Effects of nuclear radiation on the optical properties of cerium-doped glass

Abstract

Some twenty types of glass containing 0.5-4% CeO 2 have been irradiated in a 60Co gamma cell and in the mixed neutron-gamma field of a nuclear reactor, at total integrated doses of up to 5 × 10 9 Rad (CH). The resulting colouration has been assessed quantitatively by measuring the light transmission with reference to air, in the range 360–510 nm. From the results, certain types of glass suitable for applications in nuclear engineering can be selected. Specifically, it was found that 1–2% CeO 2 content is usually sufficient to obtain radiation-resistant optical glass: the reduction in light transmission above 450 nm is nil at 10 8 Rad (CH), below 10% at 10 9 Rad (CH), and below 20% at 5 × 10 9 Rad (CH); the post-irradiation fading is negligible.