Development of a Plate-Parallel Gridded Ionization Chamber with Gaseous Samples for Fusion Neutronics

Abstract

A plate-parallel gridded ionization chamber (PPGIC) with gaseous samples has been developed for measurement of the (n, alpha) reaction cross sections to evaluate radiation damage and nuclear heating in fusion and for the selection of fusion structural materials. The PPGIC was designed for its applications in an environment with an intense neutron source, like realistic fusion. However, the application of gaseous samples in the PPGIC essentially lower the beam background and in comparison with a conventional WC with a solid sample, the utilization of a gaseous sample has advantages of a very high geometrical efficiency and freedom from the effect of energy loss in sample. We have demonstrated the characteristics of the PPGIC and the possibilities of using the PPGIC with gaseous samples to measure the (n, alpha) reactions for fusion neutronics and nuclear data.