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Title: Operation of {sup 3}He Proportional Chambers in High Gamma Radiation Fields

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/15042· OSTI ID:15042

Operation of {sup 3}He proportional chambers with irradiated fissile materials is limited because of the sensitivity of these chambers to gamma ray events. The optimum performance of these chambers is achieved with proper selection of an additive gas to the chambers and with proper choice of preamplifier and linear amplifier time constants. The counting efficiency of a 4-atm, {sup 3}He-CO2 chamber is improved from 35% to 43% in a 200 R/hr gamma radiation field by decreasing the linear amplifier time constant. Likewise, the counting efficiency of a 1-atm, {sup 3}He-CF4 is improved from 11% to 14% in a 200 R/hr gamma radiation field by decreasing the linear amplifier time constant. The 4-atm, {sup 3}He-CO2 1-in.-OD chamber has a higher efficiency than the 1-atm, {sup 3}He-CF4 1-in.-OD chamber although the energy resolution of the 3 He-CF4 chamber is better than that for the {sup 3}He-CO2 chamber.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-96OR22464
OSTI ID:
15042
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-1999/239; TRN: US0204512
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Sep 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English