Investigation of the PDM-303 neutron pocket dosemeter in various neutron fields

Following a calibration by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) of the Aloka PDM-303 neutron pocket dosemeter in an energy range from thermal to neutrons of 19 MeV the response of the instrument has been further investigated in various neutron fields. Measurements were performed at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) in nearly monoenergetic neutron beams of 35 and 55 MeV. Furthermore, the response has been evaluated experimentally in well characterized neutron fields at the Cadarache calibration facility and at the CERN high-energy calibration facility. The experimental results are compared with calculated values established by convoluting the known response function of the detector with the spectra of the neutron fields. The results indicate that the dosemeter is a promising active instrument for personnel dosimetry, particularly in high-energy fields, but that efforts should still be made to improve its dose equivalent response.