DocumentCode :
1079784
Title :
Development of the DT 
GEM: A Gas Electron Multiplier Detector for Neutron Diagnostics in Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion
Author :
Villari, R. ; Angelone, M. ; Esposito, B. ; Ferrari, A. ; Marocco, D. ; Murtas, F. ; Pillon, M.
Author_Institution :
Fusion, Technol. & Nucl. Presidium Dept., Italian Nat. Agency for New Technol., Energy & Environ., Rome
Volume :
56
Issue :
3
fYear :
2009
fDate :
6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
1102
Lastpage :
1107
Abstract :
A new neutron flux monitor for fusion applications (DT _GEM) has been developed by means of a triple-GEM (Gas Electron Multiplier), a proton recoil converter and a low energy proton absorber. The design and the optimization for the detection of 14 MeV neutrons have been performed using MCNPX and FLUKA Monte Carlo Codes and the detector has been tested under 14 MeV neutron irradiation at the Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG). Polyethylene is used as a converter and an aluminum absorber sheet covers a triple 10 times 10 cm2 GEM filled with an Ar/CO2/CF4 gas mixture. The detector is read out with 64 pads (10 times 6 mm2) in a 4 times 16 matrix. The DT_ GEM design and the results of the first tests performed at FNG are presented and discussed in this paper. Excellent performances at high count rates in transient neutron flux, good efficiency, low sensitivity to gamma radiation and high voltage stability under irradiation make the DT_GEM a promising detector for neutron diagnostics in fusion.
Keywords :
Monte Carlo methods; argon; carbon compounds; electron multiplier detectors; fusion reactors; gamma-ray effects; gas scintillation detectors; neutron detection; neutron effects; neutron flux; position sensitive particle detectors; Ar; Ar/CO2/CF4 gas mixture; CF4; CO2; FLUKA; MCNPX; Monte Carlo codes; aluminum absorber sheet; electron volt energy 14 MeV; gamma radiation; gas electron multiplier detector; neutron diagnostics; neutron flux; neutron irradiation; polyethylene; proton absorber; proton recoil converter; size 10 cm; size 10 mm; size 6 mm; thermonuclear fusion; Design optimization; Detectors; Electron multipliers; Monitoring; Monte Carlo methods; Neutrons; Performance evaluation; Polyethylene; Protons; Testing; Fusion diagnostics; GEM; neutron detector;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0018-9499
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.2009.2017924
Filename :
5076077
Link To Document :
