Rapid response sensor for analyzing Special Nuclear Material

Mitra, S. S.; Doron, O.; Chen, A. X.; Antolak, A. J.

doi:10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.029

Title: Rapid response sensor for analyzing Special Nuclear Material

Journal Article · Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics Procedia

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.029· OSTI ID:1214671

Mitra, S. S. ^[1]; Doron, O. ^[1]; Chen, A. X. ^[2]; Antolak, A. J. ^[3]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Adelphi Technology, Inc., Redwood City, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Rapid in-situ analytical techniques are attractive for characterizing Special Nuclear Material (SNM). Present techniques are time consuming, and require sample dissolution. Proof-of-principal studies are performed to demonstrate the utility of employing low energy neutrons from a portable pulsed neutron generator for non-destructive isotopic analysis of nuclear material. In particular, time-sequenced data acquisition, operating synchronously with the pulsing of a neutron generator, partitions the characteristic elemental prompt gamma-rays according to the type of the reaction; inelastic neutron scattering reactions during the ON state and thermal neutron capture reactions during the OFF state of the generator. Thus, the key challenge is isolating these signature gamma- rays from the prompt fission and β-delayed gamma-rays that are also produced during the neutron interrogation. A commercial digital multi-channel analyzer has been specially customized to enable time-resolved gamma-ray spectral data to be acquired in multiple user-defined time bins within each of the ON/OFF gate periods of the neutron generator. Preliminary results on new signatures from depleted uranium as well as modeling and benchmarking of the concept are presented, however this approach should should be applicable for virtually all forms of SNM.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1214671

Journal Information:: Physics Procedia, Vol. 66, Issue C; ISSN 1875-3892

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 2 works

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References (8)

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Rattling nucleons: New developments in active interrogation of special nuclear material Runkle, Robert C.; Chichester, David L.; Thompson, Scott J. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 663, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2011.09.052	journal	January 2012
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Cited By (1)

Direct determination of uranium in sintered deeply depleted uranium oxide pellets by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry Pandey, A.; Dhara, S.; Khan, F. A. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 323, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06869-z	journal	October 2019

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Title: Rapid response sensor for analyzing Special Nuclear Material

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