Monte Carlo determination of the infinite matrix dose rate correction factors for 250 μm quartz and TLD500 chip

A new approach based on the Monte Carlo simulation is used to calculate the infinite matrix dose rate correction factors of gamma, beta and internal conversion radiations for 250 μm diameter grains of quartz and TLD500 chips. Here, the dependence of the correction factor on the radiation energy is initially calculated for each type of emitted particle and with this result the correction factors for the ²³²Th and ²³⁸U series and ⁴⁰K are determined. This analysis is made for dry soil and also for different levels of water content in it. The obtained beta correction factors for quartz are in good agreement with those previously reported. For the TLD500 chip certain differences with previously reported data are found. The analysis of the gamma water correction factor for quartz based on Zimmerman equation shows the correspondence with the similar correction factor for electrons. In the case of TLD500 chip a gamma water correction factor value of 1.0 was found. - Highlights: • A new approach based on Monte Carlo simulation is used to compute infinite matrix dose rate correction factors. • Infinite matrix models with real dimensions were analyzed within 3% uncertainties. • The dependence of grain size attenuation on particle energy is determined. • The same dependence for water correction factors is also analyzed