NUCLEAR-OPTICAL CONVERTERS FOR NEUTRON DETECTION

摘要

Nuclear-optical converters (NOC) are fission chambers based upon fission fragment energyrnconversion to optical radiation in gas luminescent media. The All-Russia Scientific ResearchrnInstitute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF) has demonstrated that it is possible to constructrnnuclear-optical converters with characteristics appropriate for a wide-range of measuringrnapplications including neutron detection in nuclear power plants. These detectors may be used arnnumber of different modes: pulse count, luminescent (equivalent to current mode in ionizationrndetectors), and lasing (essentially a neutron switch).rnNOCs offer a number of potential advantages over ionization detectors. The detectorsrnrequire no power supply. Signals are transmitted via light-pipe or fiber optics rather than insulatedrnelectrical cable. The detectors are less sensitive to gamma radiation. NOC can produce largernsignals, obviating the need for pre-amplifiers near the detector. It is possible to construct a singlerndetector which measures flux at many discrete points and at the same time provides total flux alongrna line containing these discrete points.rnThis paper describes the construction and testing of NOC at VNIIEF; the range ofrncharacteristics thought to be reasonably attainable with nuclear-optical converters, and possiblernapplications to nuclear power plant instrumentation.