Adding ($$\mathcal{α}$$,n) Emission to an Existing Subcritical Benchmark Statistical Uncertainty Method

Conference · Tue Nov 19 04:00:00 EST 2019 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/t31053· OSTI ID:1914905

Subcritical measurements often use radiation detectors to infer parameters related to the physics of a measured system. One type of subcritical measurements typically performed are called neutron noise measurements. These types of measurements utilize the fact that prompt neutrons are produced from fission immediately after a fission event and are therefore correlated in time. Subcritical benchmarks require evaluation of the statistical and systematic uncertainties of a measurement. Previous work established methods for determining statistical and systematic uncertainties in subcritical benchmarks. The data were analyzed using the Hage-Cifarelli formalism of the Feynman Variance-to-Mean method. The previous work made an assumption that the ($$\mathcal{α}$$,n) emission rate was negligible. This assumption was used because the previous work focused on systems with metal Plutonium. This work extends the existing statistical uncertainty method to include ($$\mathcal{α}$$,n) emissions.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1914905
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-19-31542
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Journal Issue: 1 Journal Volume: 121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
Feynman Variance-to-Mean Method
Hage-Cifarelli Formalism
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Integral Experiments
International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP)
NoMAD
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Special Nuclear Material (SNM)
Subcritical Copper-Reflected $\mathcal{α}$-phase Plutonium (SCR$\mathcal{α}$P)