Pulsed D-D Neutron Generator Measurements of HEU Oxide Fuel Pins

McConchie, Seth M; Hausladen, Paul; Mihalczo, J.T.; Blackburn, B.W.; Chichester, David L.

doi:10.1063/1.3120119

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…All of these methods use single-particle signals. Multi-particle schemes, usually two-and three-neutron signals have also been pursued, with photon [19,20] and neutron [21][22][23][24][25] beams as well as in passive interrogation [26][27][28][29][30][31][32], where ambient radiations are used to induce the signals. Here we report on an active interrogation method using 9 MeV Bremsstrahlung photons to induce the emission of time-correlated, prompt neutrons measured within the Prompt Neutrons from Photofission (PNPF) system developed at Passport Systems Inc. (PSI) [33][34][35].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fissile material detection using neutron time-correlations from photofission

et al. 2019

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The detection of special nuclear materials (SNM) in commercial cargoes is a major objective in the field of nuclear security. In this work we investigate the use of two-neutron time-correlations from photo-fission using the Prompt Neutrons from Photofission (PNPF) detectors in Passport Systems Inc.'s (PSI) Shielded Nuclear Alarm Resolution (SNAR) platform for the purpose of detecting ∼5 kg quantities of fissionable materials in seconds. The goal of this effort was to extend the secondary scan mode of this system to differentiate fissile materials, such as highly enriched uranium, from fissionable materials, such as low enriched and depleted uranium (LEU and DU). Experiments were performed using a variety of material samples, and data were analyzed using the variance-over-mean technique referred to as Y2F or Feynman-α. Results were compared to computational models to improve our ability to predict system performance for distinguishing fissile materials. Simulations were then combined with empirical formulas to generate receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for a variety of shielding scenarios. We show that a 10 second screening with a 200 µA 9 MeV X-ray beam is sufficient to differentiate kilogram quantities of HEU from DU in various shielding scenarios in a standard cargo container. * soltz1@llnl.gov

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fissile material detection using neutron time-correlations from photofission

et al. 2019

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“…NMIS characterizes materials by interrogating them with neutrons, either from an associated-particle DT neutron generator, which produces 14.1 MeV neutrons, or from a californium-252 spontaneous fission source, which produces a distribution of neutrons ranging from approximately 0.2 MeV to 7 MeV (Smith et al, 1957). NMIS has also been used with pulsed neutron sources, including a deuterium-deuterium (DD) generator and a linear accelerator (McConchie et al, 2009;Mihalczo, 2004). The system has also been used for passive measurements on materials with inherent neutron sources, such as 240 Pu (Pozzi et al, 2005).…”

Section: Nmis Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Neutron Interrogation of Non-Radiological Materials with NMIS

Walker¹,

Mihalczo²

2012

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“…6. The experiment started by placing the stacked core components on a steel support plate under which was an array of cadmium-wrapped, polyethylene-moderated 3 He tubes. This served as the leakage neutron detector for the experiment.…”

Section: Neutron Multiplication K Eff and 1/mmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] The development of the MARVEL test capability is based in part on interest in expanding the Laboratory's capabilities for performing work in this area. While prior work at INL has used large masses of SNM (e.g., ~10 kg of HEU, ~4 kg of Pu), rarely has prior work involved fissionable assemblies having multiplication levels in excess of 2.…”

Section: A Research Validation and Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a new multiplying assembly for research, validation, evaluation, and learning

Chichester

Kinlaw

2012

2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record (NSS/MIC)

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-A new multiplying test assembly is under development at Idaho National Laboratory to support research, validation, evaluation, and learning. The item is comprised of three stacked, highly-enriched uranium (HEU) cylinders, each 11.4 cm in diameter and having a combined height of up to 11.7 cm. The combined mass of all three cylinders is 20.3 kg of HEU. Calculations for the bare configuration of the assembly indicate a multiplication level of >3.5 (k eff = 0.72). Reflected configurations of the assembly, using either polyethylene or tungsten, are possible and have the capability of raising the assembly's multiplication level to greater than 10. This paper will describe the MCNP calculations performed to assess the assembly's multiplication level under different conditions and describe the resources available at INL to support the use of these materials. We will also describe some preliminary calculations and test activities using the assembly to study neutron multiplicity.

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Pulsed D-D Neutron Generator Measurements of HEU Oxide Fuel Pins

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Fissile material detection using neutron time-correlations from photofission

Fissile material detection using neutron time-correlations from photofission

Active Neutron Interrogation of Non-Radiological Materials with NMIS

Development of a new multiplying assembly for research, validation, evaluation, and learning

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