BF3 Neutron Detector Tests
Abstract
Radiation portal monitors used for interdiction of illicit materials at borders include highly sensitive neutron detection systems. The main reason for having neutron detection capability is to detect fission neutrons from plutonium. The currently deployed radiation portal monitors (RPMs) from Ludlum and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) use neutron detectors based upon 3He-filled gas proportional counters, which are the most common large neutron detector. There is a declining supply of 3He in the world; thus, methods to reduce the use of this gas in RPMs with minimal changes to the current system designs and detection capabilities are being investigated. Reported here are the results of tests of the efficiency of BF3 tubes at a pressure of 800 torr. These measurements were made partially to validate models of the RPM system that have been modified to simulate the performance of BF3-filled tubes. While BF3 could be a potential replacement for 3He, there are limitations to its use in deployed systems.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 969905
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-19050
NN2001000; TRN: US1000703
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; AVAILABILITY; DETECTION; EFFICIENCY; FISSION NEUTRONS; MONITORS; NEUTRON DETECTION; NEUTRON DETECTORS; PERFORMANCE; PLUTONIUM; PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS; RADIATIONS; neutron detection; alternate technology; boron trifluoride
Citation Formats
Kouzes, Richard T, Ely, James H, Lintereur, Azaree T, Siciliano, Edward R, and Woodring, Mitchell L. BF3 Neutron Detector Tests. United States: N. p., 2009.
Web. doi:10.2172/969905.
Kouzes, Richard T, Ely, James H, Lintereur, Azaree T, Siciliano, Edward R, & Woodring, Mitchell L. BF3 Neutron Detector Tests. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/969905
Kouzes, Richard T, Ely, James H, Lintereur, Azaree T, Siciliano, Edward R, and Woodring, Mitchell L. 2009.
"BF3 Neutron Detector Tests". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/969905. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/969905.
@article{osti_969905,
title = {BF3 Neutron Detector Tests},
author = {Kouzes, Richard T and Ely, James H and Lintereur, Azaree T and Siciliano, Edward R and Woodring, Mitchell L},
abstractNote = {Radiation portal monitors used for interdiction of illicit materials at borders include highly sensitive neutron detection systems. The main reason for having neutron detection capability is to detect fission neutrons from plutonium. The currently deployed radiation portal monitors (RPMs) from Ludlum and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) use neutron detectors based upon 3He-filled gas proportional counters, which are the most common large neutron detector. There is a declining supply of 3He in the world; thus, methods to reduce the use of this gas in RPMs with minimal changes to the current system designs and detection capabilities are being investigated. Reported here are the results of tests of the efficiency of BF3 tubes at a pressure of 800 torr. These measurements were made partially to validate models of the RPM system that have been modified to simulate the performance of BF3-filled tubes. While BF3 could be a potential replacement for 3He, there are limitations to its use in deployed systems.},
doi = {10.2172/969905},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/969905},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}