Irradiation Facilities at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Abstract

Although there is a growing need for neutron and gamma irradiations by governmental and industrial organizations in the United States and in other countries the number of facilities providing such irradiations are limited. At the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, there are several unique irradiation facilities producing high neutron and gamma radiation environments. These facilities could be readily used for nuclear research, materials testing, radiation hardening studies on electronic components/circuitry and sensors, and production of neutron transmutation doped (NTD) silicon and special radioisotopes. In addition, a neutron radiography unit, suitable for examining irradiated materials and assemblies, is also available. This paper provides a description of the irradiation facilities and the neutron radiography unit as well as examples of their unique applications.