Adaption of the bubble detector for use as a LET spectrometer
Abstract
A new family of radiation detectors has been developed over the last few years whose principle is closely related to the concept of linear energy transfer (LET). These detectors, called bubble detectors, consist of a dispersion of superheated liquid droplets in an elastic medium. When radiation enters the detector, it imparts energy to a liquid droplet. If the energy exceeds a critical value, the droplet will boil and a bubble is formed. These detectors have been used in biological dosimetry, but their use for space related applications requires modifications imposed by the nature of the radiation of interest. For instance, certain heavy ions in space which pose no hazard to biological systems could still cause severe damage to electronics. The elastic medium in a biological dosimeter would shield the charged particles of low penetrability, so a new bubble detector configuration is being developed which eliminates use of the normal elastic medium. By using various types of bubble detector layers, it should be possible to measure the LET distributions appropriate for electronic components.
- Publication:
-
In Defence Research Establishment
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991sre..proc.....I
- Keywords:
-
- Bubble Chambers;
- Linear Energy Transfer (Let);
- Mass Spectrometers;
- Radiation Counters;
- Heavy Ions;
- Neutron Spectrometers;
- Instrumentation and Photography