The argument that well-characterised quasi-monoenergetic neutron (QMN) sources reaching into the energy domain >20 MeV are needed is presented. A brief overview of the existing facilities is given, and a list of key factors that an ideal QMN source for dosimetry and spectrometry should offer is presented. The authors conclude that all of the six QMN facilities currently in existence worldwide operate in sub-optimal conditions for dosimetry. The only currently available QMN facility in Europe capable of operating at energies >40 MeV, TSL in Uppsala, Sweden, is threatened with shutdown in the immediate future. One facility, NFS at GANIL, France, is currently under construction. NFS could deliver QMN beams up to about 30 MeV. It is, however, so far not clear if and when NFS will be able to offer QMN beams or operate with only so-called white neutron beams. It is likely that by 2016, QMN beams with energies >40 MeV will be available only in South Africa and Japan, with none in Europe.

Abingdon Oxfordshire UK

CERN Geneva Switzerland

Department of Physics and Astronomy Uppsala University Box 516 75120 Uppsala Sweden

German Aerospace Center Cologne Germany

iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences Somerset West 7129 South Africa

Paul Scherrer Institut Radiation Metrology Section CH 5232 Villigen PSI Switzerland

Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig Germany

UNSCEAR Secretariat Vienna Austria

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EURADOS STRATEGIC RESEARCH AGENDA 2020: VISION FOR THE DOSIMETRY OF IONISING RADIATION