Gamma-ray spectrum variations for surface measurements of uranium hexafluoride cylinders

Journal Article · Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.163675· OSTI ID:1616455

McFerran, Noah ^[1]; Canion, Bonnie ^[2]; McDonald, Benjamin ^[3]; Kulisek, Jonathan ^[3]; Dreyer, Jonathan ^[2]; Labov, Simon ^[2]; Enqvist, Andreas ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States); University of Michigan
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
4. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Here, this work aims to characterize features that contribute to the spectral variations that appear in gamma-23 ray spectra of filled uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) cylinders. While the enrichment of the UF₆ in a 24 cylinder can greatly affect gamma-ray spectra at peaks such as the 185.7 keV peak and be used to 25 verify enrichment, many other characteristics of a filled UF₆ cylinder can affect the spectra. These 26 characteristics vary on a per-cylinder basis and can include: the time between when a cylinder was 27 filled and when it was measured; the previous fill history of a cylinder; how the cylinder was most 28 recently filled; the UF₆ geometric distribution within the cylinder; and the measurement location 29 along the cylinder. This work explores spectral variations seen in measurement data and uses 30 validated simulation models to find trends in these uncertainties. These trends are analyzed to observe 31 how each parameter can contribute to the overall uncertainty of UF₆ spectral measurements.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830; AC52-07NA27344; NA0003920
• OSTI ID: 1616455
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1601512; OSTI ID: 1788355; OSTI ID: 2480260
• Report Number(s): LLNL--JRNL-797269; PNNL-SA--153091
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Journal Issue: C Vol. 961; ISSN 0168-9002
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Gamma-Ray Spectra Variations
Spectroscopy
Uranium Hexafluoride