Gamma neutron assay method and apparatus
Abstract
The gamma neutron assay technique is an alternative method to standard safeguards techniques for the identification and assaying of special nuclear materials in a field or laboratory environment, as a tool for dismantlement and destruction of nuclear weapons, and to determine the isotopic ratios for a blend-down program on uranium. It is capable of determining the isotopic ratios of fissionable material from the spontaneous or induced fission of a sample to within approximately 0.5%. This is based upon the prompt coincidence relationships that occur in the fission process and the proton conservation and quasi-conservation of nuclear mass (A) that exists between the two fission fragments. The system is used in both passive (without an external neutron source and active (with an external neutron source) mode. The apparatus consists of an array of neutron and gamma-ray detectors electronically connected to determine coincident events. The method can also be used to assay radioactive waste which contains fissile material, even in the presence of a high background radiation field.
- Inventors:
-
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- EG & G IDAHO INC
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869690
- Patent Number(s):
- 5378895
- Assignee:
- EG&G Idaho, Inc. (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- gamma; neutron; assay; method; apparatus; technique; alternative; standard; safeguards; techniques; identification; assaying; special; nuclear; materials; field; laboratory; environment; tool; dismantlement; destruction; weapons; determine; isotopic; ratios; blend-down; uranium; capable; determining; fissionable; material; spontaneous; induced; fission; sample; approximately; based; prompt; coincidence; relationships; occur; process; proton; conservation; quasi-conservation; mass; exists; fragments; passive; external; source; active; mode; consists; array; gamma-ray; detectors; electronically; connected; coincident; events; radioactive; waste; contains; fissile; presence; background; radiation; background radiation; apparatus consists; nuclear materials; fission fragments; radioactive waste; fissile material; neutron source; fissionable material; nuclear material; radiation field; special nuclear; nuclear weapons; alternative method; ray detector; neutron assay; gamma neutron; induced fission; fission fragment; nuclear weapon; assay method; /250/376/
Citation Formats
Cole, Jerald D, Aryaeinejad, Rahmat, and Greenwood, Reginald C. Gamma neutron assay method and apparatus. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Cole, Jerald D, Aryaeinejad, Rahmat, & Greenwood, Reginald C. Gamma neutron assay method and apparatus. United States.
Cole, Jerald D, Aryaeinejad, Rahmat, and Greenwood, Reginald C. Sun .
"Gamma neutron assay method and apparatus". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869690.
@article{osti_869690,
title = {Gamma neutron assay method and apparatus},
author = {Cole, Jerald D and Aryaeinejad, Rahmat and Greenwood, Reginald C},
abstractNote = {The gamma neutron assay technique is an alternative method to standard safeguards techniques for the identification and assaying of special nuclear materials in a field or laboratory environment, as a tool for dismantlement and destruction of nuclear weapons, and to determine the isotopic ratios for a blend-down program on uranium. It is capable of determining the isotopic ratios of fissionable material from the spontaneous or induced fission of a sample to within approximately 0.5%. This is based upon the prompt coincidence relationships that occur in the fission process and the proton conservation and quasi-conservation of nuclear mass (A) that exists between the two fission fragments. The system is used in both passive (without an external neutron source and active (with an external neutron source) mode. The apparatus consists of an array of neutron and gamma-ray detectors electronically connected to determine coincident events. The method can also be used to assay radioactive waste which contains fissile material, even in the presence of a high background radiation field.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}