A joint UAB-IReS-IPNO neutron comparison exercise with nuclear track detectors

Abstract The response of PN3 and CR-39 personal dosemeters with different configurations, developed by the IReS (Strasbourg), the IPNO (Orsay) and the UAB (Barcelona) groups, is investigated in this study. Both dosemeters were mounted on a water-filled phantom and were simultaneously exposed under different incidence angles ( 0 ∘ , 30 ∘ and 60 ∘ ) to the following: (i) three ISO neutron sources ( 241 Am-Be, bare 252 Cf and moderated 252 Cf with Cd shielding), and (ii) two realistic neutron sources (SIGMA and moderated 252 Cf) at the IRSN (Cadarache) facilities. After irradiation, the plastic detectors were etched and evaluated according to local routine procedures and corrections for the effect of source-to-detector distance were taken into account. A comparison of the average background, the minimum detectable dose equivalent and the field calibration factor is performed as well.