American Journal of Modern Physics

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Characterization of Neutron Field in a Spherical Irradiation Facility

Received: 01 August 2015    Accepted: 15 August 2015    Published: 29 August 2015
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Abstract

A small-sized dual-hemisphere irradiation facility designed and constructed for using Am-Be isotopic neutron source to study and characterize the neutron field around sample irradiation position for obtaining maximum thermal neutron flux. The foil activation method based on 115In and 197Au was used for monitoring the thermal neutron flux. For field characterization, several combinations of moderation media have been tested (air, sand and water) aiming at the identification of the best combinational setups for sample irradiations using thermal neutrons. To account for epithermal contribution, reaction rates and flux calculations were corrected using tabulated values of Westcott g-factors and resonance integrals for these media. The optimal position for sample irradiation using thermal neutron for both water-water and water-sand setups, inside the irradiation channel, was found at about 6.9 to 10.9 cm from the center of the neutron source.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13
Published in American Journal of Modern Physics (Volume 4, Issue 5, September 2015)
Page(s) 232-239
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Irradiation Facility, Am-Be Neutron Source, Source Shielding, Neutron House

References
[1] M. Tohamy, M. Fayez-Hassan, S. Abd El-Ghany, S.M. El-Minyawi, M.M. Abd El-Khalik and M.N.H. Comsan, “A Dual-Hemisphere Irradiation Facility for 241Am-Be Isotopic Neutron Source”, Journal of Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Vol. 5 No. 1&2, 51, (2010), http://www.physicsegypt.org/jnrp/
[2] R. B. M. Sogbadji, B. J. B. Nyarko, E. H. K. Akaho, R. G. Abrefah, Determination of Neutron Fluxes and Spectrum Shaping Factors in Irradiation Sites of Ghana’s Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (mnsr) by Activation Method after Compensation of Loss of Excess Reactivity, World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 1, pp. 50-56, 2011.
[3] Parisa Akhlaghi, Laleh Rafat-Motavalli and Seyed Hashem Miri-Hkimabad, The measurements of thermal neutron flux distribution in a paraffin phantom, Pramana journal of physics, Vol. 80, No. 5, pp. 873–885, 2013
[4] E. Mensimah, R.G. Abrefah, B.J.B. Nyarko, J.J. Fletcher, M. Asamoah, Neutron flux determination in irradiation sites of an Am–Be neutron source at NNRI, Annals of Nuclear Energy, Vol. 38, pp. 2303–2308, 2011.
[5] ICRP, Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP-60, (1991).
[6] “Handbook on Nuclear Activation Data”, IAEA, Technical Report Series No.273, Vienna, (1987).
[7] I. S. Grigoriev, and E. Z. Meilikhov, (Eds.),”Handbook of Physical Quantities”, Moscow, Russia, CRC Press, (1997).
[8] C. H. Westcott, “Effective Cross Section Values for Well-Moderated Thermal Reactor Spectra”, AECL-110, (1960).
[9] E. Gryntkis, D. E. Cullen and G. Mundy, “Thermal neutron cross-section and infinite dilution Resonance integrals” as a part of reference[3].
[10] S.F. Mughabghab, M. Divadeenam, and N. E. Holden, “Neutron Cross Sections (Vol.1), Neutron Resonance Parameters and Thermal Cross Sections”, Academic Press, New York, (1981).
[11] M. Tohamy, “Optimization of Neutron Field in Neutron Irradiation Facility” M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 2009.
Author Information
  • Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Centre, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt,

  • Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Centre, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt,

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girl's Branch), Cairo, Egypt

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girl's Branch), Cairo, Egypt

  • Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Centre, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt,

  • Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Centre, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt,

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  • APA Style

    M. Tohamy, M. Fayez-Hassan, S. Abd El-Ghany, S. M. El-Minyawi, M. M. Abd El-Khalik, et al. (2015). Characterization of Neutron Field in a Spherical Irradiation Facility. American Journal of Modern Physics, 4(5), 232-239. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13

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    ACS Style

    M. Tohamy; M. Fayez-Hassan; S. Abd El-Ghany; S. M. El-Minyawi; M. M. Abd El-Khalik, et al. Characterization of Neutron Field in a Spherical Irradiation Facility. Am. J. Mod. Phys. 2015, 4(5), 232-239. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13

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    AMA Style

    M. Tohamy, M. Fayez-Hassan, S. Abd El-Ghany, S. M. El-Minyawi, M. M. Abd El-Khalik, et al. Characterization of Neutron Field in a Spherical Irradiation Facility. Am J Mod Phys. 2015;4(5):232-239. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13,
      author = {M. Tohamy and M. Fayez-Hassan and S. Abd El-Ghany and S. M. El-Minyawi and M. M. Abd El-Khalik and M. N. H. Comsan},
      title = {Characterization of Neutron Field in a Spherical Irradiation Facility},
      journal = {American Journal of Modern Physics},
      volume = {4},
      number = {5},
      pages = {232-239},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20150405.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmp.20150405.13},
      abstract = {A small-sized dual-hemisphere irradiation facility designed and constructed for using Am-Be isotopic neutron source to study and characterize the neutron field around sample irradiation position for obtaining maximum thermal neutron flux. The foil activation method based on 115In and 197Au was used for monitoring the thermal neutron flux. For field characterization, several combinations of moderation media have been tested (air, sand and water) aiming at the identification of the best combinational setups for sample irradiations using thermal neutrons. To account for epithermal contribution, reaction rates and flux calculations were corrected using tabulated values of Westcott g-factors and resonance integrals for these media. The optimal position for sample irradiation using thermal neutron for both water-water and water-sand setups, inside the irradiation channel, was found at about 6.9 to 10.9 cm from the center of the neutron source.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AU  - M. Tohamy
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    AU  - S. Abd El-Ghany
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    AB  - A small-sized dual-hemisphere irradiation facility designed and constructed for using Am-Be isotopic neutron source to study and characterize the neutron field around sample irradiation position for obtaining maximum thermal neutron flux. The foil activation method based on 115In and 197Au was used for monitoring the thermal neutron flux. For field characterization, several combinations of moderation media have been tested (air, sand and water) aiming at the identification of the best combinational setups for sample irradiations using thermal neutrons. To account for epithermal contribution, reaction rates and flux calculations were corrected using tabulated values of Westcott g-factors and resonance integrals for these media. The optimal position for sample irradiation using thermal neutron for both water-water and water-sand setups, inside the irradiation channel, was found at about 6.9 to 10.9 cm from the center of the neutron source.
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