Characterization Measurements of Compact Neutron Generators of the New NILE Facility

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 70; no. 8; p. 1
• Main Authors: Cazzaniga, Carlo, Dapica, Paula Luna, Ngo, Khai, Paoletti, Michela, Smith, Veronica, Brown, Craig, Tardocchi, Marco, Cippo, Enrico Perelli, Rigamonti, Davide, Colombi, Stefano, Lilley, Steven, Kastriotou, Maria, Frost, Christopher D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-08-2023; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: activation foils; Detectors; Deuterium; diamond detectors; Diamonds; Dosimeters; Dosimetry; Electronics; Foils; Generators; Irradiation; Monitoring; Neutron beams; Neutron flux; Neutron generators; Neutron irradiation; Neutrons; Radiation; Scintillation counters; Scintillators; Spectrometers; Spectroscopy; Testing; Tritium; Zirconium
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2023.3293797

Two compact generators of 14 MeV and 2.5 MeV neutrons have been installed in the new NILE facility. Neutrons are produced by Deuterium-Deuterium and Deuterium-Tritium fusion reactions. The facility has been designed with the assistance of Monte Carlo calculations. Here we present neutron measurements with multiple techniques for the characterization of the radiation field and dosimetry. Activation foils are used as a standard technique for passive measurements of neutron fluxes. Active detectors, like fission chambers, are used mainly as online neutron monitor. Diamond detectors are applied with the main purpose of high-resolution neutron spectroscopy. Scintillators are used as neutron monitors and spectrometers with the additional capability of neutron/gamma discrimination. The characterised neutron beams will be mainly applied for testing of electronics.