The thermal column: a new irradiation position for fission-tracks dating in the University of Pavia Triga Mark II nuclear reactor

n the present paper a new irradiation position arranged for fission-track dating in the Triga Mark II reactor of the University of Pavia is described. Fluence values determined using the NIST glass standard SRM 962a for fission-track dating and the traditional metal foils are compared. Relatively high neutron thermalization (cadmium ratio of 85.3 for gold and 643 for cobalt) and lack of significant fluence spatial gradients are very favorable factors for fission-track dating. Finally, international age standards (or putative age standards) irradiated in this new position yielded results consistent with independent reference ages.