Measurement and analysis of the radio frequency radiation (non-ionizing) in dc accelerator based 14 MeV neutron generator facility at BARC

摘要

Radio frequency (RF) driven ion sources are used in various scientific applications like neutral beam injection systems for fusion reactors, particle accelerators, neutron generator and neutron spallation source. In BARC, a dc accelerator based 14 MeV neutron generator uses RF type ion source. This ion source uses an indigenously developed RF amplifier system, which capacitively couples (via two external electrode rings) the RF power at 100 MHz to deuterium gas filled RF ion source assembly to generate deuterium plasma. The RF radiation (non-ionizing radiation) emanates from the capacitively coupling in addition to very minor RF radiations from the amplifier assembly itself. This radiation was measured at various locations within the neutron generator facility and was, then analyzed from safety point of view and compared with international standards for RF radiation. It was observed that the measured RF radiations are within the limit and do not pose any hazard for equipment or personal safety. This paper describes in detail the measurements and their analysis.