Radiation Intensity Measurements with Silver-Activated Glass Block Dosimeters

Abstract

A method for measuring both the intensity (ev/em2-sec) of a radiation beam and the fraction of the incident intensity that is absorbed by a sample has been described. The beam is totally absorbed in a block of silver-activated metaphosphate glass (1 cm x 03 cm thick), and the resultant change in optical density is used as a measure of the beam intensity. The fraction of the incident intensity absorbed by a sample is determined by comparing the optical densities of blocks exposed to the incident flux with and without the specimen interposed. This method provides a way of measuring the intensity of a radiation beam and the fraction of this intensity that is absorbed by samples that fall between the "thin target" case and that of total absorption. The small size of the blocks permits their use without the extensive alteration of the geometry of the experiment which might be required for the use of a calorimeter or chemical dosimeter.