Noise thermometry for nuclear applications

The effects of nuclear radiations on conventional thermocouples (type K, C and N) mainly used in irradiation experiments may create significant drifts of the signals. In order to solve these difficulties, the Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique has started to develop and qualify in laboratory conditions a miniature device, which combines a noise thermometer and thermocouples, for a future application in a research reactor. In this paper, a particular approach of a combined noise thermometer- thermocouples is described. Although the aim of the method is to cover temperatures over 1000°C, present measurements are realized in laboratory at 300°C which is the mean temperature in materials irradiation experiments.