scope:

The report includes a basic discussion of radiation quantities and units, of the interpretation of instrument readings in terms of such units, and of the accuracy usually required. The report also includes sections on various types of radiation detector. Since detailed descriptions of detectors and discussions of their operation are available elsewhere, the report concentrates on instrument characteristics. The choice and use of instruments are discussed in four sections dealing respectively with sealed gamma-ray sources and sources of x rays and electrons, unsealed radioactive sources, reactors and sealed neutron sources, and accelerators of charged particles. There is a separate section of the report devoted to instruments for monitoring the radiation to which individuals are exposed. The report also includes a discussion of calibration procedures.

In considering various types of instruments, the report discusses good and bad features, but provides no detailed descriptions of particular commercially available instruments. Information on the features of each type and a consideration of specific applications is provided so that specific types of instruments can be selected on an intelligent basis for each application.

Since protection recommendations apply to all types of ionizing radiations, including both electromagnetic and corpuscular radiations capable of producing ions either directly or indirectly, methods of measurement for all these radiations over all ranges of energy that occur in practice are discussed. In general, the development of protection instrumentation has lagged behind the development of new sources of radiation, particularly as radiation energies have increased. One of the objectives of the report is to stimulate the development of reliable protection instrumentation, as well as to encourage the effective utilization of existing instruments.