• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.402-409
• /
• 2024

High energy neutron irradiations impact on structural and electrical properties of alumina are studied with particular emphasis on real time in-situ radiation induced conductivity measurement in low flux region. Polycrystalline Al₂O₃ samples are subjected to high energy neutrons produced from D-T neutron generator and Am-Be neutron source. 14 MeV neutrons from D-T generator are chosen to study the role of fast neutron irradiation in the structural modification of samples. Real time in-situ electrical measurement is performed to investigate the change in insulation resistance of Al₂O₃ due to radiation induced conductivity at low flux regime. During neutron irradiation, a significant transient decrease in insulation resistance is observed which recovers relative higher value just after neutron exposure is switched off. XRD results of 14 MeV neutron irradiated samples suggest annealing effect. Impact of relatively low energy neutrons on the structural properties is also studied using Am-Be neutrons. In this case, clustering is observed on the sample surface after prolonged neutron exposure. The structural characterizations of pristine and irradiated Al₂O₃ samples are performed using XRD, SEM, and EDX. The results from these characterizations are analysed and interpreted in the manuscript.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.715-727
• /
• 2024

During fast neutron imaging, besides the dark current noise and readout noise of the CCD camera, the main noise in fast neutron imaging comes from high-energy gamma rays generated by neutron nuclear reactions in and around the experimental setup. These high-energy gamma rays result in the presence of high-density gamma white spots (GWS) in the fast neutron image. Due to the microscopic quantum characteristics of the neutron beam itself and environmental scattering effects, fast neutron images typically exhibit a mixture of Gaussian noise. Existing denoising methods in neutron images are difficult to handle when dealing with a mixture of GWS and Gaussian noise. Herein we put forward a deep learning approach based on the Swin Transformer UNet (SUNet) model to remove high-density GWS-Gaussian mixture noise from fast neutron images. The improved denoising model utilizes a customized loss function for training, which combines perceptual loss and mean squared error loss to avoid grid-like artifacts caused by using a single perceptual loss. To address the high cost of acquiring real fast neutron images, this study introduces Monte Carlo method to simulate noise data with GWS characteristics by computing the interaction between gamma rays and sensors based on the principle of GWS generation. Ultimately, the experimental scenarios involving simulated neutron noise images and real fast neutron images demonstrate that the proposed method not only improves the quality and signal-to-noise ratio of fast neutron images but also preserves the details of the original images during denoising.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.3133-3139
• /
• 2023

Neutron imaging technology as a means of non-destructive detection of materials is complementary to X-ray imaging. Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), a new type of optical readout device, has overcome some shortcomings of traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT), such as high-power consumption, large volume, high price, uneven gain response, and inability to work in strong magnetic fields. Its application in the field of neutron detection will be an irresistible general trend. In this paper, a thermal neutron imaging detector based on ⁶LiF/ZnS scintillation screen and SiPM array readout was developed. The design of the detector geometry was optimized by geant4 Monte Carlo simulation software. The optimized detector was evaluated with a step wedge sample. The results show that the detector prototype with a 48 mm × 48 mm sensitive area can achieve about 38% detection efficiency and 0.26 mm position resolution when using a 300 ㎛ thick ⁶LiF/ZnS scintillation screen and a 2 mm thick Bk7 optical guide coupled with SiPM array, and has good neutron imaging capability. It provides effective data support for developing high-performance imaging detectors applied to the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.675-680
• /
• 2006

The neutron transmutation doping of silicon (NTD), as a method to produce a high quality semiconductor, utilizes the transmutation of a silicon element into phosphorus by neutron absorption in a silicon single crystal. In this paper, we present the design of a neutron screen for a 6' Si ingot irradiation in the NTD2 hole of HANARO. The goal of the design is to achieve an even flat axial distribution of the resistivity, or $Si^{30}(n,{\gamma})Si^{31}$ reaction rate, in the irradiated Si ingot. We used the MCNP4C code to simulate the neutron screen and to calculate the reaction rate distribution in the Si ingot. The fluctuations in the axial distribution were estimated to be within ${\pm}2.0%$ from the average for the final neutron screen design; thus, they satisfy the customers' requirement for uniform irradiation. On the other hand, we determined the optimal insertion depths of the Si ingots by varying the critical control rod position, which greatly affects the axial flux distribution.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.35-37
• /
• 2005

The radiation detector research group at KAERI has developed a high efficiency neutron detector using a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM). The double GEM was fabricated and operated in an Ar/Isobutane mixture. For an application to a high efficiency neutron detector, $^6Li\;or\;^{10}B$ neutron converters coated on each surface of the multi GEM foils were considered. The optimized thickness of the thin film for a neutron detection was calculated with the MCNP and SRIM. The neutron efficiency was calculated by changing the chemical components of the thin film, and the thickness of the thin film. The thermalized neutrons were measured by a GEM detector with a thin neutron converter on the drift plate.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2023

The effect of thermal annealing on defect recovery of in-core neutron-irradiated 4H-SiC was investigated. Au/SiC Schottky diodes were manufactured using a 4H-SiC epitaxial wafer that was neutron-irradiated at the HANARO research reactor. The electrical characteristics of their epitaxial layers were analyzed under various conditions, including different neutron fluences (1.3 × 10¹⁷ and 2.7 × 10¹⁷ neutrons/cm²) and annealing times (up to 2 h at 1700 ℃). Capacity-voltage measurements showed high carrier compensation in the neutron-irradiated samples and a recovery tendency that increased with annealing time. The carrier density could be recovered up to 77% of the bare sample. Deep-level-transient spectroscopy revealed intrinsic defects of 4H-SiC with energy levels 0.47 and 0.68 eV below the conduction-band edge, which were significantly increased by in-core neutron irradiation. A previously unknown defect with a high electron-capture cross-section was discovered at 0.36 eV below the conduction-band edge. All defect concentrations decreased with 1700 ℃ annealing; the decrease was faster when the defect level was shallow.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.408-420
• /
• 2023

Beryllium oxide (BeO) is being re-emphasized and utilized in Micro Modular Reactors (MMR) because of its prominent nuclear and high temperature properties in recent years. The implications of the research about effects of neutron irradiation on the microstructure and properties of BeO are significant. This article comprehensively reviews the effects of neutron irradiation on BeO and proposes the maximum permissible neutron doses at different temperatures for BeO without cracks in appearance according to the data in the previous literature. This maximum permissible neutron dose value has important reference significance for the experimental study of BeO. The effects of neutron irradiation on the thermal conductivity and flexural strength of BeO are also discussed. In addition, microstructure evolution of irradiated BeO during post-irradiation annealing is summarized. This review article has important implications for the application of BeO in MMR.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2009

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is degraded due to a radiation-induced oxidation when it is used as a neutron moderator in a neutron counter for a nuclear material accounting of spent fuels. The HDPE exposed to the gamma-ray emitted from the fission products in a spent nuclear fuel results in a radiation-induced degradation which changes its original molecular structure to others. So a neutron moderating power variation of HDPE, irradiated by a gamma radiation, was investigated in this work. Five HDPE moderator structures were exposed to the gamma radiation emitted from a $^{60}Co$ source to a level of $10^5-10^9$ rad to compare their post-irradiation properties. As a result of the neutron measurement test with 5 irradiated HDPE structures and a neutron measuring system, it was confirmed that the neutron moderating power for the $10^5$ rad irradiated HDPE moderator revealed the largest decrease when the un-irradiated pure one was used as a reference. It implies that a neutron moderating power variation of HDPE is not directly proportional to the integrated gamma dose rate. To clarify the cause of these changes, some techniques such as a FTIR, an element analysis and a densitometry were employed. As a result of these analyses, it was confirmed that the molecular structure of the gamma irradiated HDPEs had partially changed to others, and the contents of hydrogen and oxygen had varied during the process of a radiation-induced degradation. The mechanism of these changes cannot be explained in detail at present, and thus need further study.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.04a
• /
• pp.94-95
• /
• 2010

The accuracy of typical dosimeters used around high energy accelerator were proved by dose rate measurements. The experimental neutron spectrum were useful for improving high energy Monte Carlo codes by validating the implemented models. In series of this joint research the experimental data will be upgrade successively. This research program is opened to experts and students in Korea, too.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.9
• /
• pp.3012-3017
• /
• 2021

The spatial distribution and the energy spectrum of the neutron yield were investigated with the neutron activation analysis and MCNP simulation was carried out to verify the analysis results and to extend the results to a 3D mapping of the neutron yield distribution in the KSTAR. High purity Ni specimen was selected in the neutron activation analysis. Total neutron yields turned out to be 3.76 × 10¹² n/s - 7.56 × 10¹² n/s at the outer vessel of the KSTAR, two orders of magnitude lower than those at the inner vessel of the KSTAR, which demonstrates the attenuation of neutron yield while passing through the different structural materials of the reactor. Based on the fully expanded 3D simulation results, 2D cross-sectional distributions of the neutron yield on XY and ZX planes of KSTAR were examined. The results reveal that the neutron yield has its maximum concentration near the center of blanket and decreases with increasing proximity to the vacuum vessel wall.