Passive solid state microdosimeter with electronic readout

摘要

Apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing a complex radiation field are provided. A passive microdosimetry detector device records the energy deposition of incident radiation using an array of microstructure non-volatile memory devices. Each microstructure non-volatile memory device is capable of storing a predetermined initial charge without requiring a power source. A radiation particle incident to a microstructure non-volatile memory device is termed an "event". Each such event may generate a charge within a sensitive volume defined by the microstructure non-volatile memory device. The charge generated within the sensitive volume alters the stored initial charge by an amount falling within a range corresponding to the energy deposited by certain particle types. Data corresponding to such charge alterations for a plurality of microstructure non-volatile memory devices within an array of such devices are presented to a qualitative analyzing device. The qualitative analyzing device converts the data to a spectral analysis of the incident radiation field by applying ICRP-recommended weighting factors to individual events or approximations thereof.