Álvaro Marchena

Álvaro Marchena


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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17 March 2025 in Sensors
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JMJuan Antonio Moreno-Perez
Juan Antonio Moreno-Perez
ÁMÁlvaro Marchena
Álvaro Marchena
PCPablo Ignacio Araya Carmona
Pablo Ignacio Araya Carmona
JLJesús J. López-Peñalver
Jesús J. López-Peñalver
JTJuan Alejandro de la Torre
Juan Alejandro de la Torre
MRMiguel Angel Carvajal Rodriguez
Miguel Angel Carvajal Rodriguez
Various models of ionization and fission chambers for ionizing radiation detection, designed to operate under harsh conditions such as those found in fusion reactors or particle accelerators, have been experimentally characterized and numerically simulated. These models were calibrated using a photon beam in the X-ray spectrum. Irradiations were performed at the Biomedical Research Center of the University of Granada (CIBM) with a bipolar metal-ceramic X-ray tube operating at a voltage of 150 kV and a dose rate ranging from 0.05 to 2.28 Gy/min. All detectors under study featured identical external structures but varied in detection volume, anode configuration, and filling gas composition. To assess inter- and intra-model response variations, the tested models included 12 micro-ionization chambers (CRGR10/C5B/UG2), 3 micro-fission chambers (CFUR43/C5B-U5/UG2), 8 micro-fission chambers (CFUR43/C5B-U8/UG2), and 3 micro-fission chambers (CFUR44/C5B-U8/UG2), all manufactured by Photonis (Merignac, France). The experimental setup was considered suitable for the tests, as the leakage current was below 20 pA. The optimal operating voltage range was determined to be 130–150 V, and the photon sensitivities for the chambers were measured as 29.8 ± 0.3 pA/(Gy/h), 43.0 ± 0.8 pA/(Gy/h), 39.2 ± 0.3 pA/(Gy/h), and 96.0 ± 0.9 pA/(Gy/h), respectively. Monte Carlo numerical simulations revealed that the U layer in the fission chambers was primarily responsible for their higher sensitivities due to photoelectric photon absorption. Additionally, the simulations explained the observed differences in sensitivity based on the filling gas pressure. The detectors demonstrated linear responses to dose rates and high reproducibility, making them reliable tools for accurate determination of ionizing photon beams across a range of applications.