Project Title:

Solid-State Neutron Dosimeter for Space Applications

12.01-1167
NAS9-18328
Solid-State Neutron Dosimeter for Space
	Applications
Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.
	44 Hunt Street
	Watertown, MA 02172
		Gerald Entine
(617-926-1167)

Abstract:

	An important contributor to the radiation exposure of personnel engaged in space
flight is the flux of high-energy neutrons arising from both primary and secondary
sources of ionizing radiation. A suitable, compact neutron sensor that can be incorporated
in a flight instrument to provide high-quality, real-time measurement of this important
radiation flux does not exist. This project will construct such a neutron sensor
using a special PIN silicon diode that has the attractive property of being quite
insensitive to the other forms of ionizing radiation which present difficulties to
traditional neutron sensors. To achieve this result, research will be conducted on
the physics of the diode as well as on specialized electronics capable of reading
the diode without perturbing its behavior. The resulting instrument will have the
capability of being flight-packaged and readily interfaced with other dosimeters.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications: A compact, accurate personal neutron dosimeter
will have application in power plants, accelerator facilities, and industrial facilities
using neutron activation analysis or neutron radiography