[en] Management of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies arising from Radiological Dispersive Devices, Improvised Nuclear Devices, Nuclear Reactors/Power plants and Nuclear War require measurement of ionizing radiations and radioactivity on an enhanced scale relative to the levels encountered in peaceful uses of ionizing radiations and radioactivity

[en] Management of Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies arising from Radiological Dispersive Device (RDD), Improvised Nuclear Devices (IND), Nuclear Reactors/Power plants and Nuclear War require measurement of ionizing radiations and radioactivity on an enhanced scale relative to the levels encountered in peaceful uses of ionizing radiations and radioactivity. It is heartening that since Hiroshima, Nagasaki nuclear disaster, the world has been quiet but since early 2000 there has been a fear of certain devices to be used by terrorists, which could lead to panic, and disaster due to dispersal of radioactivity by RDD, IND. Nuclear attack would lead to blast, thermal, initial nuclear radiation, nuclear fall out leading to gamma and neutron dose, dose rates in range from few R, R/h to kR, kR/h, and determinations of k Bq or higher order. Such situations have been visualized at national levels and National Disaster Management Authority NDMA has been established and Disaster Management Act 2005 has come into existence. NDMA has prepared guidelines for Nuclear and radiological emergency management highlighting preparedness, mitigation, response, capacity building, etc. Critical point in all these issues is detection of emergency, quick intimation to the concerned for action in shortest possible time. Upper most requirement by those involved in pursuing action, is radiation sensor based radiation monitors for personnel, area, and to assess contamination due to radioactivity.This presentation briefly describes the Indian scenario in the development of the radiation sensors and the sensor-based radiation monitors. (author)

[en] Nuclear detonations are the most devastating of the weapons of mass destruction. There will be large number of casualties on detonation of nuclear weapon. Biological tissues like bone, skin, amniotic membrane and other soft tissues can be used for repair or reconstruction of the injured part of the body. Tissues from human donor can be processed and banked for orthopaedic, spinal, trauma and other surgical procedures. Radiation technology is used to sterilize the tissues to make them safe for clinical use. This paper highlights the importance of such banked tissues in the management of the casualties. (author)

[en] Reflected spectra from various scatterers reveal a low energy multiply-scattered photon peak around 60 keV irrespective of incident energy and the scatterer. The intensity of low energy multiply scattered peak has been related to the identification of the scatterer using the concept of Hounsfield number for thicknesses of scatterer approximately 1mfp for incident gamma ray energy. (author)

[en] Verification of the radiation dose received by the area exposed during medical treatment is essential for the evaluation of any radiation therapy regime. This paper describes the thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of Rajasthan sand for its use as a low cost disposal TL gamma dosimeter in radiotherapy treatment. The TL parameters, including glow curve, dose response, energy response, dose rate response and fading characteristics, have been studied in detail. A linear response from a few cGy to 2000 cGy with a minimum detectable dose of 3 cGy has been observed. (author)

[en] Short communication

[en] The thermoluminescent (TL) properties of typical sand from Rajasthan has been studied for possible use as high dose gamma dosimeter. The change in shape of glow curve with gamma dose and the intercomparison results of this dosimeter with national standards in the dose range 0.05-5.0 kGy are reported

[en] Defence vehicles like battle tanks, Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) and other tracked vehicles can operate in areas affected by hazardous radionuclide due to a nuclear disaster. Collective protection system is employed in such vehicles which consist of Initial Nuclear Radiation (INR) sensors, gamma radiation monitors, Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) filters, sealing and overpressure system, various activation and control mechanisms for the air handling and other mechanical sub systems. The INR sensors detect the prompt INR pulse and activate the automatic NBC system and provide protection from the blast waves. The gamma radiation monitors measures the radiation levels in the contaminated area. The various sub-systems of NBC protection system operate in a definite sequence to provide the required protection of crew and equipment of the defence vehicles. Reliable operation of the protection system in the harsh environment of the defence vehicles, which operate in the extremes of climate, mechanical stress, and electromagnetic environment, is most essential. (author)

[en] The quality of radiation-processed (blood, animal, medical and R and D) material is mostly dependent on how accurately the radiation dose has been delivered to the material. Chemical (Fricke, FBX and Ceric-cerous), ESR and TL are few processes on which high dose (kGy range) dosimetry is based. Applications of general-purpose glasses have been reported to for its use as high dose gamma dosimetry using, TL, OD (Optical Density) and spectro-photometric techniques in recent past. The dose distributions in the irradiation volume of gamma chamber are not perfectly homogeneous and variations reported within ± 25%. If dose in-homogeneity within the chamber is not under one's control, at least it should be known for dosimetry correction and uncertainty evaluation in the irradiated samples. Authors have employed general-purpose transparent glass plate for evaluating the dose distribution in any close type gamma chamber and results are presented

[en] Ever since the tragedy of nuclear device exploding over Japan by USA in 1945 awareness exists amongst the armed forces personnel all over the world that a requirement of implementing radiological protection is imminent. Towards this adoption of radiological safety programme is a criterion. In a nuclear war disaster scenario, one encounters initial nuclear radiation (gamma and neutron radiations), gamma radiations from fallout, heat and blast. At certain distances Tanks/ armoured vehicles will survive and 4 R/s radiation level sensing to actuate relays for closing the ports of vehicles is essential, leading to reduction in inhalation, ingestion of fallout radioactivity and reduction in radiation dose received by occupants of the vehicle. Towards this sturdy radiation monitors to indicate gamma dose rate of the order of 1000 R/h, gamma and neutron dosimeters of the order of 1000 cGy with reading instruments are to be developed. These must work in harsh environment and sustain JSS 55555 conditions of army. Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur over past one decade has been involved in developing personnel, area and field monitoring instruments like dosimeters, survey meters, which are useful, acceptable to army personnel, armoured and personnel carrier vehicles, field structures/shelters. Technology transfer after satisfaction of armed forces, product ionisation and supply, maintenance, training has been the endeavor of the DRDO. Herein it is proposed to highlight the techno electronics nuclear radiation monitoring sensors and associated electronics systems developed first time in the country and productionised in bulk for Services for implementing personnel protection. The sensors developed and described are - Radiophotoluminescent Glass (RPLG) for gamma radiation dosimetry , neutron sensitive PIN diode for fast neutron dosimetry, gamma radiation sensitive PIN diode, superheated liquid neutron and gamma sensors. The dosimeter, dose rate meter and field/area instruments are Radiacmeter Personal Locket (RPL) dosimeter with microcontroller base RPLD Reader, superheated liquid neutron and gamma sensor, MOSFET as a gamma dosimeter, optical fiber and organic semiconductor as a gamma dosimeter, GM tube base Portable Dose Rate Meter, Pocket Dosimeter and dose rate meter for radiation dose/dose rate up to 1000 cGy and 1000 R/h. It may be noted that such rugged instruments are available with various army units in the world but import by India to meet its requirement due to certain reasons is extremely difficult. Modern radiation monitors are becoming fast response, compact by use of semiconductors as a radiation sensor. (author)