solid. Various radiator materials can be included to interact with the neutrons so that the resulting charged particles control the sputtering process and hereby increase the sensitivity of the dosimeter. The target material can be, for example, noble-gas-impregnated polycrystalline or amorphous metals. The sputtered material is analyzed using resonance ionization spectroscopy, sputter-initiated resonance ionization spectroscopy or other methods to determine its quantity and hence the neutron dose. Applications include, but are not limited to, personnel neutron dosimetry and stationary neutron monitors.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.