Detection of uranium-photofission neutrons with a 4He scintillation detector

Searfus, O.; Meert, C.; Clarke, S.; Pozzi, S.; Jovanovic, I.

doi:10.1103/physrevapplied.22.064080

Detection of uranium-photofission neutrons with a ⁴He scintillation detector

Journal Article · Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 2024 · Physical Review Applied

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.22.064080· OSTI ID:2498473

^[1]; Meert, C. ^[2]; Clarke, S. ^[2]; Pozzi, S. ^[2]; ^[2]

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

The use of photon active interrogation to detect special nuclear material has held significant theoretical promise, as the interrogating source particles, photons, are fundamentally different from one of the main signatures of special nuclear material: neutrons produced in nuclear fission. However, neutrons produced by photonuclear reactions in the accelerator target, collimator, and environment can obscure the fission neutron signal. These (γ, n) neutrons could be discriminated from fission neutrons by their energy spectrum, but common detectors sensitive to the neutron spectrum, like organic scintillators, are typically hampered by the intense photon background characteristic of photon-based active interrogation. In contrast, high-pressure ⁴⁢He-based scintillation detectors are well-suited to photon active interrogation, as they are similarly sensitive to fast neutrons and can measure their spectrum, but show little response to gamma rays. Here, in this work, a photon active interrogation system utilizing a ⁴⁢He scintillation detector and a 9 MeV linac-bremsstrahlung x-ray source was experimentally evaluated. The detector was shown to be capable of operating in intense gamma-ray environments and detecting photofission neutrons from ²³⁸⁢U when interrogated by this x-ray source. The photofission neutrons show clear spectral separation from (γ, n) neutrons produced in lead, a common shielding material.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525; NA0003920

OSTI ID:: 2498473

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2574797

Report Number(s):: SAND--2025-00082J

Journal Information:: Physical Review Applied, Journal Name: Physical Review Applied Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 22; ISSN 2331-7019

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (30)

Monte Carlo calculation of recoil spectra in 4He proportional counters Atwater, H. F. Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 100, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(72)90820-8	journal	May 1972
FIGARO: detecting nuclear materials using high-energy gamma-rays Micklich, B. J.; Smith, D. L.; Massey, T. N. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 505, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01122-7	journal	June 2003
Technical design and concept of a 0.35 T MR-Linac Klüter, Sebastian Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology, Vol. 18 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctro.2019.04.007	journal	September 2019
ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8 th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data Brown, D. A.; Chadwick, M. B.; Capote, R. Nuclear Data Sheets, Vol. 148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nds.2018.02.001	journal	February 2018
Passive neutron detection for interdiction of nuclear material at borders Kouzes, Richard T.; Siciliano, Edward R.; Ely, James H. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 584, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.10.026	journal	January 2008
Inverse compton scattering gamma ray source Boucher, S.; Frigola, P.; Murokh, A. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 608, Issue 1, p. S54-S56 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.05.035	journal	September 2009
235U enrichment or UF6 mass determination on UF6 cylinders with non-destructive analysis methods Berndt, R.; Franke, E.; Mortreau, P. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 612, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.10.060	journal	January 2010
Neutron detection gamma ray sensitivity criteria Kouzes, Richard T.; Ely, James H.; Lintereur, Azaree T. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 654, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2011.07.030	journal	October 2011
Rattling nucleons: New developments in active interrogation of special nuclear material Runkle, Robert C.; Chichester, David L.; Thompson, Scott J. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 663, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2011.09.052	journal	January 2012
MCNPX-PoliMi for nuclear nonproliferation applications Pozzi, S. A.; Clarke, S. D.; Walsh, W. J. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 694 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.07.040	journal	December 2012
Neutron light output response and resolution functions in EJ-309 liquid scintillation detectors Enqvist, Andreas; Lawrence, Christopher C.; Wieger, Brian M. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 715 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.03.032	journal	July 2013
Neutron spectroscopy and spectral unfolding with 4He fast neutron scintillators Liang, Yinong; Zhu, Ting; Parker, Cody E. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 922 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.10.098	journal	April 2019
Testing requirements for active interrogation systems Kouzes, Richard T.; Siciliano, Edward R.; Tanner, Jennifer E. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 922 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.12.088	journal	April 2019
Genetic algorithm optimization of tin–copper graded shielding for improved plutonium safeguards measurements Kleedtke, N.; Hua, M.; Pozzi, S. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 988 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164877	journal	February 2021
Confirming the absence of nuclear warheads via passive gamma-ray measurements Lepowsky, Eric; Jeon, Jihye; Glaser, Alexander Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 990 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164983	journal	February 2021
Digital pulse analysis for fast neutron recoil spectroscopy with a 4He scintillation detector Searfus, O.; Ogren, K.; Jovanovic, I. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 1046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.167703	journal	January 2023
Response of a high-pressure 4He scintillation detector to nuclear recoils up to 9 MeV Searfus, O.; Marleau, P.; Jovanovic, I. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 1066 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2024.169608	journal	September 2024
Photonuclear reactions—From basic research to applications Zilges, A.; Balabanski, D. L.; Isaak, J. Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, Vol. 122 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppnp.2021.103903	journal	January 2022
Active neutron and gamma-ray imaging of highly enriched uranium for treaty verification Hamel, Michael C.; Polack, J. Kyle; Ruch, Marc L. Scientific Reports, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08253-x	journal	August 2017
Characterization of the X-ray spectrum of a linear accelerator Maulin, Maëva; Allinei, Pierre Guy; Eck, Daniel EPJ Web of Conferences, Vol. 253 https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202125304002	journal	January 2021
Mitigation of photon active interrogation background for fast neutron detection Miller, Cameron A.; Meert, Christopher A.; Clarke, Shaun D. 25TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE APPLICATION OF ACCELERATORS IN RESEARCH AND INDUSTRY https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5127707	conference	January 2019
Nuclear recoil scintillation linearity of a high pressure ⁴He gas detector Biekert, A.; Hertel, S. A.; Huebler, E. Journal of Instrumentation, Vol. 14, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/14/10/P10028	journal	October 2019
Prompt Photofission Neutron Detection in Depleted Uranium Jinia, A. J.; Maurer, T. E.; Meert, C. A. Physical Review Applied, Vol. 19, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.19.054073	journal	May 2023
Passive and active neutron signatures of 233U for nondestructive assay Searfus, Oskar; Marleau, Peter; Uribe, Eva Physical Review Applied, Vol. 20, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.20.064038	journal	December 2023
An Artificial Neural Network System for Photon-Based Active Interrogation Applications Jinia, Abbas J.; Maurer, Tessa E.; Meert, Christopher A. IEEE Access, Vol. 9 https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3108406	journal	January 2021
Fission Signatures for Nuclear Material Detection Gozani, Tsahi IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 56, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2009.2015309	journal	June 2009
The Feasibility of Passive Neutron Measurement for Dry Storage Safeguards Approach Lim, Kyung Taek; Kim, Sungmin; Kim, Myungsoo IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 69, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2022.3149322	journal	June 2022
Photoneutron Detection in Active Interrogation Scenarios Using Small Organic Scintillators Meert, Christopher A.; MacDonald, Aaron T.; Jinia, Abbas J. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 69, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2022.3164601	journal	June 2022
Unfolding linac photon spectra and incident electron energies from experimental transmission data, with direct independent validation Ali, E. S. M.; McEwen, M. R.; Rogers, D. W. O. Medical Physics, Vol. 39, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1118/1.4754301	journal	October 2012
Stopping-Powers and Range Tables for Electrons, Protons, and Helium Ions, NIST Standard Reference Database 124 Seltzer, Stephen National Institute of Standards and Technology https://doi.org/10.18434/T4NC7P	dataset	January 1993

Similar Records

Prompt Photofission Neutron Detection in Depleted Uranium

Journal Article · Mon May 22 20:00:00 EDT 2023 · Physical Review Applied · OSTI ID:1991487

Ion-induced gammas for photofission interrogation of HEU.

Technical Report · Tue Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 2006 · OSTI ID:878586

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Materials analysis & modification by accelerators
Neutron physics
Nuclear reactors
Photonuclear reactions
Radiation detectors
Scintillators
Security applications of accelerators
Spectrometers & spectroscopic techniques

Detection of uranium-photofission neutrons with a 4He scintillation detector

Citation Formats

References (30)

Similar Records

Related Subjects

Detection of uranium-photofission neutrons with a ⁴He scintillation detector