Neutron and photon spectrometry techniques for radiation protection - Introduction

This handbook describes the instruments and methods which may be used in workplace environments in the nuclear industry, at accelerator facilities, and in aircraft, to measure: neutron spectra, photon spectra in mixed neutron-gamma fields, and the directions distribution for both types of radiation. This information is needed in radiation protection research both to characterise those fields where it is important to know the dose equivalent accurately, and to investigate the performance or area survey meters and personal dosemeters in order to select the most suitable devices or to determine corrections factors, or to do both. For neutron fields neither types of dosemeter can, in general, be relied upon to give the correct answer. The spectrometry instrumentation is covered her ein sufficient detail to enable user to select the optimum system for a particular application, and also to construct and commission the chosen system.