Uncertainty of kerma factors in neutron dosimetry at Esub(n) = 14.5 MeV

Assuming that the dominant part of the uncertainty in the kerma ratio is due to the kerma factors of Carbon and Oxygen, it is concluded that the uncertainty in tissue-equivalent ion chamber or calorimeter measurements of absorbed dose in tissue results from calculation of the kerma factors alone before other component uncertainties are considered. In the case of carbon the following conclusions are made: 1) In the reaction 12C(n,n'3α) the energy partition between n' and 3α should be investigated. 2) The uncertainties in the elastic scattering data should be reduced. 3) The uncertainties in the total cross section data should be reduced. In the case of oxygen it is concluded that the elastic scattering data should be accurately measured to allow application of the sum rule in order to extract cross-sections of three and more particle decay reactions such as 16O(n,n'α) and 16O(n,n'p). Also, the energy partition between the n' and the charged particles in these reactions should be studied. (U.K.)