Experimental and Computational Assessment of Aircrew Radiation Exposure
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Die approbierte Originalversion dieser Diplom-/Masterarbeit ist an der Hauptbibliothek der Technischen Universität Wien aufgestellt (http://www.ub.tuwien.ac.at). The approved original version of this diploma or master thesis is available at the main library of the Vienna University of Technology (http://www.ub.tuwien.ac.at/englweb/). D I P L O M A R B E I T Experimental and Computational Assessment of Aircrew Radiation Exposure Ausgeführt am Atominstitut der Technischen Universität Wien unter der Anleitung von Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Norbert Vana und Univ.Ass. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Michael Hajek als verantwortlich mitwirkenden Universitätsassistenten durch Georg Eigelsreiter 1020 Wien, Vorgartenstraße 221/1/12 Wien, am 29. April 2011 ……..……..…………………... Abstract Experimental and Computational Assessment of Aircrew Radiation Exposure Aircrew personnel is exposed to radiation levels from cosmic rays that on average are equal to or higher than other occupationally exposed personnel receives from artificial sources in medicine, industry and technology . In a pilot experiment in cooperation with Tyrolean Airways , the radiation exposure on short and midrange operations has been evaluated. Experimental data have been compared with results from CARI 6, a computation system using Monte Carlo calculation codes in order to calculate aircrew radiation exposure. Austrian legislation defines computer-based dose assessment as an appropriate means of radiation protection as long as the calculations agree within 30% with experimental data. For the experimental assessment of the cosmic ray induced dose, thermoluminescence dosimetry has been used. This is a common method in personal dosimetry. Additionally to the overall exposure, the neutron contribution has been determined by the extended pair method using TLD-600/700 dosemeters. Beside these lithium fluoride phosphors, calcium fluoride dosemeters (TLD-300) have been used to evaluate their reproducibility and applicability to personal dosimetry of aircraft crew. Results provided by the CARI 6 code have been analyzed in comparison with the experimental data from the different types of thermoluminescence dosemeters. Zusammenfassung Experimentelle und computerunterstützte Erfassung der Strahlenexposition des fliegenden Personals Fliegendes Personal ist einer Strahlenbelastung durch Höhenstrahlung ausgesetzt, die im Durchschnitt vergleichbar oder sogar höher ist als jene, welche andere strahlenexponierte Personen in Medizin, Industrie und Technik erhalten. In einem Pilotexperiment in Kooperation mit Tyrolean Airways wurde die Strahlenbelastung auf Kurz- und Mittelstreckenflügen bewertet. Die experimentellen Daten wurden mit Ergebnissen von CARI 6 verglichen, einem Computerprogramm, welches mittels Monte-Carlo-Simulation die Strahlenexposition von fliegendem Personal berechnet. Die österreichische Gesetzgebung genehmigt die computerunterstützte Dosiserfassung als ausreichende Strahlenschutzmaßnahme, solange die Berechnungen innerhalb von 30% mit experimentellen Daten übereinstimmen. Zur experimentellen Erfassung der durch Höhenstrahlung bedingten Dosis wurde Thermolumineszenzdosimetrie verwendet, eine weit verbreitete Methode in der Personendosimetrie. Zusätzlich zur gesamten Exposition wurde der Neutronenanteil mit Hilfe der erweiterten Paarmethode auf der Grundlage von TLD-600/700 gemessen. Neben diesen beiden Lithiumfluorid-Dosimetern wurden zusätzlich Kaliziumfluorid-Dosimeter des Typs TLD-300 verwendet, um ihre Reproduzierbarkeit und Anwendbarkeit in der Personendosimetrie von Flugzeugbesatzungen zu überprüfen. Die Ergebnisse von CARI 6 wurden im Vergleich mit den experimentellen Daten der verschiedenen Thermolumineszenzdosimetertypen analysiert. Contents Contents .................................................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Motivation .................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Organization of the Thesis............................................................................ 4 2 Cosmic Radiation .............................................................................................. 6 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Space Radiation ............................................................................................ 6 2.2.1 Galactic Cosmic Rays ............................................................................ 7 2.2.2 Solar Cosmic Rays ............................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Earth’s Trapped Radiation Belts .......................................................... 12 2.3 Earth’s Magnetic Field ............................................................................... 12 2.4 Radiation Environment in the Earth’s Atmosphere .................................... 15 2.4.1 Interaction with the Atmosphere.......................................................... 16 2.4.2 Hadronic Component ........................................................................... 17 2.4.3 Electron-Photon Component................................................................ 18 2.4.4 Muonic Component ............................................................................. 18 3 Radiation Dosimetry and Effects ................................................................... 19 3.1 Dose Quantities .......................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Basic Physical Quantities..................................................................... 20 3.1.2 Limiting Quantities .............................................................................. 21 3.1.3 Operational Quantities ......................................................................... 25 3.2 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation .................................................... 28 3.2.1 Deterministic and Stochastic Effects on Human Organisms ............... 31 3.2.2 Comparative Cohort Studies ................................................................ 34 4 Thermoluminescence Dosimetry ................................................................... 44 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 44 4.2 Luminescence ............................................................................................. 45 1 2 CONTENTS 4.3 Thermoluminescence .................................................................................. 46 4.4 Thermoluminescence Models ..................................................................... 47 4.4.1 Two-level Model.................................................................................. 47 4.4.2 Further Considerations of Thermoluminescence Models .................... 52 4.5 Thermoluminescence Dosemeters .............................................................. 53 5 Experimental Assessment ............................................................................... 57 5.1 Measurement Setup .................................................................................... 57 5.2 Dosemeter Preparation and Readout .......................................................... 58 5.3 Data Acquisition ......................................................................................... 58 5.4 Calibration .................................................................................................. 59 5.5 Glow Curve Analysis ................................................................................. 61 5.6 Analysis and Calculation ............................................................................ 62 5.6.1 Sparsely Ionizing Radiation ................................................................. 62 5.6.2 Neutrons ............................................................................................... 63 5.6.3 X-ray Scans .......................................................................................... 64 5.6.4 Error Estimation ................................................................................... 64 5.7 Exemplary Evaluation ................................................................................ 65 5.8 Measurement Results.................................................................................. 68 5.8.1 TLD-600 / TLD-700 ............................................................................ 68 5.8.2 TLD-300 .............................................................................................. 72 5.9 Comparison of TLD-300 and TLD-700 ..................................................... 75 6 Computational Methods ................................................................................. 77 6.1 CARI 6........................................................................................................ 77 6.2 Acquisition and Input ................................................................................. 78 6.3 Heliocentric Potential ................................................................................. 79 6.4 Comparison with Experimental Measurements .......................................... 80 6.5 Results and Accuracy ................................................................................. 83 6.6 Summary....................................................................................................