Computational Radiation Dosimetry in Primary Metrology, Medicine and Security Applications
Physical Measurement Laboratory, Radiation Physics Division
Please note: This Agency only participates in the February and August reviews.
Computations are a necessity in determining radiation dose in most situations where an evaluation of such doses is important. At the fundamental level, computations correct artifacts in measurements to provide national standards of the absorbed dose to water or of air kerma. In the realm of health care, predictive calculations are used to define treatment plans for tumors. In Homeland Security, computations provide guidance to evaluation of equipment. The Dosimetry Group of the Radiation Physics Division of the NIST has addressed problems in all of these areas in recent times and will continue to do so as such technology is deployed. We primarily develop and use Monte Carlo transport methods or codes to perform these calculations.