System design considerations for fast-neutron interrogation systems

Conference · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10191983

Micklich, B J; Curry, B P; Fink, C L; Smith, D L; Yule, T J

Nonintrusive interrogation techniques that employ fast neutrons are of interest because of their sensitivity to light elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The primary requirement of a fast-neutron inspection system is to determine the value of atomic densities, or their ratios, over a volumetric grid superimposed on the object being interrogated. There are a wide variety of fast-neutron techniques that can provide this information. The differences between the various nuclear systems can be considered in light of the trade-offs relative to the performance requirements for each system`s components. Given a set of performance criteria, the operational requirements of the proposed nuclear systems may also differ. For instance, resolution standards will drive scanning times and tomographic requirements, both of which vary for the different approaches. We are modelling a number of the fast-neutron interrogation techniques currently under consideration, to include Fast Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy (FNTS), Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA), and its variant, 14-MeV Associated Particle Imaging (API). The goals of this effort are to determine the component requirements for each technique, identify trade-offs that system performance standards impose upon those component requirements, and assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches. In determining the component requirements, we will consider how they are driven by system performance standards, such as image resolution, scanning time, and statistical uncertainty. In considering the trade-offs between system components, we concentrate primarily on those which are common to all approaches, for example: source characteristics versus detector array requirements. We will then use the analysis to propose some figures-of-merit that enable performance comparisons between the various fast-neutron systems under consideration. The status of this ongoing effort is presented.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10191983
• Report Number(s): ANL/EP/CP--79131; CONF-9310164--4; ON: DE94000447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440103
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CROSS SECTIONS
DESIGN
DRUGS
EXPLOSIVES
IMAGE PROCESSING
INELASTIC SCATTERING
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON FLUENCE
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRON SPECTRA
NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY
NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION
SIGNAL CONDITIONING