A Highly Responsive, Ferroelectric-Sensed Calorimeter for Neutron Energy Deposition,

Abstract : A lumped-parameter analysis is presented of the thermal and electrical response of a calorimeter which employs an electroded piece of ferroelectric ceramic as the temperature sensing element. This analysis is applied to a prototype calorimeter constructed for this project and predicts the measured response of 0.00009 volts/RAD(Cu). The analysis and prototype further showed that the expected sensitivity of the calorimeter, having optimized certain parameters, is better than 0.1 RAD(Cu)/min. The results are applied to measurement of energy deposition by neutrons, and the results of tests in an intense gamma-ray environment are used to design a calorimeter for use in mixed radiation fields. (Author)