Radiation shielding design requirement in the proton energy measurement facility at DECY-13 cyclotron

Abstract

The DECY-13 cyclotron is expected to produce a maximum energy of protons beam of 13 MeV. For testing the proton energy, a device for measuring photon energy using a stacked copper foil activation technique is currently being constructed. The activation caused the collision of a proton with copper foils and reactions of 63Cu(p,n)63Zn and 65Cu(p,n)65Zn have happened. These nuclear reactions produce neutron and gamma radiations; therefore, a study of radiation safety aspects is required to protect the hazard in the experiment of proton energy measurement. The study consists of designing for shielding construction based on radiation safety criteria and mainly determining the thickness of the shielding. The shielding material was portland cement concrete of K500 with a density of 2.3 gr/cm3. By setting a safe maximum dose rate of 50 mSv/year in the position of 350 cm from the neutron radiation source and the proton beam current was taken 1 μA, the required minimum thickness of concrete shielding was 110 cm.