Radiation Environment in Particle Accelerator Facilities

Charged particle accelerators are very important tools for basic and applied research and various applications in industry and health care. In these areas, various types of accelerators are operational across the world with varying energy and particle intensity. During the process of acceleration and use of these accelerated charged particles, secondary radiations are generated which may cause harm to the personnel associated with operation and maintenance and a lesser extent to the public and environment. In order to protect the working personnel, public, and environment, an understanding of the secondary radiation generated, its properties, and quantification is essential. Broadly, accelerators are divided into two groups in terms of the secondary radiations generated. They are electron and proton or heavy ion accelerators. This chapter summarizes the radiation environment of these types of accelerators, the physics aspects of secondary radiation generation, and the radiation safety aspects. The radiation environment of the antiproton accelerator is also discussed in this chapter.