Calibrations

During the last 2 years, NIST has helped the U.S. Navy transition to a new dosimetry system by providing dosimeter irradiations in ¹³⁷Cs gamma-ray beams.  

The new dosimetry program relies on the use of the model DT-702 thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) system. As a result, the older dosimetry program that relied on the use of a calcium fluoride solid-state dosimeter, the TLD model DT-526, was terminated.  The monitoring of radiation exposure of personnel working at shipyards under the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) and all other Navy sites will now be done with the new TLD system. The model DT-702 technology is a significant improvement relative to the older DT-526 technology, providing more accurate readings, better stability and energy discrimination as well as a lower detection limit.