Abstract
The primary concern for implementing amorphous fused silica (a-SiO2) fiber optic sensors in a nuclear environment is the radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) of the light signal due to the formation of radiation-induced color centers. In addition, Bragg grating sensors drift under irradiation due to radiation-induced compaction of the a-SiO2 structure. This work provides new data regarding RIA and radiation-induced compaction of a-SiO2 samples irradiated to a fast neutron fluence of 2.4 × 1021 n/cm2 at temperatures of 95, 298, and 688 °C. Results show that RIA may be approaching saturation for the range of photon energies evaluated in this paper and that the hydroxyl content has a significant impact on RIA when the irradiation temperature is increased to 688 °C. A model was developed for predicting radiation-induced compaction, and the resulting signal drift for Bragg grating sensors, as a function of neutron fluence and temperature.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 119668 |
| Journal | Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids |
| Volume | 525 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2019 |
Funding
This research is sponsored by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US Department of Energy (DOE). A portion of this research used the irradiation capabilities of the HFIR, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL. Post-irradiation measurements were made using the ORNL Irradiated Materials Examination and Testing hot cell facility and the Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis facility using funding provided by the US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy through a Nuclear Science User Facilities Program rapid turnaround experiment. Travis Dixon, Alicia Raftery, and Kory Linton assisted in the execution of the post-irradiation examination. This research is sponsored by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US Department of Energy (DOE). A portion of this research used the irradiation capabilities of the HFIR, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL. Post-irradiation measurements were made using the ORNL Irradiated Materials Examination and Testing hot cell facility and the Low Activation Materials Development and Analysis facility using funding provided by the US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy through a Nuclear Science User Facilities Program rapid turnaround experiment. Travis Dixon, Alicia Raftery, and Kory Linton assisted in the execution of the post-irradiation examination.
Keywords
- Compaction
- Fiber optic
- Irradiation
- Silica
- Transmission