Speaker
Description
Instrumentation and measurement methods in nuclear environments are key aspects
that contribute to the quality of scientific and technological programs in the fields of
physics, energy, nuclear fuel cycle, safeguards and radioactive waste management.
Furthermore, measurements relying on nuclear physics now play an important role in
various fields of application such as biology, medicine and environment.
For nuclear physics and technology side, nuclear power and/or experimental/research
reactors are widely used around the world for various purposes, such as energy
production, irradiation of material or fuel samples for present and future power reactors,
safety studies, assessment of neutronic parameters (such as neutron absorption cross
sections or reaction rates), production of artificial radio-elements, etc.
The lecture will focus on nuclear radiation detection and measurement. It will start from
the physical principles by presenting the basics, performances and limitations of the
main nuclear radiation detectors used in the frame of nuclear measurement and
monitoring needs such as:
- Gaseous detectors (fission chambers, proportional counters, GM),
- Scintillators and semi-conductors with neutron convertor materials/layers
- Self-Powered Neutron Detectors (SPND)
- Activation detectors/Dosimeters
The course will first give reminders about the interactions of radiations with matter that
are involved in ray detection.
Some example of applications dealing with nuclear non-destructive measurements will
be presented.
Furthermore, second lectures will deal with the radiation instrumentation and
measurement for nuclear fission and more specifically for nuclear reactor uses and
applications. Examples, performances and challenges as well as some
recommendations will be given.
