Integrating and Live-time Radiation Dosimetry by Optical Crystal Damage, Initial Results with Neutrons

Radiation damage can be assessed through many techniques, though the assessment is usually offline and shows only integrated dose. Transparent crystals can be optically monitored for radiation damage nondestructively, to serve as a detector for both immediate dose and integrated dose for signatures of radiation exposure history. There is also some difference in gamma-ray and neutron interactions which can be observed. Gamma ray interactions primarily produce electron displacements, which are preserved as color centers in ionic crystals and produce specific spectral absorption lines. Neutron interactions strongly produce lattice displacements that affect the index of refraction. The differences may allow us to use inexpensive crystals for long time neutron monitoring. Spectroscopic absorption lines can be quantified using prior technology, but due to prior limits in phase sensitivity there was no previous use of index of refraction measurements. Using novel techniques based on intracavity phase interferometry to assess lattice displacements, we are able to examine neutron irradiation in CaF2 crystals. Initial results with neutrons will be presented.