A low-level activation technique for monitoring thermonuclear fusion plasma conditions

Joël Gasparro; Mikael Hult; Georges Bonheure; Peter N Johnston

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.02.009

A low-level activation technique for monitoring thermonuclear fusion plasma conditions

Appl Radiat Isot. 2006 Oct-Nov;64(10-11):1130-5. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.02.009. Epub 2006 Mar 31.

Authors

Joël Gasparro¹, Mikael Hult, Georges Bonheure, Peter N Johnston

Affiliation

¹ EC-JRC-IRMM, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, B-2440 Geel, Belgium.

PMID: 16580838
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2006.02.009

Abstract

Optimisation of the confinement and sustainability of a thermonuclear plasma requires methods to monitor processes in the plasma. In this work three materials were used as activation targets (Ti, MgF2 and a TiVAl compound). They were placed inside the joint European Torus (JET) vacuum chamber. Certain gamma-ray emitting radionuclides (7Be, 54Mn, 56Co, 57Co, 58Co and 46Sc) were measured using ultra low-level gamma-ray spectrometry in an underground laboratory 1-2 months after activation. They were found to arise from neutron activation of bulk sample material and surface contaminants sputtered from other Tokamak parts. Decision thresholds for some activation products were determined in order to aid in giving upper bounds for the flux of charged particles.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Gamma Rays*
Gases / analysis*
Hot Temperature
Microchemistry / methods*
Nuclear Fusion*
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Monitoring / methods*
Radioisotopes / analysis*
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spectrometry, Gamma / methods*

Substances

Gases
Radioisotopes