Application of microstrip gas chambers as neutron detectors in controlled thermonuclear fusion experiments

The generation of fusion power in controlled thermonuclear fusion experiments is assessed by recording neutron emission from the plasma. The neutron diagnostic systems of present tokamaks routinely use gaseous detectors which can operate only within a limited dynamic range, from two up to three decades in the pulse counting mode. The MicroStrip Gas Chambers (MSGCs), due to their higher rate capability, can play an important role as new neutron detectors with larger operational range (four or more decades). The application of MSGCs for the measurement of the neutron emission on the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU) is presented. A new method for detecting 14 MeV fusion neutrons in the next-stage tokamak devices by means of a MSGC and a Pd converter is also discussed.