Design of Radiation Resistant Pre-amplifier for fusion reactors

Abstract

The research of controlled nuclear fusion is not a simple process. The upcoming accomplishment of ITER means the beginning of a new phase of controlled nuclear fusion, which is building a fusion reactor. The operating electronics related to fusion reactors need to adapt to harsh environment and minimize the risk of any possible irradiation. Pre-amplifiers are widely used for signal conditioning in various diagnostic systems. And if not shielded, they would be easily damaged in a environment with strong radiation. In this study, a kind of Radiation Resistant Pre-amplifier (RRP) has been designed and manufactured. To verify its performance under radiation, tests in both gamma and neutron fields were carried out. And the performance of RRP is compared with that of an Ordinary Pre-amplifier (OP). The RRP was irradiated with gammas from a Co-60 source up to an accumulated dose of 1MGy, and was also irradiated with neutrons under a tandem accelerator up to a total neutron flux of 1013 n/cm2. The test results prove a performance improvement of radiation hardness on the RRP. And shielding optimization has been discussed with the circumstances of ITER port cell area in this paper. The RRP could better adapt to the complex irradiation environment of fusion reactors and possibly reduce shielding in the future.