Ar. Dulloo et al., Simultaneous measurement of neutron and gamma-ray radiation levels from a TRIGA reactor core using silicon carbide semiconductor detectors, IEEE NUCL S, 46(3), 1999, pp. 275-279
The ability of a silicon carbide radiation detector to measure neutron and
gamma radiation levels in a TRIGA reactor's mixed neutron/gamma field was d
emonstrated. Linear responses to epicadmium neutron fluence rate (up to 3 x
10(7) cm(-2) s(-1)) and to gamma dose rate (0.6 - 234 krad-Si h(-1)) were
obtained with the detector. Axial profiles of the reactor core's neutron an
d gamma-ray radiation levels were successfully generated through sequential
measurements along the length of the core. The SiC detector shows a high l
evel of precision for both neutrons and gamma rays in high-intensity radiat
ion environments - 1.9% for neutrons and better than 0.6% for gamma rays. T
hese results indicate that SiC detectors are well suited for applications s
uch as spent fuel monitoring where measurements in mixed neutron/gamma fiel
ds are desired.