Study of dynamic radiation effects in ceramics in fission reactor

Abstract

A system for studying dynamic irradiation effects in a fission reactor is developed to measure electrical and optical properties of ceramics. The dynamic irradiation would affect some functional properties of ceramics, such as electrical conductivity and optical transmissibility, which should be studied from a practical point of view. At the same time, the study of dynamic irradiation effects would yield valuable information concerning primary processes of the radiation effects. Interaction of the system with radiation was found to cause physical phenomena which are interesting but disturbing for the measurements. Some countermeasures were taken to avert the disturbing phenomena. The electrical conductivity of the ceramic insulators was measured, and the phenomena called radiation induced conductivity (RIC) and radiation induced electrical degradation (RIED) were studied. Also, radiation induced electromotive force (RIEMF) was examined. Optical absorption and radioluminescence behavior of the ceramics was studied under the reactor irradiation.