Neutron cross sections for nonelastic and elastic reactions on a range of elements have been evaluated for incident energies up to 150 MeV. These cross sections agree well with experimental cross section data for charged-particle production as well as neutron and photon production. Therefore they can be used to determine kerma coefficients for calculations of energy deposition by neutrons in matter. Methods used to evaluate the neutron cross sections above 20 MeV, using nuclear model calculations and experimental data, are described. Below 20 MeV, the evaluated cross sections from the ENDF/B-VI library are adopted. Comparisons are shown between the evaluated charged-particle production cross sections and measured data. Kerma coefficients are derived from the neutron cross sections, for major isotopes of H, C, N, O, Al, Si, P, Ca, Fe, Cu, W, Pb, and for ICRU-muscle, A-150 tissue-equivalent plastic, and other compounds important for treatment planning and dosimetry. Numerous comparisons are made between our kerma coefficients and experimental kerma coefficient data, to validate our results, and agreement is found to be good. An important quantity in neutron dosimetry is the kerma coefficient ratio of ICRU-muscle to A-150 plastic. When this ratio is calculated from our kerma coefficient data, and averaged over the neutron energy spectra for higher-energy clinical therapy beams [three p (68) + Be beams, and a d (48.5) + Be beam], a value of 0.94 +/- 0.03 is obtained. Kerma ratios for water to A-150 plastic, and carbon to oxygen, are also compared with measurements where available.

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As a result of the recent recommendations of the ICRP 60, and in anticipation of possible regulation on occupational exposure of Canadian-based aircrew, an extensive study was carried out by the Royal Military College of Canada over a one-year period to measure the cosmic radiation at commercial jet altitudes. A tissue-equivalent proportional counter was used to measure the ambient total dose equivalent rate on 62 flight routes, resulting in over 20,000 data points at one-minute intervals at various altitudes and geomagnetic latitudes (i.e. which span the full cut-off rigidity of the Earth's magnetic field). These data were then compared to similar experimental work at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt, using a different suite of equipment, to measure separately the low and high linear energy transfer components of the mixed radiation field, and to predictions with the LUIN transport code. All experimental and theoretical results were in excellent agreement. From these data, a semiempirical model was developed to allow for the interpolation of the dose rate for any global position, altitude and date (i.e. heliocentric potential). Through integration of the dose rate function over a great circle flight path, a computer code was developed to provide an estimate of the total dose equivalent on any route worldwide at any period in the solar cycle.

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