<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Activation of impurities in topazes happens due to irradiation with thermal neutrons (induced radioactivity occurs), which complicates their further handling. This leads to the need for their long cooling for safe use. The Institute of Nuclear Physics (Kazakhstan) is conducting R&amp;D to develop a method for the effective formation of color centers in topaz during their irradiation in the WWR-K reactor. An irradiation capsule design has been developed in which optimized conditions for irradiating stones in the neutron field of the reactor are formed. The capsule uses shielding materials made of boron carbide and tantalum to cut off thermal neutrons, resulting in a reduction in induced radioactivity in topaz. The effectiveness of the irradiation capsule was tested in the core of the critical facility. As a result, thermal neutron flux is reduced by 5.7 times and the induced activity of the tantalum is reduced by 2.2 times.</p>
</abstract>

Activation of impurities in topazes happens due to irradiation with thermal neutrons (induced radioactivity occurs), which complicates their further handling. This leads to the need for their long cooling for safe use. The Institute of Nuclear Physics (Kazakhstan) is conducting R&D to develop a method for the effective formation of color centers in topaz during their irradiation in the WWR-K reactor. An irradiation capsule design has been developed in which optimized conditions for irradiating stones in the neutron field of the reactor are formed. The capsule uses shielding materials made of boron carbide and tantalum to cut off thermal neutrons, resulting in a reduction in induced radioactivity in topaz. The effectiveness of the irradiation capsule was tested in the core of the critical facility. As a result, thermal neutron flux is reduced by 5.7 times and the induced activity of the tantalum is reduced by 2.2 times.

Optimization of conditions for topaz irradiation in the WWR-K reactor

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Optimization of conditions for topaz irradiation in the WWR-K reactor"}

Activation of impurities in topazes happens due to irradiation with thermal neutrons (induced radioactivity occurs), which complicates their further handling....

Optimization of conditions for topaz irradiation in the WWR-K reactor

Article Category: Original Paper

Published Online: Jun 25, 2024

Page range: 129 - 133

Received: Oct 03, 2023

Accepted: Feb 15, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2024-0019

Keywords
Critical facility, Sandwich screen, Tantalum, Topaz, WWR-K reactor

© 2024 Darkhan S. Sairanbayev et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Optimization of conditions for topaz irradiation in the WWR-K reactor

Article Category: Original Paper

Published Online: Jun 25, 2024

Page range: 129 - 133

Received: Oct 03, 2023

Accepted: Feb 15, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2024-0019

KeywordsCritical facility, Sandwich screen, Tantalum, Topaz, WWR-K reactor

© 2024 Darkhan S. Sairanbayev et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Critical facility, Sandwich screen, Tantalum, Topaz, WWR-K reactor