Linear Accelerator-Based Active Interrogation For Detection of Highly Enriched Uranium

Journal Article · Tue Aug 26 04:00:00 EDT 2003 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1619854· OSTI ID:20634240

Moss, C E; Goulding, C A; Hollas, C L; Myers, W L ^[1]

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1. Advanced Nuclear Technology Group, NIS-6, MS J562, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (United States)

Photofissions were induced in samples of highly enriched uranium (HEU) with masses up to 22 kg using bremsstrahlung photons from a pulsed 10-MeV electron linear accelerator (linac). Neutrons were detected between pulses by large 3He detectors, and the data were analyzed with the Feynman variance-to-mean method. The effects of shielding materials, such as lead and polyethylene, and the variation of the counting rate with distance for several configurations were measured. For comparison, a beryllium block was inserted in the beam to produce neutrons that were also used for interrogation. Because both high-energy photons and neutrons are very penetrating, both approaches can be used to detect shielded HEU; the choice of approach depends on the details of the configuration and the shielding.

• OSTI ID: 20634240
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 680; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BERYLLIUM
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COUNTING RATES
ELECTRON BEAMS
HE-3 COUNTERS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
LEAD
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MEV RANGE 01-10
NEUTRON DETECTION
PHOTOFISSION
POLYETHYLENES
SHIELDING MATERIALS