MGAHI: A plutonium gamma-ray isotopic analysis code for nondestructive evaluation
The gamma-ray multigroup analysis (MGA) code developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is widely used in the area of gamma-ray nondestructive plutonium assay. This plutonium isotopic analysis code deconvolutes the complicated, 100-keV X-ray and gamma-ray region to obtain ratios of the Pu isotopes. Calibration of the detector efficiency is not required but is determined intrinsically from the measured spectra. The code can either analyze the low-energy gamma-ray spectrum taken using a high-resolution Ge detector for energies {lt}300 keV or analyze the low-energy spectrum combined with a high-energy spectrum (up to 1 MeV, taken with the same detector or others). In either mode, the low-energy gamma-ray spectrum that contains the 100-keV region is required. Under certain circumstances, for example, when the sample is heavily shielded because of safety considerations, the 100-keV gamma-ray information is significantly attenuated. Therefore, the MGA is unable to provide reliable Pu isotopic ratios. to overcome situations like these, the authors have developed the MGAHI code that uses only the gamma-ray information above 200 keV. Nevertheless, the MGAHI still preserved several important features of MGA such as (a) intrinsic detector efficiency determination, (b) physical parameterizations of absorption materials, and (c) a graphical user interface to display results of data analysis, etc. Unfortunately, one of the MGA capabilities to determine the homogeneity of the material is lost because of limited gamma-ray information. In summary, the authors have developed a Pu gamma-ray nondestructive analysis code to complement the MGA code. The MGAHI code is extremely useful in the situations when (a) extra shielding of a Ge detector is necessary because of a high count rate and therefore high dead time, (b) the material is heavily shielded because of safety considerations, and (c) the material is designed to be heavily shielded. The MGAHI code is not meant to replace or compete with MGA in the Pu accountability arena. The MGAHI code is for those situations when the 100-keV gamma-ray information is unavailable.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20005809
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 81; Conference: American Nuclear Society 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (US), 11/14/1999--11/18/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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