Fission signal detection using helium-4 gas fast neutron scintillation detectors
- Nuclear Engineering Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (United States)
- Arktis Radiation Detectors Ltd., 8045 Zurich (Switzerland)
We demonstrate the unambiguous detection of the fission neutron signal produced in natural uranium during active neutron interrogation using a deuterium-deuterium fusion neutron generator and a high pressure {sup 4}He gas fast neutron scintillation detector. The energy deposition by individual neutrons is quantified, and energy discrimination is used to differentiate the induced fission neutrons from the mono-energetic interrogation neutrons. The detector can discriminate between different incident neutron energies using pulse height discrimination of the slow scintillation component of the elastic scattering interaction between a neutron and the {sup 4}He atom. Energy histograms resulting from this data show the buildup of a detected fission neutron signal at higher energies. The detector is shown here to detect a unique fission neutron signal from a natural uranium sample during active interrogation with a (d, d) neutron generator. This signal path has a direct application to the detection of shielded nuclear material in cargo and air containers. It allows for continuous interrogation and detection while greatly minimizing the potential for false alarms.
- OSTI ID:
- 22303972
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ATOMS
DETECTION
DEUTERIUM
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ENERGY ABSORPTION
ENERGY LOSSES
FAST NEUTRONS
FISSION NEUTRONS
HELIUM 4
INTERACTIONS
NATURAL URANIUM
NEUTRON GENERATORS
PRESSURE RANGE MEGA PA 10-100
PROLIFERATION
PULSES
RADIATION DETECTION
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SCINTILLATIONS