Neutron detection at jet using artificial diamond detectors

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design Vol. 82; no. 5; pp. 1174 - 1178
• Main Authors: Pillon, M., Angelone, M., Lattanzi, D., Marinelli, M., Milani, E., Tucciarone, A., Verona-Rinati, G., Popovichev, S., Montereali, R.M., Vincenti, M.A., Murari, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-10-2007; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; CVD diamond neutron detectors; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Fusion neutrons detection; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Neutron diagnostics; Nuclear fuels; Preparation and processing of nuclear fuels; Neutron diagnostics; CVD diamond neutron detectors; Fusion neutrons detection; High resolution; Lithium fluoride; Nuclear fuel; Chemical vapor deposition; Nuclear fusion reactor; Gamma radiation; Uranium; High energy; Quality; Charged particle; Reliability; Particle detector
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2007.05.021

Artificial diamond neutron detectors recently proved to be promising devices to measure the neutron production on large experimental fusion machines. Diamond detectors are very promising detectors to be used in fusion environment due to their radiation hardness, low sensitivity to gamma rays, fast response and high energy resolution. High quality “electronic grade” diamond films are produced through microwave chemical vapour deposition (CVD) technique. Two CVD diamond detectors have been installed and operated at joint European torus (JET), Culham Science Centre, UK. One of these detectors was a polycrystalline CVD diamond film; about 12
mm
2 area and 30
μm thickness while the second was a monocrystalline film of about 5
mm
2 area and 20
μm thick. Both diamonds were covered with 2
μm of lithium fluoride (LiF) 95% enriched in
6Li. The LiF layer works as a neutron-to-charged particle converter so these detectors can measure thermalized neutrons. Their output signals were compared to JET total neutron yield monitors (KN1 diagnostic) realized with a set of uranium fission chambers. Despite their small active volumes the diamond detectors were able to measure total neutron yields with good reliability and stability during the recent JET experimental campaign of 2006.