Thermal Column
The thermal column irradiation facility, which is situated behind the thermal column extension in the west wall of the reactor pool, consists of a large volume of graphite to thermalize neutrons and offers a very thermalized neutron field in a four-inch by four-inch area for experimentation. At the core end of the thermal column, there is a maximum thermal flux of ~2x1011 n/cm2/s. At other locations in the thermal column, the thermal neutron flux is on the order of 109-1010 n/cm2/s.
An aluminum sample holder box is available for irradiation of samples in the thermal column, and an acrylic “sled” is available for irradiation of neutron-sensitive detectors.
