Dosimetry of gamma rays from nitrogen-16 decay

Abstract

CaF₂ thermoluminescence dosimeters (TDL) were used to measure the apparent absorbed dose due to ¹⁶N-decay radiation, such as is found in nuclear reactor coolant or in air due to the ¹⁶O(n,p)¹⁶N activation by fast neurons. By comparison with an ionization chamber calibrated with a ⁶⁰Co source, it was found that the TLD underestimated the dose for about 7-MeV γ-rays by a factor 1.8, while the ionization chamber reading was low by a factor 2.6 when compared with the calculated dose.