Cross-correlation measurements with the EJ-299-33 plastic scintillator

Journal Article · Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.10.052· OSTI ID:1487033

Bourne, Mark M. ^[1]; Whaley, Jeff ^[1]; Dolan, Jennifer L. ^[1]; Polack, John K. ^[1]; Flaska, Marek ^[1]; Clarke, Shaun D. ^[1]; Tomanin, Alice ^[2]; Peerani, Paolo ^[2]; Pozzi, Sara A. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
2. European Commission, Ispra (Italy). Joint Research Centre, Inst. for Transuranium Elements

New organic–plastic scintillation compositions have demonstrated pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) of neutrons and gamma rays. We present cross-correlation measurements of ²⁵²Cf and mixed uranium–plutonium oxide (MOX) with the EJ-299-33 plastic scintillator. For comparison, equivalent measurements were performed with an EJ-309 liquid scintillator. Offline, digital PSD was applied to each detector. These measurements show that EJ-299-33 sacrifices a factor of 5 in neutron–neutron efficiency relative to EJ-309, but could still utilize the difference in neutron–neutron efficiency and neutron single-to-double ratio to distinguish ²⁵²Cf from MOX. These measurements were modeled with MCNPX-PoliMi, and MPPost was used to convert the detailed collision history into simulated cross-correlation distributions. MCNPX-PoliMi predicted the measured ²⁵²Cf cross-correlation distribution for EJ-309 to within 10%. Greater photon uncertainty in the MOX sample led to larger discrepancy in the simulated MOX cross-correlation distribution. In conclusion, the modeled EJ-299-33 plastic also gives reasonable agreement with measured cross-correlation distributions, although the MCNPX-PoliMi model appears to under-predict the neutron detection efficiency.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; National Science Foundation (NSF); US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Contributing Organization: European Commission, Ispra (Italy). Joint Research Centre
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0002534
• OSTI ID: 1487033
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 784, Issue C; ISSN 0168-9002
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EJ-299-33 plastic scintillator
MCNP
MCNPX-PoliMi
Cross-correlation distribution
Neutron measurements