INTENSE Sb-Be SOURCES MAKE 10$sup 10$ NEUTRONS/SEC

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 UTC 1961 · Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication

OSTI ID:4081835

Hennelly, E J

Antimony--beryllium sources offer a cheap way of obtaining intense neutron fluxes up to l0/sup 10/ neutrons/sec and can be made in the following way: Antimony is irradiated in a reactor to form Sb/sup 124/ and inserted into a beryllium cylinder, which emits neutrons by the gamma ,n reaction. Since Sb/sup 124/ has a half life of 60 days, the source should be reactivated 2 or 3 times a year. The advantages of the source are that it is inexpensive, rnns continuously, and gives off a nearly monoenergetic neutron beam at 25 kev similar to reactor thermal colurm fluxes. When separated from the beryllium, the antimony provides an intense gamma radiation of 10/sup 4/ r/hr at 1 ft with a mean energy of 1.05 Mev. Other aspects of the source are treated, e.g., shielding and costs. (D.L.C.)

• Research Organization: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Aiken, S.C.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-011835
• OSTI ID: 4081835
• Journal Information: Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication, Journal Name: Nucleonics (U.S.) Ceased publication Vol. Vol: 19: No. 3; ISSN NUCLA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANTIMONY
ANTIMONY 124
BERYLLIUM
CYLINDERS
ECONOMICS
EMISSION
ENERGY
ENERGY RANGE
GAMMA RADIATION
HALF-LIFE
IRRADIATION
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PHYSICS
REACTORS
SHIELDING