The MADERE radio-activity measurement platform: Developments for a better addressing to the experimental needs.

Abstract

The main goal of the Reactor Dosimetry is to provide information (reaction rates, fluence, fluence rate...) for the interpretation of experiments irradiated in critical mock-up, test reactors or power nuclear reactors. Various techniques are used, including analysis of irradiated activation or fission dosimeters whose radioactivity is measured afterwards.The MADERE platform (Measurement Applied to DosimEtry for REactors) is a CEA facility which is dedicated to the activation dosimeters manufacturing and their activity measurement after irradiation in a nuclear reactor. The laboratory is accredited by the French Accreditation Committee for specific activity measurements of solid samples using gamma and X-rays spectrometry.The choice of dosimeters takes into account limitations coming from the characteristics of the measurement devices. To meet experimenter's new demands, the MADERE platform set out to improve its offer by lowering the energy of measured radiations down to 10 keV, and the activity level down to the tenth of Becquerel (Bq). Doing so, the range of usable dosimeters and by the way, the energy range of the neutron spectrum is expanded.Dosimeter, wires or foils, few millimeters large, are manufactured using ultra-pure material (Gold, Iron, Nickel,...). Some of them are encapsulated in quartz containers for integration into experimental devices.

Characterization of Neutron Reaction Rates in Different Irradiation Channels of the CNESTEN’s TRIGA Mark II Research Reactor

“…Experimentally, the specific activity at the end of irradiation is given by the following formula [8]:…”

Improvement of the activity measurement method for solid dosimeters emitting X-rays

“…The MADERE reactor dosimetry activity measurement platform (Girard et al, 2009) is part of the LDCI lobratory is used to measure the X-ray activity of solid niobium and rhodium dosimeters with thicknesses of 20 µm and 50 µm respectively. It uses two measurement techniques:…”

Local Neutron Flux Distribution Measurements by Wire-Dosimetry in the AMMON Experimental Program in the EOLE Reactor

“…3. After irradiation, the wires were cut into small segments (from 2 to 5 mm-long) and the gold capture rate was measured at the MADERE platform [6]. The wires were measured on the PASTAGA device, which consists of a carousel equipped with 4 NaI detectors, allowing measurements of up to 51 samples.…”