Passive neutron area monitor with pairs of TLDs as neutron detector

A passive neutron area monitor has been designed using Monte Carlo methods; the monitor is a polyethylene cylinder with pairs of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD600 and TLD700) as thermal neutron detector. The monitor was calibrated with a bare and a thermalzed ²⁴¹AmBe neutron sources and its performance was evaluated measuring the ambient dose equivalent due to photoneutrons produced by a 15 MV linear accelerator for radiotherapy and the neutrons in the output of a TRIGA Mark III radial beam port. - Highlights: • A passive neutron area monitor was built and evaluated. • The monitor uses pairs of TLD 600 and TLD700. • It was evaluated in the beam port of a TRIGA Mark III reactor. • The performance was also evaluated in a 15 MV LINAC