N-16 Generator Source Cylinder.
The Nitrogen-16 (N-16) Irradiator is located on the pool level of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR) containment building. The N-16 Irradiator provides high energy gamma radiation for experimental purposes. The irradiator is an ex-core facility which uses radioactive N-16 in the primary coolant as a gamma source. When the reactor is operating in forced cooling mode, primary coolant that exits the core is pumped through a large diameter aluminum cylinder and back into the pool. The cylinder, when filled with activated primary water, acts as the source in this facility. The cylinder creates a planar array measuring 18 inches (diameter) by 1.75 inches (depth). The source activity can be varied by adjusting the reactor power level and flow rate through the cylinder.
Dose Rate:
- Up to 500 millirad/hour (5 milliGray/hour)
- Up to 470 millirem/hour (4.7 milliSievert/hour)
Sample Size:
- 12 inches x 12 inches
Uses:
- Evaluating responses of ionizing radiation dosimeters and instruments to N-16 photons (major photon energy= 6.13 million electron volts)
N-16 Dosimetry using Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) shields and Phantom.