Unveiling LINrem: A Revolutionary Neutron Dosimeter for the Future
The Challenge: Precisely Measuring High-Energy and Pulsed Neutrons
Neutrons can significantly contribute to the total radiation dose received by individuals in various settings, including workplaces, medical facilities, and the general public. Accurately detecting neutrons, particularly those with high energy and encountered in pulsed fields, is crucial for ensuring proper radiation protection. However, current commercially available solutions often have limitations:
Dated technology: Combining sensor technology from the 1960s with readout systems from the 1990s.
Limited portability: Weighing 9-18 kg per unit, hindering flexibility.
Poor response for high-energy neutrons (above 20 MeV) and pulsed fields: Less reliable in environments with these specific neutron characteristics.
Unsuitable for complex fields: Struggle to accurately measure intricate pulsed or quasi-continuous neutron fields.
Our Response: The LINrem Project
Our research group is addressing these challenges by developing the LINrem neutron counter, a next-generation dosimeter designed to overcome the limitations of existing solutions, particularly regarding portability and measurement accuracy. LINrem specifically focuses on improving measurement accuracy for three critical aspects:
Weight reduction: Essential for enabling portability in locations with difficult access and facilitating neutron dose mapping in standard rooms.
High-energy neutrons: Crucial for fields like particle therapy, where high-energy neutrons can be present.
Pulsed neutron fields: Encountered in facilities using particle accelerators, such as synchrotrons and cyclotrons, and increasingly relevant due to their growing application in various research and technological domains.
LINrem's Cutting-Edge Technology:
Modern design: Utilizing computer-assisted optimization for the detection module.
Novel acquisition technology: Implementing a new approach to handle complex radiation fields, including pulsed fields.
Digitalization: Employing digital electronics and applications for acquisition and readout.
Light weight LINrem dosimeter (v3)
Extended energy LINrem dosimeter (v3)
LINrem's Achievements and Advantages:
Demonstrator prototypes: Successfully developed and tested in relevant environments, including those generating pulsed neutron fields.
Excellent agreement with benchmark calculations: Demonstrating the accuracy of LINrem's response in both high-energy and pulsed fields.
Out-of-field neutron measurements: Successfully achieved in proton therapy settings using the LINremext1 prototype, showcasing its ability to handle complex pulsed fields encountered in such environments.
Dose measurement results: Demonstrating reliable H*(10) dose measurements, even for both high-energy neutrons and those present in pulsed fields.
Transferable to users: LINrem prototypes are nearing a stage where they can be readily adopted by users for applications involving pulsed neutron fields.
LINrem dosimeter at a proton therapy facility
The Future of LINrem:
We are actively working on further advancements:
Integration: Combining electronics, data acquisition systems, and front-end elements into a single, portable module suitable for both continuous and pulsed fields.
Adaptation to new standards: Modifying the LINdos detector design to comply with the latest ICRU95 recommendations.
SINERGY4HT project: Developing a combined system for in-vivo diagnosis in hadron therapy, simultaneously measuring neutrons and prompt gamma rays, with an emphasis on its potential application in pulsed beam environments.
The LINrem project holds immense potential for revolutionizing neutron dosimetry, with a specific focus on overcoming challenges related to both high-energy and pulsed neutron fields. By offering a cutting-edge, portable, and accurate approach, LINrem paves the way for enhanced radiation protection in various fields, ultimately contributing to a safer and healthier future.
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