Chemical Dosimeters for Mixed Radiations in a Nuclear Reactor

The dose rates due to mixed reactor radiations were measured by five gaseous chemical dosimeters – nitrous oxide (natural), 15N-enriched nitrous oxide, ethylene, ethane and carbon dioxide. The observed dose rates for these gases at the same irradiation position in a nuclear reactor were, 1.8×108, 1.5×l08, 1.9×108, 2.5×l08 and 1.0×108 rad/hr, respectively. These values were compared with those calculated from the mass stopping power of the gases for secondary electrons produced by γ-rays and those from thermal and fast neutron fluxes. No contradiction was found among them. A method of analysis of the reactor radiation dose rates into γ, thermal and fast neutron components is proposed, which is based solely on chemical dosimetry.