Field measurements of beta-ray spectra inside nuclear generating stations using a silicon detector coincidence telescope

Beta radiation is now recognized as a significant radiation safety problem in the personnel dosimetry of weakly penetrating radiations. The use of 'thick' dosemeters (eg., typically 100 mg cm-2) for beta dosimetry requires, therefore, the application of beta correction factors which correct for the under-response of these dosemeters to low-energy betas. The estimation of these beta correction factors requires in-turn some knowledge of the beta-ray energy spectrum impinging on the dosemeter. In acknowledgement of this requirement, and to improve the accuracy of beta ray personal dosimetry in their nuclear power installations, Ontario Hydro initiated a study in the 1990s aimed at the characterization of beta radiation fields in CANDU reactor typical working conditions. (author)