Pulsed Photofission Delayed Gamma Ray Detection for Nuclear Material Identification

Conference · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2012.6551068· OSTI ID:1070139

Kavouras, John; Wen, Xianfei; Norman, Daren R; Nakazawa, Dante R; Yang, Haori

Innovative systems with increased sensitivity and resolution are in great demand to detect diversion and to prevent misuse in support of nuclear materials management for the U.S. fuel cycle. Nuclear fission is the most important multiplicative process involved in non-destructive active interrogation. This process produces the most easily recognizable signature for nuclear materials. High-energy gamma rays can also excite a nucleus and cause fission through a process known as photofission. After photofission reactions, delayed signals are easily distinguishable from the interrogating radiation. Linac-based, advanced inspection techniques utilizing the fission signals after photofission have been extensively studied for homeland security applications. Previous research also showed that a unique delayed gamma ray energy spectrum exists for each fissionable isotope. Isotopic composition measurement methods based on delayed gamma ray spectroscopy will be the primary focus of this work.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1070139
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-12-25837
• Conference Information: 2012 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (2012 NSS/MIC),Anaheim California,10/29/2012,11/03/2012
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
linac
Nuclear Material
Photofission
Photonuclear
Spent Fuel