Nuclear and radiological characterization of a226Ra-Be neutron irradiator at INFISA-UNMSM, Peru, using Monte Carlo simulation with the OpenMC code

Tataje P.; Didi A.; Arroyo A.; Daza S. · Nuclear Engineering and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2026.104158

Resumen

A neutron irradiator consisting of a226Ra-Be source with a 3 mCi activity of radium, used for the early teaching of neutron activation experiments, belonging to the INFISA-UNMSM, was characterized using the relatively new open-source framework OpenMC. The 226Ra-Be source is located inside a hermetically sealed nickel-soldered cylinder filled with activated carbon. This cylinder, in turn, is inside a larger cylinder filled with paraffin wax, with seven irradiation channels. These channels were characterized for axial and radial neutron flux, prompt gamma flux, and dose equivalent rate (H∗(10)) both inside the irradiation channels and on the exterior of the cylinder.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos