Nitrous Oxide as a Dosimeter for Ionizing Radiations

Absolute measurements of the radiolytic yields of O/sub 2/, N/sub 2/, and oxides of nitrogen (NO + N0/sub 2/) from gaseous nitrous oxide, with tritium as internal source, have been compared with the yields obtained by irradiation with Co/sup 60/ gamma rays and 4-Mev x rays based on the ferrous and ceric sulfate dosimeters. Of the three products measured, nitrogen gives the most reliable results, with G(N/sub 2/) = 11.0 plus or minus 0.4. The oxygen and oxides of nitrogen yields are affectsd by foreign gases and by the analytical methods employed. Under certain conditions a liquid dosimeter solution can be used in conjunction with electron density ratios to calculate energy absorption in a gas irradiated in the same vessel. (auth)