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Title: Single-view 3D reconstruction of correlated gamma-neutron sources

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

We describe a new method of 3D image reconstruc-tion of neutron sources that emit correlated gammas (e.g. Cf-252, Am-Be). This category includes a vast majority of neutron sources important in nuclear threat search, safeguards and non-proliferation. Rather than requiring multiple views of the source this technique relies on the source’s intrinsic property of coincidence gamma and neutron emission. As a result only a single-view measurement of the source is required to perform the 3D reconstruction. In principle, any scatter camera sensitive to gammas and neutrons with adequate timing and interaction location resolution can perform this reconstruction. Using a neutron double scatter technique, we can calculate a conical surface of possible source locations. By including the time to a correlated gamma we further constrain the source location in three-dimensions by solving for the source-to-detector distance along the surface of said cone. As a proof of concept we applied these reconstruction techniques on measurements taken with the the Mobile Imager of Neutrons for Emergency Responders (MINER). Two Cf-252 sources measured at 50 and 60 cm from the center of the detector were resolved in their varying depth with average radial distance relative resolution of 26%. To demonstrate the technique’s potential with an optimized system we simulated the measurement in MCNPX-PoliMi assuming timing resolution of 200 ps (from 2 ns in the current system) and source interaction location resolution of 5 mm (from 3 cm). These simulated improvements in scatter camera performance resulted in radial distance relative resolution decreasing to an average of 11%.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0002534
OSTI ID:
1340522
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1366704
Report Number(s):
SAND-2016-10226J; 648213
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 64, Issue 7; ISSN 0018-9499
Publisher:
IEEECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 1 work
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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