In this study, the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit was used to simulate energy spectra of neutrons from secondary cosmic radiation at mountain altitudes for the Environmental Research Station “Schneefernerhaus” at the Zugspitze mountain, Germany (2660 m a.s.l.) and for Sphinx astronomical observatory at the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (3585 m a.s.l.). Simulations were performed with different intra-nuclear

We investigated the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of quartz from sediments and parent rocks across South America. OSL and TL sensitivities were compared with the characteristic dose of dose response curves. Additionally, we estimated electron trap parameters of quartz from sediments with contrasting OSL sensitivities. Our results show that the natural

A novel image analysis algorithm, applied to the images from Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs), is presented. This process, involving the sequential application of deconvolution and convolution techniques, followed by the application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN), to identify the etch-pit openings in NTDs, gives a higher degree of success compared to other conventional image analysis techniques.

This paper describes the design and testing of a new form of convolutional neural network, a regenerative neural network (ReGeNN), for application to rotating scatter mask gamma imaging. The network was trained using detector responses for realistic source distributions simulated in MCNP v6.1.4. ReGeNN was shown to reconstruct the source images with excellent quality when trained under ideal conditions

In the aftermath of a nuclear or radiological accident, an extended mapping of reliable dose rate values is of key importance for any governmental decision and countermeasures. Presently, numerous dosimetry network stations, operated by the national governments of the member states in Europe, provide such dose rate data on an hourly basis. Nevertheless, there are large areas in Europe that are not

Conventional two dimensional and low-definition measurement techniques for dosimetric verification of radiotherapy treatment deliveries are no longer adequate in the era of hypofractionation and extremely high dose gradients. New quality assurance (QA) tools with 3D capability and high definition are urgently needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of one of the first such

Authorities responding to nuclear security events have to be prepared for a situation in which a neutron source or nuclear material is out of regulatory control. In such a situation, handheld neutron detectors are used to search for neutron sources or nuclear material, during either an overt or a covert search. These detectors are also used to support the initial threat assessment, radiation protection

We evaluated photoluminescence, scintillation and thermoluminescent characteristics of BaCaBO3F doped with various amounts of Tb to fabricate new thermoluminescent phosphors for radiation measurements. Sharp peaks centered at 491, 542 and 589 nm originating from the electronic 4f→4f transitions of Tb3+ appeared in the BaCaBO3F doped with Tb in photoluminescence spectra and X-ray induced scintillation

In a first clinical application study, recently introduced BeOSL Hp(3) dosemeters were used for cumulative workplace characterization measurements in interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology. Eye lens doses were accumulated on dosemeters assigned to interventions in specific anatomical areas and shared by multiple physicians. Doses were measured inside and outside of radiation protection

The monitoring of the cross-sectional distribution of an electron beam plays a significant role in scientific research and applications. A sectioned calorimeter system combined with a detector of total electron beam current by Faraday cup was developed for estimating the charge and energy distribution of pulsed electron beams. The calorimeter, consisting of a collector with 61 sections and a matrix

The rate of charge deposition in quartz grains irradiated in natural conditions is computed by radiation transport modeling. Quartz luminescence models are modified with the addition of the resulting charge deposition term, and the influence of this process on the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal is analyzed. The results indicate that the charge deposition occurring in the quartz grain

In optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the performance of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol is commonly tested using a dose recovery test. The dependence of equivalent dose (De) determined in a dose recovery test on preheating temperature using quartz OSL was reported in previous studies which demonstrated that using a lower preheating temperature prior to the measurement

A prototype LaBr3 detector system with an integrated electronics unit was developed to perform accurate gamma ray spectroscopy in harsh environments. A simple spectral shift methodology was employed in a LaBr3 detector system, which is capable of restoring gamma spectra measured under various temperature conditions within the range of −20 to +50 °C, in real-time. The methodology was tested at various

Accurate measurement of individual short-lived radon progeny concentrations is very important for dose evaluation and related researches taking radon progeny as radioactive tracers. Different methods have been developed, but higher methodological sensitivity is needed for field measurement under the limitation of size, weight and power consumption of the instrument. For the purpose of developing new

Quality assurance is particularly important for modulated radiotherapies which improve dose conformity and involve complex processes of dose delivery. This work proposes a dose measurement method based on a rotational optical fiber array and the Cherenkov effect as an alternative pretreatment quality assurance method. Monte Carlo simulation toolkit Geant4 is used to study the accuracy and influencing

It is important to visualize radioactive substances' position and distribution and estimate their radioactivity levels to reduce the exposure dose of workers in radioactive areas (such as decommissioning worksites of nuclear power stations) and improve nuclear security functions. To visualize the radioactive substance's three-dimensional (3D) location, a directional radiation detector with a cylindrical

One of the objectives of the EMPIR project 16ENV04 “Preparedness” is the harmonization of methodologies for the measurement of doses with passive dosimetry systems for environmental radiation monitoring in the aftermath of a nuclear or radiological event. In such cases, measurements are often performed at low radiation dose rates, close to the detection limit of the passive systems. The parameters

The radiological incident in Cochabamba (Bolivia, 2002), where members of the general public where exposed to an unshielded Ir-192 radiation source whilst traveling on a bus was replicated here in an attempt to asses and evaluate emerging retrospective dosimetry methodologies using objects of daily life, that are either carried on or close to the human body or can be found in the vicinity of an individual

This work aims to develop and characterize a mathematical algorithm for the temperature compensation of the fiber Bragg grating dosimeter and study of the effect of cumulative radiation dose on the Bragg wavelength shift (BWS). Studies on the BWS and the influence on the thermo-optic response coefficient of FBGs caused by the Co-60 gamma irradiation are performed. The BWS shows a linear dependence

In this study, polymer-gel dosimeters containing N-(Hydroxymethyl) acrylamide (NHMA) with different concentrations of potassium chloride (KCl) were developed and introduced for use in radiotherapy. The gels were irradiated with a megavolt X-ray photon beam up to 10 Gy using a medical linear accelerator. The irradiated NHMA_KCl dosimeters were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), in terms

In this study, a system composed of an ionization chamber AlphaGUARD (PQ 2000), an AquaKIT set and an AlphaPUMP was calibrated to measure 222Rn in water. First, the system was checked for leakages using a NIST traceable 226Ra source. Then, we tested polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and stainless-steel bottles for sample storage estimating radon loss over time. Results showed that stainless-steel was

In this study, the role of sodium ions (Na+) in the generation of thermoluminescence (TL) peaks in the 77–680 K region of natural quartz are investigated by combining the TL and phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) spectrally-resolved glow curves. The TL spectrum is characterized by four emission bands at 380, 470, 590, and 620 nm, which are related to four TL peaks at 383, 513, 598, and 648 K

Alkali feldspars are routinely used in retrospective dosimetry using luminescence methods. However there is a signal loss over time, termed ‘anomalous fading’, which results in age underestimation if uncorrected. Although significant improvements have been made in recent years, luminescence dating of feldspars remains challenging. This paper investigates the relationships between chemistry, structural

To ensure quality assurance (QA) of scanning proton and carbon-ion therapy doses, an efficient and reliable method to measure the energy dependency of the dose response function (DRF) of an optical scintillator detection system (OSDS), is required. We present a calibration process that corrects the non-linear sensitivity of the imager's electronic readings into linear light intensities. After calibration

E′ and Al-hole centres are some of the most common and abundant paramagnetic defects in sedimentary quartz. Here we investigate the dose dependence of these defects before and after exposure to light by electron spin resonance (ESR). Unlike the Al-hole centre, known to have only radiation-induced formation mechanisms, the E′ centre seems to possess a response to gamma dose characterised by predominantly

The effect of free radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the performance of transparent Fricke methylthymol blue dye (MTB)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chemical cross-linking agent glutaraldehyde (GTA) dosimeter (MTB-PVA-GTA) was studied and evaluated using two optical detection methods. By adding different concentrations of DMSO, the properties of the dosimeter were analyzed by ultraviolet–visible

Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) have been used as passive dosimeters for many decades. Fast neutron detection is performed by detecting recoil protons generated in a hydrogenous material (neutron converter). The dose is estimated by multiplying the recoil protons track-spots density present on the detector surface by a calibration coefficient obtained from reference irradiations. Therefore

Beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramic is a radioluminescent and optically stimulated luminescent material which has been shown to be quite energy independent. However, BeO ceramic is a highly self-optically attenuating material. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect self-optical attenuation has on the radioluminescence of the BeO ceramic, and how this effects the measured energy dependence. The energy

Purpose The possibility to calibrate microdosimetric spectra using the proton- and electron-edge was proposed many years ago. It consists of two steps: first identifying the edge and a marker point on it and then ascribing the correct lineal energy value to the position of the edge in the event size spectrum. The purpose of this work is to rigorously study the marker identification for the proton-edge

Thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) are often used for personal and environmental dosimetry. The investigations of accidental immersion in liquids or washing TLDs on the dose response are limited. Detectors are placed in the dedicated card, which, may not provide full protection against liquids. Such accidental contact with liquids affects correctness of the TLDs read-out depending on the type of detector

Chips from credit cards issued by the major US banks have been tested with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) as potential materials for use in emergency radiation dosimetry. The following dosimetric properties have been studied: (1) OSL decay curves from both irradiated and unirradiated samples; (2) dose-response characteristics of the OSL and values of minimum detectable doses; (3) fading of

The Timepix3 radiation imaging and particle tracking detector is the direct successor to the Timepix semiconductor detector developed in CERN. The Timepix ASIC chip (256 × 256 pixels with a pitch of 55 μm provides the possibility to operate each of the 65 536 pixels in one of the following modes: (1) event counting (Medipix mode); (2) energy measurement (Time over Threshold — ToT mode); and (3) measurement

Interventional procedures in radiology and cardiology are associated with high dose to the patient. Accurate dosimetry is essential and calibration of the equipment is a means to provide the necessary accuracy of dose assessment. The objective of this work is to investigate the performance of dosimeters used in interventional procedures in different standard and non-standard X-ray radiation qualities

This study reports on the crystal growth, luminescence, and scintillation performance of a novel elpasolite K2LiCeCl6 scintillator. The single crystal of this material was grown by the two-zone vertical Bridgman technique. The luminescence and scintillation performance were studied under X-, γ-rays, and α-particles excitation at room temperature. The fast scintillation response and α-particles and

In particle-therapy, 2D dosimetry systems require high spatial resolution and linear dose response as the patient treatment show steep gradients of dose in depth. In this work we report on the characterization of the radiophotoluminescence (RPL) response from Al₂O₃:C,Mg films exposed to proton (61.3 MeV, 91.5 MeV, 155.5 MeV and 230 MeV) and carbon clinical beams (110 MeV/u). The film response is evaluated

A radiological incident may result in members of the public being exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation. Rapid triage and a rough dose assessment is then an important component of the process of identifying people requiring immediate medical attention, supporting clinical observations and widening the scope to categorize those individuals who are potentially exposed but are pre-symptomatic. Optically

A model describing the possibility of simultaneous recombination of two electrons into two-hole recombination centers yielding thermoluminescence (TL) is presented. This follows previous reports on such transitions in some other solid-state phenomena. The simulated results may explain some unusual TL effects. These include the occurrence of very narrow peaks which results in the evaluation of very

The average daily natural background dose was computed with a statistical approach from the dose records of personal dosemeters worn by professionally exposed workers in Switzerland. The values ranged between 1.3–3.0 μSv/day depending on the geographic location of the customers site. The highest values were found in the Lepontine Alps, the lowest in the Swiss Plateau. The results from measurements

The objective of this work was to perform an extensive side-by-side comparison between a radiophotoluminescence (RPL) dosimetry system and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) or EDIS-1™ Environmental Direct Ion Storage Dosimeters during environmental and area monitoring. The measurement locations include points around and within the perimeter of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and nearby facilities

The Fricke dosimeter is a chemical solution whereby oxidation of ferrous ions to ferric ions occurs when submitted to ionizing radiation. It has been shown to be an effective standard method to improve the accuracy of dosimetry procedures and as an alternative to ionization chambers. The results are obtained by reading the optical density of the solution after it is irradiated, and the dose is obtained

An improved design of neutron long counter has been developed. Twelve chromium rods were implemented into the moderator, which extended the response to the GeV region. The dimensions and geometry were varied and the consequences on the response function were studied. Different parameters were optimized based on Monte Carlo code to flatten the neutron response energy distribution, over a wide energy

The thermoluminescence (TL) and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) responses of in-house produced CaF2:Tm dosimeters are investigated in this work, envisaging their application in electron beam (EB) radiation processing. The irradiations were performed at an industrial EB accelerator (1.5 MeV) covering a dose rate range of 2–8 kGy/s and dose up to 10 kGy. In general, the TL glow curves display

This introductory article treats aspects of the evolution of early semiconductor detectors towards modern radiation imaging instruments, now with millions of signal processing cells, exploiting the potential of silicon nano-technology. The Medipix and Timepix assemblies are among the prime movers in this evolution. Imaging the impacts in the detecting matrix from the individual ionizing particles and

Radon-222 is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas, and the measurement of this isotope and its progeny is of interest from the viewpoint of protection against internal exposure. The author has developed a new alpha/beta-imaging detector combined with a waveform digitizer capable of imaging alpha- and beta-particle locations simultaneously. A 0.9-mm-thick stilbene plate was optically coupled to a position-sensitive

A portable Single Sphere Neutron Spectrometer (SSNS) is designed to measure the neutron energy spectrum in the mixed radiation field. The spectrometer consists of a 30 cm diameter single polyethylene moderating sphere with 19 pieces 6Li and 1-piece 7Li glass scintillator detectors located at the orthogonal X/Y/Z axis. The output signals from each detector are processed and readout by the Silicon Photomultipliers

In most jurisdictions, the presently imposed annual eye-lens dose limits are 150 mSv for occupational and 15 mSv for the general public. These limits were based on a 1991 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), in its publication 60, and they were reiterated in 2007 in the ICRP publication 103. However, recent re-analyses of available epidemiological data

In this article, two etched track detector methods for measuring short-range particles are presented and compared. The primary method employs observations of the evolution of the track geometry in intermittent etching, with the use of the appropriate track scanning procedures. The alternative method requires one-step etching and a specific analysis of the track parameters. Both methods proved to be

We investigate the physical and dosimetric characteristics of Ag-activated phosphate glass exposed to proton beams with various energies. We present time-resolved blue and orange radiophotoluminescent (RPL) spectra and examine the dependence of the peak wavelengths and RPL area intensities on gate time. Moreover, we consider various micro-scale 3D patterns written on Ag-activated glass by a focused

Lithium triborate (LiB3O5), as a new nanophosphor with a tissue-equivalent absorption coefficient, was successfully synthesized by the precipitation assisted high-temperature solid-state technique and its specifications were investigated. In this work, TL dosimetric characteristics of LiB3O5:Al (2 wt%), including sensitivity, reproducibility, fading, annealing procedure, and energy response, were investigated

Ag-doped phosphate glass employed in the commercial dosimeter named FD-7 is used globally as one of the most reliable dosimeter materials. The luminescence phenomenon is well known as radiophotoluminescence (RPL). In this work, a new RPL glass material was developed for dosimeters that are used under high humidity conditions. The glass material that contains Ag2O as an activation center was produced

At synchrotron facilities, many X-ray imaging and diffraction experiments require pixel detectors with minimal noise, high speed and reasonably small pixel size, all of which can be achieved with the Medipix ASIC family. So, ESRF, Diamond Light Source and DESY have developed detector systems based on Medipix. In this paper, we report on these developments, with an emphasis on the challenges involved

Electret ion chambers are widely used passive detectors, employed for measurements of radon activity concentration in air. These devices are made of a Teflon electret coupled to an interchangeable ion chamber. A new type of electret produced by Rad Elec Inc., named Mid-Term, is used together with the S-type (200 cm3) chamber. It is designed to be operated in an intermediate range with respect to the

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a type of radiation therapy which can selectively kill tumor cells. The irradiation field employed in BNCT is a high intensity with a wide energy range, and undesired neutrons can be irradiated in a patient's body during the treatment as a result. These neutrons are categorized into thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons on the basis of their energy ranges. Their

The establishment of an in vivo internal monitoring programme requires the use of phantoms to represent an activity distribution of an incorporated radionuclide within the body. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of the phantom geometry on the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of an incorporated radionuclide. The MDA was assessed for two instruments: a conventional radiation protection

LiF:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescent glow-curve, which shape up to a dose of 1 Gy is remarkably invariable, at higher doses undergoes very strong changes. The most important of them is an occurrence of a new high-temperature peak B, which shows a peculiar property: its position shifts towards higher temperatures with increasing doses. In this work, the possibility of exploiting this shift of peak position

The W-MON project aims to improve and automatize the control of the presence of radioactive material in conventional waste containers at CERN using a distributed network of interconnected low-power radiation sensors. The key development is the integration of a lightweight but sensitive radiation sensor in a powerful network that allows continuous data recording, transfer and storage in a database for

The characterization of high intensity charged particle beams at medical accelerators poses several challenges. In this work, we investigate the use of a highly segmented CMOS Image Sensors (CIS), an MT9T031 from Aptina, as a way to study the spatial homogeneity and the time stability of the beam. The approach relies on the possibility to define many adjacent small regions that perform the radiation

For precisely estimating dose and elapsed time after an unrecognized high-dose radiation exposure in radiological emergency, applicability of the continuous-wave optically stimulated luminescence (CW-OSL) signals from Mg2SiO4:Tb (MSO) was investigated. Small disks of MSO were irradiated with β-rays from a Sr-90 source and their CW-OSL signals were analysed. The CW-OSL curves obtained by stimulation

An electron water calorimeter is described and is used to experimentally determine beam quality dependent conversion factors, kQ, for two ionization chamber types in high-energy electron beams. The current water calorimeter was upgraded to obtain reproducible measurements in electron beams from 10 MeV to 22 MeV (corresponding beam quality index R50 ranging over 4.20–8.97 g cm−2). Measurements of radiation

The energy response for angles of incidence of 0° and 60° of current BeOSL Hp(10)-, Hp(3)-, Hp(0,07)- and H*(10) dosemeters for photon radiation has been expressed in terms of the new operational quantities Hp, Dlens, Dlocal skin, and H* proposed by ICRU. Results show the Hp(3)- and Hp(0,07) dosemeters can be used for Dlens and Dlocal skin with minor modifications to the system calibration. The whole