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Title: Antineutrino monitoring of thorium reactors

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4963402· OSTI ID:1330747
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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Various groups have demonstrated that antineutrino monitoring can be successful in assessing the plutonium content in water-cooled nuclear reactors for nonproliferation applications. New reactor designs and concepts incorporate nontraditional fuel types and chemistry. Understanding how these properties affect the antineutrino emission from a reactor can extend the applicability of antineutrino monitoring. Thorium molten salt reactors breed 233U, that if diverted constitute a direct use material as defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The antineutrino spectrum from the fission of 233U has been estimated for the first time, and the feasibility of detecting the diversion of 8 kg of 233U, within a 30 day timeliness goal has been evaluated. The antineutrino emission from a thorium reactor operating under normal conditions is compared to a diversion scenario by evaluating the daily antineutrino count rate and the energy spectrum of the detected antineutrinos at a 25 m standoff. It was found that the diversion of a significant quantity of 233U could not be detected within the current IAEA timeliness detection goal using either tests. A rate-time based analysis exceeded the timeliness goal by 23 days, while a spectral based analysis exceeds this goal by 31 days.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Nuclear Science and Security Consortium
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344; NA0003180; NA0000979
OSTI ID:
1330747
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1327554; OSTI ID: 1355350
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-703739; JAPIAU; TRN: US1700111
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 12; ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 1 work
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND RUEL MATERIALS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
thorium
spectrum analysis
isotopes
beta decay
neutrons