RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY OF PHOTON AND NEUTRON RADIATION - REQUIREMENTS AND PRESENT STATE

The recent recommendations of the ICRP and ICRU have resulted in new demands for measuring instruments in radiation protection dosimetry, especially for photon and neutron radiation. The measurement of lower doses has become necessary due to reduction of dose limits and modifications of the quality factor for neutrons. For approximation of the effective dose, new operational dose quantities were introduced, the measurement of which requires a distinct energy and angular response of the detectors. In the present paper the characteristic properties of dosimetry systems commonly used or being under development are analyzed. Whereas for photon dosimeters the new requirements can be met sufficiently well, distinct improvements are necessary in the field of neutron dosimetry, mainly to reduce the lower detection limit and the energy dependence of the dosimeters.