skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Neutron transmutation doping of silicon in the SAFARI-1 research reactor

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:182152

The SAFARI-1 research reactor has operated with an exemplary safety record since commissioning in 1965. As part of a commercialisation effort a silicon irradiation facility (SILIRAD) has been installed in the poolside region of SAFARI-1 for Neutron Transmutation Doping (NTD) of silicon. Commissioning of the facility took place in the last quarter of 1992 with a series of trial irradiations which were performed in close collaboration with Wacker Chemitronic of Germany. A methodology for the determination of irradiation times necessary to achieve the target resistivities was verified on the basis of the results from the trial irradiations. All production activities are controlled by quality assurance procedures. To date some hundred and twelve silicon ingots (103 mm diameter) have been successfully irradiated on a commercial contract basis. The observed axial and radial variations in the resistivity profile of the ingots are very small compared to the profiles associated with conventionally doped silicon and small tolerances on target resistivities are attained. In this paper an overview of the design and characterisation of SILIRAD is given and the methods applied that ensure a quality product are described. Results obtained from trial and production irradiations are presented and the envisaged future modifications to SILIRAD discussed.

OSTI ID:
182152
Report Number(s):
CONF-940501-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 96:006868
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 70, Issue Suppl.1; Conference: 9. Pacific basin nuclear conference, Sydney (Australia), 1-5 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English