Copper activation deuterium-tritium neutron yield measurements at the National Ignition Facility

Journal Article · Mon Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4746999· OSTI ID:22093885

Cooper, G. W.; Nelson, A. J.; Styron, J. D. ^[1]; Ruiz, C. L.; Leeper, R. J.; Chandler, G. A.; Hahn, K. D.; Torres, J. A.; Smelser, R. M.; McWatters, B. R. ^[2]; Bleuel, D. L.; Yeamans, C. B.; Knittel, K. M. ^[3]; Casey, D. T.; Frenje, J. A.; Gatu Johnson, M.; Petrasso, R. D. ^[4]

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1. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
4. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139 (United States)

A DT neutron yield diagnostic based on the reactions, {sup 63}Cu(n,2n){sup 62}Cu({beta}{sup +}) and {sup 65}Cu(n,2n) {sup 64} Cu({beta}{sup +}), has been fielded at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The induced copper activity is measured using a NaI {gamma}-{gamma} coincidence system. Uncertainties in the 14-MeV DT yield measurements are on the order of 7% to 8%. In addition to measuring yield, the ratio of activities induced in two, well-separated copper samples are used to measure the relative anisotropy of the fuel {rho}R to uncertainties as low as 5%.

• OSTI ID: 22093885
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 83; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COPPER 62
COPPER 63 TARGET
COPPER 65 TARGET
DEUTERIUM
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MASS NUMBER
MEV RANGE 10-100
NAI DETECTORS
NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
NEUTRON EMISSION
NEUTRON REACTIONS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION
TRITIUM
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY