Radiation Hardness Research of the Position-Sensitive Device “Fonon-7”

This paper presents the results of the development and testing of the position-sensitive device (PSD) Fonon-7 with respect to its radiation hardness under the influence of specific external factors, namely gamma irradiation and neutron flux. A brief overview of the structural design and components of Fonon-7 is provided, along with the operating principles of both the PSD itself and the barrel deflection measurement system of which it is a component. The article details the experimental procedures and presents the results obtained. The tests were conducted at the “Nuclear Physics” Research and Technology Complex of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The total gamma irradiation dose was 200 kRad. During this test, the Fonon-7 operated in active mode, allowing for real-time monitoring of specific parameters throughout the exposure. The integral neutron flux reached <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$10^{13}\text{neutrons}/\text{cm}^{4}$</tex>. These tests were performed in a passive mode under dark conditions. After the devices reached background radiation levels compliant with radiation safety regulations, their performance parameters were measured. The article concludes with a theoretical and scientific interpretation of the experimental results.