Noise thermometry for nuclear applications

The effects of nuclear radiations on conventional thermocouples (type K, C and N) mainly used in irradiation experiments may create significant drifts of the signals. In order to solve these difficulties, the 'Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique' (CEA) has started to develop and qualify in laboratory conditions a miniature device, which combines a noise thermometer and thermocouples, for a future application in a research reactor. In this paper, a particular approach of a combined noise thermometer- thermocouples is described. Although the aim of the method is to cover temperatures over 1000 C, present measurements are realized in laboratory at 300 C which is the mean temperature in materials irradiation experiments. (authors)