The Health and Safety Aspects of Neutron Doped Silicon

Abstract

At the present time, the neutron irradiation of mono-crystal silicon ingots for the purpose of “doping” with phosphorous is an established production process. Each year tens of tonnes of silicon ingots are being transported from producers to nuclear reactor centres, are then irradiated; transported back to the producers, machined, sliced and polished and the slices eventually incorporated in electronic devices with which the general public have contact and free access.