A Real-Time Personal Neutron Dosimeter using Microstructured Solid-State Neutron Detectors

Neutron dosimetry involves the process of employing a neutron detection system in the presence of neutrons in order to determine the localized neutron dose rate, which is measured as the neutron dose equivalent in units of Sieverts/second (mrem/hour). A number of passive dosimeters have been widely used for personal neutron dosimetry, including: the solid-state track detector, the film badge, the neutron bubble dosimeter, and the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) [1]. These dosimeters are passive instruments because they do not provide any immediate feedback. Instead, these passive dosimeters are worn for a set period of time and are subsequently analyzed in order to determine the integrated personal neutron dose equivalent for the period which they were worn to ensure that the user does not exceed their annual dose limits. The need for a real-time, personal neutron dosimeter prompted the development of a commercially-available real-time neutron dosimeter which uses two solid-state diodes coated with a single layer of thermal and fast neutron converting materials, respectively [2, 3]. The low efficiency of planar solid-state detectors limits the sensitivity of such a dosimeter. The conception and recent improvements to microstructure solid-state neutron detectors enable the development of a real-time personal neutron dosimeter with improved sensitivity.