Re: Accelerator vs. X-ray unit

["baumbaug@nosc.mil" <baumbaug@nosc.mil>]

        Steve,

        I'm replying to the net in case this is of some interest to others
on the listserver.

        The State of California, Radiation Control Regulations, Title 17,
Health section 30336 "may" be what you are looking for.  I believe that your
accelerator may fall under the "broad" classification of a "cabinet
radiography" unit.

        I have a similar unit at my facility, and although I work for the
Navy, my unit (after first being classed as an accelerator) has been
"downgraded" into "cabinet x-ray" status.  Stripping of the electron(s) does
produce some "soft" x-rays, but the ion itself hitting the "target" would
not produce any bremstrahlung x-rays.  Therefore it does not actually fit
the definition of an x-ray accelerator any more than a child's
sling-shot...[grin].

        I am only offering "my" opinion here - I am certainly not an expert
in regulations... If you wish a fax of the section in Title 17 so that you
may form your "own" opinion,  please contact me and I'll send you a copy.


        Joel


        STD Disclaimer.  This is my opinion and MY opinion only!   The Fed.
Govt., the Navy and my supervisor(s) "may" not agree with what I've written
above..


        


At 11:12 AM 5/2/97 -0500, you wrote:
>		
>
>Does anyone have a state or federal regulation which defines accelerators
>and x-ray units.  In our state regulations we have definitions for 
>Analytical X-ray units - x-ray diffraction and fluorescence, and
>Analytical X-ray systems - components utilizing x or gamma rays to
>determine elemental composition or microstructure analysis, but we do not
>have a defintion of any other type of unit (exclude medical) such as the
>broad category of "research accelerator which produced X-rays incident to
>its operation."  Specifically I have a 300 kev at 6uA unit that is an
>accelerator, right now for hydrogen ions.  This is an accelerator but it
>will not need all the bells and whistles that our 1 Mev+ units need to
>have.  It is overkill to apply all the precautions of an accelerator to
>this unit.
>
>Exposure measurements are background on the unit at all places along the
>beam line with the exception of one spot at the beginning of the line.
>Though here the exposure is only .5 mr/hr on contact.  An x-ray tube unit
>limit it 2.5 mr in an hour under our state regulations.
>
>How do other places handle their accelerator and x-ray units that do not
>match the exact definition in their regulations ?  Does your state
>licensing board issue guidelines on this ?
>
>thank you, you may reply to my email address below or to the radsafe
>listserver for the benefit of others.
>
>steve hand
>UMCP
>hand@wam.umd.edu
>
>
>
Joel T. Baumbaugh (baumbaug@nosc.mil)
Naval Research and Development (NRaD)
San Diego, CA., U.S.A.