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A new radiation dosimeter using a pyroelectric detector
Author(s) -
de Paula M. H.,
Carvalho A. A.,
Mascarenhas S.,
Zimmerman R. L.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.595587
Subject(s) - dosimeter , radiation , optics , detector , pyroelectricity , dosimetry , particle detector , physics , materials science , photon , kerma , optoelectronics , nuclear medicine , medicine , dielectric , ferroelectricity
We describe a new type of radiation dosimeter, for the diagnostic x‐ray region, using a pyroelectric detector. It consists of a PZT ceramic crystal thick enough to absorb all the incident radiation at 33 keV. This pyroelectric radiation dosimeter (PERD) produces an electrical signal when exposed to a chopped beam of x‐ray photons. The PERD is basically a microcalorimeter. It has the following characteristics: (1) it responds linearly to the energy fluence rate of the radiation; (2) it responds linearly to the radiation intensity for a given radiation spectrum; (3) it has excellent stability; (4) it is simple to construct and inexpensive; and (5) it is rugged.