A Method for Evaluating Air Kerma and Directional Dose Equivalent for Currently Available Multi-Element Dosemeters in Radiation Protection Dosimetry

Abstract A method is outlined for estimating air kerma and directional dose equivalent from indications on multi-element dosemeters having energy and angle response functions that are different for at least two of the dosemeter's radiation-sensitive elements. The method employs dosemeter calibrations relating response of each element and the corresponding indication ratio(s) to radiation energy and angle of radiation incidence. Indications are measured in the usual way on the elements of each dosemeter irradiated under unknown conditions, and the ratio is formed of the indications of any two elements known to have different response functions. Using the calibration curves, energy-angle pairs are found that correspond to these indication ratios, and are then used to determine the corresponding response values - of which there are, in general, several per energy-angle pair. Finally, the response values corresponding to any given energy-angle pair are averaged, and air kerma or directional dose equivalent is computed from average response and the measured indication(s). The method is illustrated for a dosemeter for which photon calibration data were available.