Problems related to the employment of thin uranium films as neutron dosimeters

Abstract Thin uranium films built on muscovite mica basis and obsidian samples having known ages were irradiated with thermal neutrons at the IPEN/CNEN reactor, Sao Paulo. Comparing thin film performance with the obsidian one, it was observed that the latter “feel” a greater neutron fluence. Nominal fluences at the used facility are in agreement with the results obtained analysing the obsidian samples. A probable hypothesis to explain this disagreement, namely, the uranium loss from the thin films, was ruled out.