Detection of Ionizing Radiation

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Nuclear Reactors

Synopsis:

Students will get acquainted with several typical experiments which are widely applied in a field of nuclear safety and forensics; both theoretically (lectures) and practically (laboratory exercises). These methods are namely: neutron, alpha, beta and gamma radiation detection and spectrometry, surface radioactive contamination measurement, pulse shape discrimination, coincidence measurements, and integral dosimetry. Students know these methods from the common praxis, as well as from the previous study. However, here more detailed information is provided in both lectures and

exercises. Students will learn how to optimize the experimental set-up according to the particular situation in dependence upon the requested result (the dedicated application). Absolvent will be able to select suitable detection technology for various applications, correctly design the experimental set-up, operate it, and evaluate the acquired data.

Requirements:

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Spectrometry of gamma radiation, absorbed energy spectrum, spectrometric electronics, selected gamma spectrometry applications

2. Neutron detection and spectrometry, spectrometry using Bonner spheres, influence of gamma radiation on detector response

3. Spectrometry and detection of alpha and beta radiation, typical detectors of charged particles

4. Detector signal processing, pulse shape characterization methods, alpha/beta and neutron/gamma discrimination

5. Coincidence and anticoincidence circuits, time spectrometry as an alternative of coincidence measurement

6. Integrating dosimeters of gamma radiation and neutrons in personal dosimetry

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Measurement of radioactivity with different count rates using gamma spectrometry

2. Neutron spectrometry using Bonner spheres, amplitude discrimination neutron/gamma, neutron detection efficiency measurement

3. Spectrometry of alpha and beta radiation using silicon detector

4. Shape of the pulse in a scintillation counter

5. Anticompton spectrometer circuit design and its application for gamma radiation spectrometry

6. Evaluation of thermoluminescence dosimeters

Study Objective:

Study materials:

Ahmed, S. N.: Physics & Engineering of Radiation Detection, Elsevier, 2nd edition, 2015

Knoll, G.F.:Radiation Detection and Measurement, 4th edition, John Wiley, 2010

Maheshwar S., Madhuri S.: Nuclear Chemistry: Detection and Analysis of Radiation, 2019

Note:

Further information:

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans: