Dose independent use of LiF detectors in mixed neutron-gamma radiation fields

The glow curve characteristics of TLD-100,-600 and -700 ribbons were investigated after irradiation by various mixed neutron-gamma fields. It was stated, that the supralinearity of the detectors shows a clear dose dependence, which can be handled mathematically. By this method the neutron and gamma responses of the detectors can be separately determined over a wide range of dose and mixing ratios. The accuracy of the separation of the response components is characterised mostly by the statistical error. The response to dose conversion for the gamma component is simple, while for the neutron component it depends on the neutron spectra and on the type of the detector. Simultaneous use of different types of LiF detectors may therefore give us some information about the energy spectra of the neutrons also. By this means a response to dose conversion is already achievable, also when the neutron spectra are unknown. (author)