Ionizing Radiation Standards

The objectives of the IRS group are to do excellent research and development work and to provide services such as calibrations, consultation and training to our client communities in the areas of ionizing radiation measurement, primary standards and Monte Carlo simulation of radiation transport. These objectives are to fulfil the INMS and NRC missions in the area of ionizing radiation measurements and standards.

The program covers standards and measurement techniques related to: exposure and air kerma in low energy x-ray and 60Co beams; absorbed dose to water in 60Co beams and in electron and photon beams from linear accelerators; radioactivity; neutron fluence and dose equivalent; absorbed dose to tissue in a beta-ray field and Fricke dosimetry. As well, the program includes the development of Monte Carlo techniques for the simulation of electron and photon transport in materials and the development of dosimetry protocols for use in cancer radiotherapy clinics.