A New Era of Nuclear Criticality Experiments: The First 10 Years of Radiation Test Object Operations at NCERC

Hutchinson, Jesson D.; Bounds, J.A.; Cutler, Theresa; Dinwiddie, Derek; Goda, Joetta; Grove, Travis; Hayes, D.; McKenzie, George; McSpaden, Alexander; Miller, James Christopher; Myers, William; Ferrer, Ernesto Andres Ordonez; Sanchez, Rene; Smith, Travis B.; Stults, Katrina; Thompson, Nicholas; Walker, Jessie

doi:10.1080/00295639.2021.1918938

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This also includes many subcritical experiments. These experiments have been documented in a special issue of Nuclear Science and Engineering (Hutchinson et al, 2021b;Thompson et al, 2021b;Goda et al, 2021;Hayes et al, 2021;Sanchez et al, 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Many other experiments have been performed at NCERC specifically focused on nuclear data validation, including the TEX HEU and TEX Pu series, the Zeus series, and others (Percher and Norris, 2019;Norris, 2020, Norris andAraj, 2021;Mosteller et al, 2004;Mosteller, 2005;Hayes and Sanchez, 2006). These experiments are detailed in the NCERC Ten Year Papers and other publications (Hutchinson et al, 2021b;Thompson et al, 2021b;Goda et al, 2021;Hayes et al, 2021;Sanchez et al, 2021).…”

Section: Nuclear Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design

Thompson

Maldonado²,

Cutler³

et al. 2023

Front. Energy Res.

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The National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) located at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in the Device Assembly Facility (DAF) and operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the only general purpose critical experiments facility in the United States. Experiments from subcritical to critical and above prompt critical are carried out at NCERC on a regular basis. In recent years, NCERC has become more involved in experiments related to nuclear energy, including the Kilopower/KRUSTY demonstration and the recent Hypatia experiment. Multiple nuclear energy related projects are currently ongoing at NCERC. This paper discusses NCERC’s role in advanced reactor design and how that role may change in the future.

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mentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Nuclear Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design

Thompson

Maldonado²,

Cutler³

et al. 2023

Front. Energy Res.

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“…The sample originated from a larger piece of neptunium metal that had been used to fabricate a 237 Np metal sphere in 2001. 16 The material was cast for the first ever criticality experiment using a large (>1 kg) mass of 237 Np, 17,24 informing assessments of the critical mass of 237 Np and improving 237 Np nuclear data. The neptunium was originally produced at the Savannah River Plant, in the form of ca.…”

Section: T H Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Actinide Signatures of a Bulk Neptunium Sample

et al. 2023

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In nuclear forensic analyses, measurements of actinide elements in a sample can assist with identifying interdicted or unknown materials. While these radiochemical signatures have been extensively investigated in uranium materials, less is known about bulk neptunium samples. This paper describes the measurement of trace actinide concentrations and isotopic profiles in a 237Np oxide sample. Uranium, plutonium, americium, and curium concentrations and isotopic profiles in the sample were determined and deemed potentially useful for distinguishing different sources of 237Np. Several different potential radiochronometry systems were also investigated; discordant results indicate that the Np sample was never completely purified of other actinide elements, or that subsequent contamination of the sample occurred. Few prior studies of neptunium materials have been reported, and these data suggest that trace actinide constituents could provide unique signatures to identify material out of regulatory control.

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“…The National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) was founded in 2011 and is located inside the Device Assembly Facility (DAF) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) 12 . NCERC is operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and contains assemblies and material that were previously used at the Los Alamos Critical Experiments Facility (LACEF) from 1946 to 2006 18 . NCERC is currently the only general-purpose critical experiments facility in the US and one of only a few that remain operational throughout the world.…”

Section: National Criticality Experiments Research Centermentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting and characterizing special nuclear material for nuclear nonproliferation applications

Pozzi

Hutchinson

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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There is an urgent need for new, better instrumentation and techniques for detecting and characterizing special nuclear material (SNM), i.e., highly enriched uranium and plutonium. The development of improved instruments and techniques requires experiments performed with the SNM itself, which is of limited availability. This paper describes the findings of experiments performed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center conducted using new instruments and techniques on unclassified, kg-quantity SNM objects. These experiments, performed in the framework of the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification, focused on detecting, characterizing, and localizing SNM samples with masses ranging from 3.3 to 13.8 kg, including plutonium and highly enriched uranium using prototype detectors and techniques. The work demonstrates SNM detection and characterization using recently-developed prototype detection systems. Specifically, we present new results in passive detection and imaging of plutonium and uranium objects using gamma-ray and dual particle (fast neutron and gamma-ray) imaging. We also present a new analysis of the delayed neutron emissions during active interrogation of uranium using a neutron generator.

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A New Era of Nuclear Criticality Experiments: The First 10 Years of Radiation Test Object Operations at NCERC

Cited by 9 publications

References 55 publications

The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design

The National Criticality Experiments Research Center and its role in support of advanced reactor design

Trace Actinide Signatures of a Bulk Neptunium Sample

Detecting and characterizing special nuclear material for nuclear nonproliferation applications

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