Potential nuclear safeguards applications for neutron generators
Many nuclear safeguards inspection instruments use neutron sources to interrogate the fissile material (commonly /sup 235/U and /sup 239/Pu) to be measured. The neutron sources currently used in these instruments are isotopics such as Californium-252, Americium-Lithium, etc. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to transport isotopic sources from one measurement location to another. This represents a significant problem for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards inspectors because they must take their safeguards instruments with them to each nuclear installation to make an independent measurement. Purpose of this paper is to review the possibility of replacing isotopic neutron sources now used in IAEA safeguards instruments with electric neutron sources such as deuterium-tritium (D-T, 14-MeV neutrons) or deuterium-deuterium (D-D, 2-MeV neutrons). The potential for neutron generators to interrogate spent-light water reactor fuel assemblies in storage pools is also reviewed.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 7046551
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-80-3365; CONF-801111-28; TRN: 81-000825
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 28; Journal Issue: 2; Conference: 6. conference on application of accelerators in research and industry, Denton, TX, USA, Nov 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
FISSILE MATERIALS
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
IAEA SAFEGUARDS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL POOLS
NEUTRON SOURCES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MATERIALS
PARTICLE SOURCES
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION SOURCES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SAFEGUARDS
055001* - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects
400103 - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)