Neutron and Ion Irradiation

Overview

The Neutron and Ion Irradiation Section is actively engaged in carrying out a wide range of experimental and research activities, including fusion material irradiation studies, medical isotope production, nuclear data validation, mock-up test blanket irradiation, neutron radiography, and radiation-induced damage/effect analysis of various electronic devices and sensors.

The Neutron and Ion Irradiation Facility (NIIF) has indigenously developed an accelerator-based D–T neutron generator capable of producing a neutron yield of approximately ~10¹² n/s with neutron energy around 14.1 MeV. The facility serves as a unique experimental platform for conducting irradiation and neutron-based studies relevant to fusion technology, nuclear science, materials research, and radiation effects analysis.

In addition, an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source, LIME (Light Ion Medium-current ECR Ion Source), is under development for industrial and research applications. It is capable of delivering hydrogen ion beam currents up to 10 mA with stable continuous operation and low beam emittance, ensuring high beam quality, efficient transport, and precise beam focusing.

Neutron and Ion Irradiation

Experiments

Measurement of Nuclear Reaction Cross-Section

Accurate nuclear data play a critical role in reactor design, radiation shielding design, detection system etc. Experiments were performed to investigate the reaction cross sections of 121Sb(n,2n)120Sbm, 123Sb(n,p)123Snm, 90Zr(n,p)90mY, 90Zr(n,α)87mSr, 117Sn(n,p)117gIn, 118Sn(n,α)115gCd, 120Sn(n,α)117gCd, 86Sr(n,2n)85mSr, 88Sr(n, 2n)87mSr, and 88Sr(n, p)88Rb at 14 MeV.

Measurement of Nuclear Reaction Cross-Section

Facility is being explored for nuclear reaction channels having high neutron absorption thresholds for medical isotope production. At present diagnostic and theranostic medical radioisotopes production experiment has been successfully been conducted for Mo-99, Cu-64 and Cu-67. Neutron irradiation of molybdenum metal plates and MoO3 powder at IPR generated Mo-99 with specific activities of 48 kBq/gm and 0.24 kBq/gm, respectively. Similarly, zinc metal powder irradiation produced Cu-64 and Cu-67 with specific activities of 34.76 kBq/gm and 0.21 kBq/gm.

Radiation Damage Study of p-type silicon sensor under extreme neutron fluence

To investigate the radiation tolerance pf p-type silicon pad sensors, indigenously developed by VECC for use in high-fluence environments relevant to heavy ion collider experiments, cosmic-ray observatories, and deep-space missions. Five Single-pad silicon test sensors were irradiated with D-T neutrons over a range of fluence, and post-irradiation performance was characterized (1 MeV neutron equivalent ranging from 4.9 X 107 to 2.5 X 1014).

Neutron Radiography

Simulation studies have been carried out to make use of the 14 MeV neutrons for fast neutron radiography on large samples.Various parameters like L/D ratio, moderator and reflector thickness, sample size and distance have been optimized to get high quality image.