A Comparison of Neutron-Based Non-Destructive Assessment Methods for Chemical Warfare Material and High Explosives

Journal Article · Tue Mar 10 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3120193· OSTI ID:21289686

Seabury, E H; Chichester, D L; Wharton, C J; Caffrey, A J ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 N. Fremont Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-3740 (United States)

Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) systems employ neutrons as a probe to interrogate items, e.g. chemical warfare materiel-filled munitions. The choice of a neutron source in field-portable systems is determined by its ability to excite nuclei of interest, operational concerns such as radiological safety and ease-of-use, and cost. Idaho National Laboratory's PINS Chemical Assay System has traditionally used a {sup 252}Cf isotopic neutron source, but recently a deuterium-tritium (DT) electronic neutron generator (ENG) has been tested as an alternate neutron source. This paper presents the results of using both of these neutron sources to interrogate chemical warfare materiel (CWM) and high explosive (HE) filled munitions.

• OSTI ID: 21289686
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1099; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CALIFORNIUM 252
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL WARFARE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
D-T OPERATION
FAST NEUTRONS
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
NEUTRON GENERATORS
PROMPT GAMMA RADIATION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS