Neutron detection of the Triga Mark III reactor, using nuclear track methodology

Abstract

Abstract. Nuclear Track Methodology (NTM), based on the neutron-proton interaction is one often employed alternative for neutron detection. In this paper we apply NTM to determine the Triga Mark III reactor operating power and neutron flux. The facility nuclear core, loaded with 85 Highly Enriched Uranium as fuel with control rods in a demineralized water pool, provide a neutron flux around 2 x 10 12 n cm -2 s -1 , at the irradiation channel TO-2. The neutron field is measured at this channel, using Landauer ® PADC as neutron detection material, covered by 3 mm Plexiglas ® as converter. After exposure, plastic detectors were chemically etched to make observable the formed latent tracks induced by proton recoils. The track density was determined by a custom made Digital Image Analysis System. The resulting average nuclear track density shows a direct proportionality response for reactor power in the range 0.1-7 kW. We indicate several advantages of the technique including the possibility to calibrate the neutron flux density measured at low reactor power.

Analysis and characterization of neutron scattering of a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) on medical applications.

“…To measure neutron scattering concentration levels in the treatment room [3,5,8] a device developed at the PAD-IFUNAM was employed. This device is constituted by a radiation sensitive detector, a moderator material, a plastic round box, where the detector and the moderator are placed, and foam to hold the materials inside the plastic box.…”

Physics reach of a low threshold scintillating argon bubble chamber in coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering reactor experiments

“…Neutrons produced by the reactor core are estimated using a measurement at ININ performed as part of the radiation programme [29,30]. Nuclear recoils produced by (γ, n) reactions and Thomson (γ-nucleus elastic) scattering [31] from γ-rays produced by the reactor are estimated using a gamma flux simulation for a TRIGA Mark III reactor, obtained with an MCNP model of the core [6].…”