Production and measurement of flash X-ray dose rates in excess of 10/sup 13/ RAD (CaF/sub 2/)/s

The radiation field from an intense reusable source of flash X-rays that delivers a measured peak dose and dose rate of 370+or-60 krad (CaF/sub 2/) and (3.5 +or-0.7)*10/sup 13/ rad (CaF/sub 2/)/s over a useful area of 80 cm/sup 2/ is characterized. CaF/sub 2/:Mn TLDs (thermoluminescent dosimeters), which are used to measure the dose field, are shown to be dose-rate independent within +or-15% up to this level. Energy deposition in the CaF/sub 2/ TLD chip was analyzed according to the origin of the electrons responsible for that deposition with a new computational tool.<>