A study of the feasibility of using a gas-filled proportional counter as an in-core high energy gamma-ray spectrometer. Final report

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6374345

Reynolds, R S; Thomas, R L

The feasibility of using a gas-filled proportional counter as an in-core gamma-ray spectrometer was examined. The detector fill gas was matched to the stainless steel detector wall using general cavity theory considerations. The gas consisted of a mixture of argon, xenon, and methane, with 14C added for calibration purposes, and at a fill pressure of 10 atmospheres. The maximum energy deposition in the cylindrical counter, whose length was 1.25 in. and whose inside diameter was 0.593 in., was 395 keV. Results have shown that pressures of under 5 atmospheres should be used in counters of the type examined here. Two types of preamplifiers were used in the work, a proton-recoil type preamplifier and a typical gamma-ray proportional preamplifier. The proton-recoil type preamplifier proved too sensitive for gamma-ray spectroscopy with better results observed while using the typical gamma-ray proportional preamplifier. Energy calibrations were attempted using 14C, 137Cs and 57Co, but results appear inconclusive.

• Research Organization: Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State (USA). Engineering and Industrial Research Station
• OSTI ID: 6374345
• Report Number(s): PB-284999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440103* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AMPLIFIERS
CALIBRATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
IN CORE INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PREAMPLIFIERS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
RADIATION DETECTORS
REACTOR INSTRUMENTATION
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
TESTING