Cosmic Ray Muon Imaging of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Dry Storage Casks

Journal Article · Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Nuclear Materials Management

OSTI ID:1325638

Durham, J. Matthew ^[1]; Guardincerri, Elena ^[1]; Morris, Christopher L. ^[1]; Poulson, Daniel ^[1]; Bacon, Jeffrey Darnell ^[1]; Chichester, David ^[2]; Fabritius, Joseph ^[1]; Fellows, Shelby ^[1]; Plaud-Ramos, Kenie Omar ^[1]; Morley, Deborah Jean ^[1]; Winston, Philip ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

In this paper, cosmic ray muon radiography has been used to identify the absence of spent nuclear fuel bundles inside a sealed dry storage cask. The large amounts of shielding that dry storage casks use to contain radiation from the highly radioactive contents impedes typical imaging methods, but the penetrating nature of cosmic ray muons allows them to be used as an effective radiographic probe. This technique was able to successfully identify missing fuel bundles inside a sealed Westinghouse MC-10 cask. This method of fuel cask verification may prove useful for international nuclear safeguards inspectors. Finally, muon radiography may find other safety and security or safeguards applications, such as arms control verification.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1325638
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-15-26861
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, Vol. 44, Issue 3; ISSN 0893-6188
• Publisher: Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION