EFFECTS OF GAMMAS AND NEUTRONS ON LEAD SELENIDE DETECTORS

Abstract

Objectives of this program were to determine the effect of neutrons from a near nuclear burst on infrared systems. A cooled lead selenide detector (-80 C) was radiated, using the fast burst reactor at White Sands Missile Range to provide a neutron flux of approximately 10 to the 13th power neutrons/sq. cm. A series of six bursts was conducted over a 2-day period. Results show a large output from the detector at burst time. The recovery time from this pulse is on the order of from 3 to 5 milliseconds. This is approximately 100 times the burst pulse width. There is some indication that a period of approximately 100-150 milliseconds is required before postburst operation of the detector is exactly equivalent to the preburst operation. Recalibration of the detector after the burst series indicated a very small loss in sensitivity. In general, the postburst noise and resistance figures were slightly higher than the preburst values.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0489564

Entities

People

  • Peter A. Borgo

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Gamma Rays
  • Government (Foreign)
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Infrared Detection
  • Instrumentation
  • Neutron Flux
  • Radiation
  • Recording Systems
  • Recovery
  • Resistance
  • Spectra
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Solar Physics