Microdosimetry detector development

A very small detector is needed for heavy ion radial distance microdosimetry since a small detector makes it possible to simulate somewhat smaller site sizes while maintaining secondary charged particle equilibrium in a vacuum chamber of reasonable size. The smaller actual size of the detector also allows it to measure energy deposition in volumes situated over a wider range of distances from the path of the primary heavy ion than was possible before. The other type of microdosimetric measurement in which a smaller configuration is important is that of accelerator-produced neutrons. Because the energy and fluence of these neutrons are a function, in part, of the solid angle subtended by whatever is being irradiated, it is best to use as small a detector as possible. A new detector has been designed and one prototype constructed