ABSOLUTE CALIBRATION OF TOKAMAK FUSION TEST REACTOR NEUTRON DETECTORS FOR D-T PLASMA OPERATION

The two most sensitive TFTR fission-chamber detectors were absolutely calibrated in situ by a D-T neutron generator (∼5×107 n/s) rotated once around the torus in each direction, with data taken at about 45 positions. The combined uncertainty for determining fusion neutron rates, including the uncertainty in the total neutron generator output (±9%), counting statistics, the effect of coil coolant, detector stability, cross calibration to the current mode or log Campbell mode and to other fission chambers, and plasma position variation, is about ±13%. The NE-451 (ZnS) scintillators and 4He proportional counters that view the plasma in up to 10 collimated sightlines were calibrated by scanning the neutron generator radially and toroidally in the horizontal midplane across the flight tubes of 7 cm diam. Spatial integration of the detector responses using the calibrated signal per unit chord-integrated neutron emission gives the global neutron source strength with an overall uncertainty of ±14% for the scintillators and ±15% for the 4He counters. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.