Development of a Silicon Calorimeter for Dosimetry Applications in a Water-Moderated Reactor

• Published in: Journal of ASTM International 2006-11, Vol.3 (10), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Luker, SM, Griffin, PJ, De Priest, KR, King, DB, Naranjo, GE, Suo-Anttila, JS, Keltner, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1546-962X; 1546-962X
• DOI: 10.1520/JAI100380

High fidelity active dosimetry in the mixed neutron/gamma field of a research reactor is a very complex issue. For passive dosimetry applications, the use of activation foils addresses the neutron environment while the use of low neutron response CaF2:Mn thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) addresses the gamma environment. While radiation-hardened diamond photoconducting detectors (PCD) have been developed that provide a very precise fast response (picosecond) dosimeter and can provide a time-dependent profile for the radiation environment, the mixed field response of the PCD is still uncertain and this interferes with the calibration of the PCD response. In order to address the research reactor experimenter's need for a dosimeter that reports silicon dose and dose rate at a test location during a pulsed reactor operation, a silicon calorimeter has been developed. This dosimeter can be used by itself to provide a dose in rad(Si) up to a point in a reactor pulsed operation, or, in conjunction with the diamond PCD, to provide a dose rate. This paper reports on the development, testing, and validation of this silicon calorimeter for applications in water-moderated research reactors.