Abstract A neutron dosimeter includes a material which emits alpha particles when bombarded with neutrons, a plastic foil in position to intercept these alpha particles and a step wedge of a material, capable of attenuating the alpha particles, disposed between the alpha-emitting material and the plastic foil. The step wedge varies from zero thickness to such a thickness as will attenuate the most energetic alpha particles formed in the dosimeter to particles having an energy such that the particles form tracks in the plastic foil. Following exposure to neutrons the plastic foil is etched to expose the alpha tracks in the plastic. The location of the tracks in the plastic indicates the energy of the neutrons and the total number of tracks in the plastic indicates the intensity of the neutron flux.
Inventors
👤 Jacob Kastner
👤 Billie G Oltman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T5/00; G01T5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A neutron dosimeter including a housing containing a material capable of emitting alpha particles when bombarded with neutrons, a plastic foil capable of registering etchable tracks from said alpha particles and positioned to receive them, and a step wedge formed of an alpha-attenuating material positioned between the alpha-emitting material and the plastic foil so as to leave a portion of the space between the alpha-emitting material and the plastic foil free of alpha-attenuating material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A neutron dosimeter including a housing containing a material capable of emitting alpha particles when bombarded with neutrons, a plastic foil capable of registering etchable tracks from said alpha particles and positioned to receive them, and a step wedge formed of an alpha-attenuating material positioned between the alpha-emitting material and the plastic foil so as to leave a portion of the space between the alpha-emitting material and the plastic foil free of alpha-attenuating material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A neutron dosimeter according to claim 1 wherein said step wedge is formed of gold, the material capable of emitting alpha particles when bombarded with neutrons is lithium-6 fluoride and the plastic foil is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate butyrate and cellulose nitrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A neutron dosimeter according to claim 2 wherein said step wedge contains 10 steps, each differing in thickness from the next by 1/2 micron.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A neutron dosimeter according to claim 1 wherein said step wedge is of gold, the material capable of emitting alpha particles when bombarded with neutrons is boron-10 and the plastic foil is selected from the group consisting of celLulose acetate butyrate and cellulose nitrate.