Dosimetry and microdosimetry using LET spectrometer based on the track-etch detector: radiotherapy bremsstrahlung beam, onboard aircraft radiation field

The spectrometer of linear energy transfer (LET) based on the chemically etched polyallyldiglycolcarbonate (PADC) track-etch detector was developed several years ago in our institute. LET spectra are estimated through track parameters determination carried out by an automatic optical image analyzer LUCIA G. This LET spectrometer enables determining LET of particles approximately from 10 to 700 keV/µm. From the LET spectra, dose characteristics can be calculated. This contribution presents the use of this spectrometer in some applications – studies in 18 MV radiotherapy bremsstrahlung beam and investigation onboard a commercial aircraft during more than 6 months long exposure. The LET spectra obtained in both experiments represent mainly the contribution of secondary or tertiary particles created through the nuclear reactions of photons (bremsstrahlung beam) or neutrons and neutron-like reacting particles (onboard aircraft) in the detector itself or in the surroundings material. The dose due to the photoparticles represents about 3 × 10-4 of the photon dose; for the dose equivalent this value is about 2 × 10-3 Sv/Gy. Regarding the onboard aircraft exposure, the results obtained using LET spectrometer were compared with those achieved with other methods and a reasonable agreement were stated