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Title: Fission meter and neutron detection using poisson distribution comparison

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1163979
;

A neutron detector system and method for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. Comparison of the observed neutron count distribution with a Poisson distribution is performed to distinguish fissile material from non-fissile material.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
Patent Number(s):
8,891,720
Application Number:
12/712,040
OSTI ID:
1163979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (16)

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Method And Apparatus For Nuclear Fuel Assay With A Neutron Source And Coincident Fission Neutron Detectors patent January 1974
Count logic circuit patent July 1978
Subthreshold neutron interrogator for detection of radioactive materials patent May 1980
Determining fissile content of nuclear fuel elements patent October 1980
Method of assaying uranium with prompt fission and thermal neutron borehole logging adjusted by borehole physical characteristics patent September 1982
Apparatus and method for quantitative assay of generic transuranic wastes from nuclear reactors patent November 1984
Measurement of radionuclides in waste packages patent October 1986
Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response patent October 1986
Source range neutron flux count rate system incorporating method and apparatus for eliminating noise from pulse signal patent April 1990
Advanced electronics for faster time-correlation analysis of pulse sequences patent December 2001
Fissile material detector patent January 2002
Method for reduction in the interference of cosmic ray-induced neutron events in passive neutron coincidence and multiplicity counting patent January 2003
Fission meter patent April 2012
Detection of neutrons and sources of radioactive material patent-application May 2005
Absolute nuclear material assay patent-application April 2006

Cited By (1)

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