Neutrons and gamma rays are the main media for nuclear power plant to play its function. During the operation of the plant, due to the interaction between rays and materials, several technical problems related to nuclear radiation protection and nuclear radiation measurement arise, such as service safety of shielding materials, diagnosis technology of neutrons and gamma rays in the reactor, loop coolant flow pattern, cavitation information detection, and continued screen to meet new requirements in the protection of the reactor environment against corrosion. It is therefore of utmost importance to improve the level of radiation protection and measurement, to master the mechanisms, relationships and change law of the aforementioned technical challenges.
This Research Topic is devoted to nuclear radiation protection and measurement, with a particular focus on safety during reactor operation. It includes research on mechanical properties and shielding performance change law of nuclear radiation shielding materials, their design and optimization, including preparation and performance evaluation to meet a reactor service environment characterized by high temperature, strong irradiation and pressure. It also includes the state of the art and new measurement technology for neutrons, gamma ray spectrum and dose in the reactor, where imaging is used to diagnose the flow pattern and bubble information in the reactor circuit, and for the non-destructive control of the reactor pipeline via neutron and X-ray Computed Tomography (CT).
This Research Topic welcome submissions related, but not limited, to the following subjects:
1) Shielding Performance and mechanical property changes of polymer-based materials under the synergistic effect of nuclear radiation and thermal effect.
2) Fast and accurate method of neutrons, X-ray and γ-ray energy spectrum resolution.
3) Compact, lightweight, temperature and radiation resistant flexibility neutron and γ-ray radiation shielding material, including Polymer base, metal base, alloy, etc.
4) Neutrons, X-ray and γ-ray imaging reconstruction algorithm and imaging experiment.
5) Methods and software for fast and accurate shielding calculation.
6) Measurement and application of Cerenkov light.
7) Structural integrated design of key components of nuclear power plant.
8) Construction of radioactive sources, such as accelerator neutron source, Reverse Compton device, Proton accelerator.
The cover image was kindly provided by Dr Bin Wu Key from the Laboratory of Beam Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China