Dosimetry Applications Research Calibration Laboratory
James S. Bogard, PhD, CHP
(865) 574-5851 or e-mail to bogardjs@ornl.gov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Dosimetry Applications Research Calibration Laboratory (DOSAR CalLab) is managed and operated by the staff of ORNL's Life Sciences Division for personnel dosimetry research, dosimetry intercomparison studies, dosimetry performance test programs, training of health physics personnel, and radiobiology research. View Presentation
The DOSAR CalLab is a 260 m2 concrete block building consisting primarily of a control room, a 6.1 x 7.0 x 4.3-m gamma irradiation room, a beta/X-ray room which is the same size as the gamma room, and a low-scatter 9.1 x 9.1 x 5.8-m neutron room. The CalLab has been outfitted with track systems in each room for movement of sources or phantoms. These track systems, which are fitted with digital measuring systems for precise source-to-target distance measurements, are suspended from the ceiling and do not interfere with equipment brought into the facility for performing experiments. CalLab space is supplemented by an adjacent building which is available both for storage and for selected low-level irradiations.
A personal computer in the control room operates sources, checks all safety interlocks, and calculates and monitors exposure times, distances, and doses. Sources currently at the DOSAR CalLab include a 90Sr/90Y irradiator; a Büchler irradiator and PTB source set which includes 147Pm, 204Tl, and two 90Sr/90Y sources; a 10-Ci 137Cs beam irradiator and 1.2-Ci 137Cs panoramic irradiator; a bare 238PuBe source; and two 252Cf sources which can be used bare and with various moderators, including polyethylene and heavy water (D2O). Also available is a Pantak model HF320 X-ray generator which is used for reproducing NIST beam codes.
Quality assurance for calibrated radiation exposures at the DOSAR CalLab is described in the DOSAR/CalLab Operations Manual, ORNL-6904/R3. Part of the QA program involves the use of NIST-calibrated monitoring instruments and radioactive sources to provide calibrated radiation exposures.
Calibrated Irradiations Available at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Dosimetry Applications Research Calibration Laboratory
| Radiation | Source | Half-Life (y) |
Dose Rate | Source Distance (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta | 90Sr/90Y | 28.79 | 5310 mrad/h | 0.35 |
| Beta | 147Pm | 2.6234 | 4.8 mrad/h (Surface) | 0.20 |
| Beta | 204Tl | 3.78 | 4.1 mrad/h | 0.35 |
| Beta | 90Sr/90Y | 28.79 | 917 mrad/h | 0.35 |
| Beta | 90Sr/90Y | 28.79 | 22986 mrad/h | 0.35 |
| Gamma | 137Cs | 30.07 | 948 mR/h | 0.51 |
| Gamma | 137Cs | 30.07 | 2222 mR/h | 1.00 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-bare | 2.645 | 48 mrem/h | 0.50 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-bare | 2.645 | 11.9 mrem/h | 1.00 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-Poly | 2.645 | 5.6 mrem/h | 0.50 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-Poly | 2.645 | 1.4 mrem/h | 1.00 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-D2O | 2.645 | 32.0 mrem/h | 0.50 |
| Neutron | 252Cf-D2O | 2.645 | 8.0 mrem/h | 1.00 |
| Neutron | 238PuBe | 87.7 | 20.8 mrem/h | 1.00 |
| X-ray | Pantak HF320: M30, M60, S60, M100, M150, H150 |
2-300 R/h | 3.18 |
Date of Calculation: October 11, 2007
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