Fast detection of 14 MeV neutrons on the TFTR neutron collimator

Current mode operation of the NE451 ZnS Scintillation Detectors of the TFTR Neutron Collimator has enabled us to record the development of radial neutron emission profiles with much faster speed and higher accuracy than in the pulse counting mode. During high-power DT operation, the intrinsic shot noise on the detector traces was so low that the authors could observe sawtooth instabilities and disruptions with good precision and, in addition, were able to identify precursor MHD activity and fishbone instabilities. These results demonstrate that in future tritium burning machines like ITER or TPX, the neutron collimator should be designed not only as a monitor of radial fusion power profiles but also as a wave detector for MHD activity.