Methodology for conducting in-pile experiments to study spectral-temporal characteristic of gas media upon excitation by the 6Li(n,α)3H nuclear reaction

Abstract

Almost all experimental studies of the characteristics of nuclear-excited plasma formed by the products of nuclear reactions were performed on impulse nuclear reactors, which differ in the composition and design of the core, the duration, flux and fluence of the neutron impulse, the volume and configuration of the area for irradiation, and the impulse repetition frequency. This work presents a description of the experimental (methodical and equipment) base of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kurchatov) for conducting in-pile experiments at the impulse nuclear reactor IGR. The purpose of these works is to study the spectral-luminescent and spectral-temporal characteristics of optical radiation upon excitation of gas mixtures by 6Li(n,α)3H nuclear reaction products. To conduct in-pile experiments at the IGR reactor, a new experimental facility was developed. The experimental facility functionally consists of: a gas-vacuum system, an in-pile irradiation device with lithium layer, recording and temperature control systems of the device case, and an optical radiation recording system. A technique for carrying out in-pile experiments at the impulse nuclear reactor is described. To justify the design of the irradiation device and the safety analysis of conducting reactor experiments, neutron-physical and thermophysical calculations were carried out.