SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1989
STP10136S

Measurements and Model Predictions for Improved Microcalorimeter Design

Source

Radiation absorbed dose microcalorimetry is a direct technique for energy deposition measurements in low power benchmark mixed neutron and gamma-ray radiation fields. MkII adiabatic microcalorimeters, developed at Imperial College, are described. The results of recent electrical calibration and 60Co gamma-ray field measurements are presented for graphite and iron microcalorimeters.

In order to assess sources of error, a finite-difference conduction-heat-transfer computer code has been employed to model the microcalorimeter performance. Model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results.

As a result of the error assessment, a redesigned MkV graphite microcalorimeter has been constructed, and results for electrical calibration and 60Co gamma-ray measurements are presented. Systematic errors are reduced by a factor of about 10 for electrical calibration. for the 60Co measurements, the discrepancy between the graphite MkV microcalorimeter and calibrated ionization chambers is less than 2%.

Author Information

Bainbridge, N
Imperial College, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Mason, JA
Imperial College, Ascot, Berkshire, England
Peerless, SJ
Imperial College, London, England
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Details
Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 742–750
DOI: 10.1520/STP10136S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5069-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1184-4