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Validation of Statistical Uncertainties in Subcritical Benchmark Measurements: Part I - Theory and Simulations

Journal Article · · Annals of Nuclear Energy (Oxford)
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
+ Show Author Affiliations
Subcritical neutron noise measurements are often used to determine multiplication of a system with Special Nuclear Material. This work presents an uncertainty approach which incorporates the singles and doubles counting rates determined by the Hage-Cifarelli formalism. This is a moments-based approach which utilizes time correlations between prompt neutrons in order to assess the system multiplication. After the method is described, a validation is presented which utilizes simulated data generated using a 0-D point-kinetics Monte Carlo code.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Office of Defense Programs (DP) (NA-10)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1481983
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1636429
OSTI ID: 22834306
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-20539
Journal Information:
Annals of Nuclear Energy (Oxford), Journal Name: Annals of Nuclear Energy (Oxford) Vol. 125; ISSN 0306-4549
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

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  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 594, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2008.06.010
journal September 2008
The neutron–gamma Feynman variance to mean approach: Gamma detection and total neutron–gamma detection (theory and practice)
  • Chernikova, Dina; Axell, Kåre; Avdic, Senada
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 782 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.01.104
journal May 2015
Reevaluation of Prompt Neutron Emission Multiplicity Distributions for Spontaneous Fission journal October 2008
Prompt Neutron Emission Multiplicity Distribution and Average Values (Nubar) at 2200 m/s for the Fissile Nuclides journal February 1988

Cited By (1)

Simulation of the Nondestructive Assay of 237 Np Using Active Neutron Multiplicity Counting journal September 2019

Figures / Tables (16)

Figure 1(p. 5)figure Figure 1
Table 1(p. 19)table Table 1
Table 2(p. 20)table Table 2
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Figure 2(p. 21)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 22)figure Figure 3
Table 4(p. 23)table Table 4
Table 5(p. 24)table Table 5
Table 6(p. 25)table Table 6
Table 7(p. 26)table Table 7
Table 8(p. 27)table Table 8
Figure 4(p. 29)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 30)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 31)figure Figure 6
Figure 7(p. 32)figure Figure 7
Figure 8(p. 34)figure Figure 8

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Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Feynman Variance-to-Mean
neutron multiplicity
neutron noise
subcritical measurements