Dose and Dose Rate Sensor for the Pocket Radiac

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to radiation detectors, and more particularly to small gamma ray and neutron dosimeters useful in measuring radiation on the nuclear battlefield. A radiation detector which registers the radiation absorbed during the Prompt Initial Radiation (PIR) phase following the detonation of a battlefield nuclear device is disclosed. The dose and dose rate attributable to gamma rays may be measured when the dose rate is low, and the total dose attributable to neutron and gamma ray radiation can be determined separately when the dose rate is high. Two silicon photodiodes are arranged on opposite sides of a slab of polyethylene to gather protons scattered by the incident neutron flux. A third photodiode is set next to a slab of silicon such that its depleted layer is surrounded by silicon. All three diodes are sensitive to gamma ray radiation. When the dose rate is low, the three diodes gather gamma ray dose information. When the dose rate is high, the two diodes adjacent to the polyethylene register combined neutron and gamma ray dose information while the remaining diode registers predominantly gamma ray dose information. Analog to digital converters are used to change the analog signals from the diodes to digital signals appropriate for a microprocessor. These digital signals can be combined with dose data stored in the microprocessor to determine gamma ray dose rates and neutron and gamma ray doses.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 14, 1988
Accession Number
ADD013905

Entities

People

  • Stanley Kronenberg

Organizations

  • United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analog Signals
  • Analogs
  • Charged Particles
  • Detectors
  • Dielectric Polymers
  • Dose Rate
  • Electronics
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Fast Neutrons
  • Gamma Rays
  • Inventions
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Materials
  • Patent Applications
  • Radiation
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy