Characterization of a medical X-ray machine for testing the response of electronic dosimeters in pulsed radiation fields

Electronic personal dosimeters (EPD) based on solid state detectors have been used for personnel monitoring for radiation protection purpose; their use has been extended to practices with pulsed radiation beams although their performance is not well known. Deficiencies in the EPD response in pulsed radiation fields have been reported; they were not detected before since type tests and calibrations of EPDs were established in terms of continuous X and gamma reference radiations. An ISO working group was formed to elaborate a standard for test conditions and performance requirements of EPDs in pulsed beams; the PTB/Germany implemented a special X-ray facility for generating the reference pulsed radiation beams. In this work, an 800 Plus VMI medical X-ray machine of the Dosimeter Calibration Laboratory of CDTN/CNEN was characterized to verify its feasibility to perform EPD tests. Characterization of the x-ray beam was done in terms of practical peak voltage, half-value layer, mean energy and air kerma rate. Reference dosimeters used for air kerma measurements were verified as far their metrological coherence and a procedure for testing EDPs was established. - highlights: • Electronic personal dosimeters (EPD) have been used for personnel monitoring. • EPD use has been extended to pulsed radiation beams. • Deficiencies in the EPD response in pulsed beams have been reported. • The feasibility of using a medical X-ray machine to perform EPD tests was studied. • Reference dosimeters were verified and EPD testing procedure was established