Monitoring of External Neutron Exposures

The main sources of neutrons are sealed radionuclide sources, nuclear reactors and particle accelerators (including neutron generators). Neutrons are also encountered during the enrichment of fissile materials and processing of spent fuels. Neutron sources are widely used in medicine (neutron capture therapy) and industry (oil-well logging). Neutron monitoring is therefore a subject of general interest and considerable attention is being paid for the development of improved techniques and methods for neutron monitoring. In this chapter, different techniques of neutron dosimetry particularly from the neutron monitoring point of view are discussed. In addition, calibration methodologies, performance test criteria for neutron personnel dosimeter as per the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) are also discussed in detail. Further, techniques on criticality accident dosimetry are elaborated along with results of international inter-comparison exercise.