Abstract
Radiation is a natural phenomenon in which energy is emitted in the form of waves or particles through a given medium. Radiation dosimetry is the method of analyzing and assessing this deposited emitted energy. How this emitted energy effects a given object when deposited has been a topic of interest in the fields of science and medicine. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for the verification of electrons in air and determining their delivered dose rate. Using a linear accelerator which had its polarity flipped from producing positive ions to producing electrons, work to verify the production of electrons is undertaken. A Geiger-Mueller counter with a fixed radioactive reference source is used. Count rates are taken for various distances with results being compared with predictions using data obtained from the NIST-ESTAR database. Angular distribution is investigated using a similar method. Further work is conducted using Helmholtz coils to control beam direction via uniform magnetic field. Using a radiation safety badge at a given distance, a preliminary dose rate measurement is obtained. A novel approach to validate the production of electrons is achieved. At distances of 80 cm, 90 cm, and 100 cm, oriented at 0°, kinetic energies of 315±5 keV, 345±5 keV, and 360±5 keV, respectively, are measured. For the same distances, an increase in required kinetic energy is measured when the detector is oriented at an angle. At a distance of 100 cm oriented at 45°, a kinetic energy of 380±5 keV is measured, an increase from the 0° orientation. Results are consistent with distance calculations using data for electrons in dry air obtained from the NIST-ESTAR database, given for orientation at 0°. Preliminary results using Helmholtz coils for beam control show promise, but suggest further investigation is required. Radiation safety badge data shows 5-minute exposure to the beam energy exceeds the badge limit of 1000 Rad., demonstrating delivery of a high radiation dose.
Advisor
Andrew Roberts
Committee Member
Analía Dall’Asén
Committee Member
Thomas Brown
Date of Degree
2022
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Program of Study
Physics
Department
Physics and Astronomy
College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Recommended Citation
LeMieux, H. J. (2022). Verification of electron beam production for radiation dosimetry experimentation [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1230/
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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