The AURORA Dosimetry System

Abstract : AURORA, a generator of intense bremsstrahlung pulses, is used principally for simulating the effects of a nuclear weapon prompt gamma pulse on military electronic systems. AURORA's unique feature is its extremely high volumetric dose output; it can deliver 25 krads(Si) throughout a 1 m-diam, 1 m- long cylindrical volume, or 50 krads(Si) throughout a 25-cm sphere. AURORA is located at Adelphi, MD, and is operated by the Harry Diamond Laboratories for the Defense Nuclear Agency. This report describes the techniques and instruments used at AURORA for measuring the radiation dose and dose rate. The present report describes in detail the experimental techniques of dosimetry as they are now implemented at AURORA.