Ambient dose estimationH*(10) from LaBr3(Ce) spectra

Abstract

The stripping method for ambient dose estimation has been used for detectors such as high-purity Ge (HPGe). This method strips the spectrum from the partial absorptions produced in the detector leaving only the events corresponding to the full absorption of a gamma ray. In the present study, this method is applied to a 1 '' x 1 '' LaBr3(Ce) detector using the PENELOPE/penEasy Monte Carlo code to obtain both the partial absorptions and detector full peak efficiency. The stripping method has been validated from a set of gamma fluxes carried out at the accredited laboratory of the Institute of Energy Technologies of the Technical University of Catalonia and results were obtained with differences <5 %. After validation, the LaBr3(Ce) monitor was installed on the roof of the institute premises working in parallel with a photon equivalent dose monitor, model FHZ 601A from the FAG Company. The derived H*(10) values from the LaBr3(Ce) detector show good agreement with those derived from the dose monitor.