DEVELOPMENT OF SIMULATED WORKPLACE FIELDS AT KRISS FOR PERFORMANCE TEST OF NEUTRON PERSONAL DOSEMETERS

Abstract

Simulated workplace neutron fields have been developed at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). An Am-241-Be neutron source and a cylindrical moderator composed of stainless steel and heavy water were installed in a 10-cm-thick concrete block with dimensions of 150 x 120 x 120 cm(3). The neutron energy spectrum at a distance of 66.5 cm was measured using a Bonner sphere spectrometer and was found to agree with the spectrum obtained from the Monte Carlo N-Particle Extended simulation to within 5%. The neutron fluence-to-personal dose equivalent conversion coefficients were (20.8-43.6) pSv.cm(2) and were thus in good agreement with those of reactor fields. The results showed that the KRISS-simulated workplace neutron fields can be used for performance tests and the calibration service of neutron personal dosemeters.