milliroentgen

The milliroentgen (mR) is a unit of measurement used to express the exposure of ionizing radiation, specifically X-rays and gamma rays, to a material. It is defined as one-thousandth of a roentgen (R), which is the standard unit of measurement for radiation exposure.

The milliroentgen was introduced to provide a more precise and sensitive measure of radiation exposure, as the roentgen is a relatively coarse unit. The conversion factor is such that 1 mR is equal to 100 microroentgens (μR) and 0.001 R.

The milliroentgen is often used in applications where low levels of radiation exposure must be accurately measured, such as in medical and scientific research. It is also used to express the exposure of workers in industrial settings, as mandated by radiation safety regulations.

The measurement of radiation exposure in milliroentgens is typically performed using radiation detectors and dosimeters, which can quantify the amount of radiation absorbed by a material. The results are often reported in terms of the dose equivalent in air, which takes into account the type of radiation, its energy, and the effectiveness of the radiation in producing biological damage.

The milliroentgen is a unit that has been widely adopted in many countries and continues to be used today in various fields. However, it is not the only unit used to express radiation exposure, with other units such as millisieverts (mSv) also being commonly employed. The choice of unit often depends on the context and the specific requirements of the measurement.