사용후핵연료 집합체 모사장치를 이용한 광섬유 체렌코프 방사선 센서 시스템의 성능평가

Abstract

When the charged particle travels in transparent medium with a velocity greater than that of light in the same medium, the electromagnetic field close to the particle polarizes the medium along its path, and then the electrons in the atoms follow the waveform of the pulse which is called as Cerenkov light or radiation. This type of radiation can be easily observed in a spent fuel storage pit. In optical fibers, the Cerenkov light also can be generated due to their dielectric components. Accordingly, the radiation-induced light signals can be obtained using optical fibers without any scintillating material. In this study, to measure the intensities of Cerenkov radiation induced by gamma-rays, we have fabricated the fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor system using silica optical fibers, plastic optical fibers, multi-anode photomultiplier tubes, simulated spent fuel assembly and a scanning system. To characterize the Cerenkov radiation generated in optical fibers, the intensities of Cerenkov radiation generated in the silica and plastic optical fibers were measured. Also, we measured the longitudinal distribution of gamma rays emitted from the Ir-192 isotope by using the fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor system and simulated spent fuel assembly.