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High-precision and wide-range real-time neutron flux monitor system through multipoint linear calibration

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Abstract

The neutron flux monitor (NFM) system is an important diagnostic subsystem introduced by large nuclear fusion devices such as international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER), Japan torus-60, tokamak fusion test reactor, and HL-2A. Neutron fluxes can provide real-time parameters for nuclear fusion, including neutron source intensity and fusion power. Corresponding to different nuclear reaction periods, neutron fluxes span over seven decades, thereby requiring electronic devices to operate in counting and Campbelling modes simultaneously. Therefore, it is crucial to design a real-time NFM system to encompass such a wide dynamic range. In this study, a high-precision NFM system with a wide measurement range of neutron flux is implemented using real-time multipoint linear calibration. It can automatically switch between counting and Campbelling modes with variations in the neutron flux. We established a testing platform to verify the feasibility of the NFM system, which can output the simulated neutron signal using an arbitrary waveform generator. Meanwhile, the accurate calibration interval of the Campbelling mode is defined well. Based on the above-mentioned design, the system satisfies the requirements, offering a dynamic range of 108 cps, temporal resolution of 1 ms, and maximal relative error of 4% measured at the signal-to-noise ratio of 15.8 dB. Additionally, the NFM system is verified in a field experiment involving HL-2A, and the measured neutron flux is consistent with the results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Ren-Jie Zhu, **ang Zhou, Zi-Hao Liu, Wen-Di Wang, Teng-Fei Fang, **u-Feng Xu & Ze-Jie Yin

  2. Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Ren-Jie Zhu, **ang Zhou, Zi-Hao Liu, Wen-Di Wang, Teng-Fei Fang, **u-Feng Xu & Ze-Jie Yin

  3. Center for Fusion Science of Southwestern Institute of Physics, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Guo-Liang Yuan, Li Zhao & Ling-Feng Wei

  4. National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230029, China

    **ao-Li Mou

  5. College of Electronic Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Hefei, 230037, China

    Qing-Li Ma

Authors
  1. Ren-Jie Zhu
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  2. **ang Zhou
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  9. Guo-Liang Yuan
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  10. Li Zhao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to **u-Feng Xu.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11475131, 11975307, and 11575184) and the National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Energy Development Research (No. 2013GB104003).

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Zhu, RJ., Zhou, X., Liu, ZH. et al. High-precision and wide-range real-time neutron flux monitor system through multipoint linear calibration. NUCL SCI TECH 31, 94 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-020-00798-3

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