Study of the neutron field with etched track detectors in radiobiological experiments

Low dose cell culture irradiation experiments have been carried out at the filtered beam of Budapest Research Reactor for several years. The aim of the present study is to provide along with the macroscopically determinable 'dose', more detailed information on the components of the radiation affecting the cells. For this purpose CR-39 detectors with several types of radiator and absorber materials were mounted in different geometrical arrangements on the walls of the cell holder flasks and irradiated under the same conditions as those of the cells. With these detectors individual particles can be investigated using an image analyser and the effect of thermal, intermediate and fast neutrons hitting the cells, the protons induced by neutrons in the wall of the flasks, backscattered by the medium and by the surroundings can be studied. The methods, results of the measurements and dose calculations will be presented