A METHOD FOR DETERMINING SKIN DOSE IN BETA-GAMMA MIXED FIELDS USING THICK THERMOLUMINESCENT DETECTORS

For determining the skin dose in beta-gamma fields of unknown composition, thin detectors or combined dosimetric systems containing thick detectors are normally used. In this paper the complete use of the depth-dose and distribution in a thick, homogeneous TL detector is proposed and investigated theoretically and experimentally. The method is based on the migration of a temperature front through the detector yielding a special glow curve. The shape of the glow curve and its location depends on the depth-dose distribution. The computer-aided unfolding of the glow curve using the superposition of standard glow curves is described. The results obtained are the skin dose in an eligible depth (less than the thickness of the detector) and the radiation components at the point of exposure. The method was tested by using several simulated mixed radiation fields. The results are presented.