Equipment

The reactor dosimetry laboratory is equipped with six hyper-pure germanium detectors at which sample activities ranging from 10² Bq up to 10⁸ Bq can be measured. One of these systems is exclusively used for the detection of X-rays.

Typical germanium detection system

In order to increase the laboratory efficiency, a fully automated detection system has been recently developed. This is a stand-alone system operated with in-house developed software and has a sample changer in which up to thirty dosimeters can be loaded.

The measurement data are converted to activities, neutron fluxes and fluences using Excel worksheets and in-house developed software taking into account irradiation history and material burn-up corrections.

Drawing of the automated detection system

In addition to the six germanium detectors, the laboratory is equipped with:

• a glove box
• a fume hood
• a separate dosimeter preparation and weighing room
• a precision balance in the controlled area

Precision balance for the dosimeter mass determination