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A MODIFIED PILE OSCILLATOR FOR NEUTRON CROSS-SECTION MEASUREMENTS

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4316732· OSTI ID:4316732
A pile oscillator was designed, constructed, and operated at the Battelle Research Reactor. This pile oscillator cycles a specimen and a standard in the same container through an annular ion chamber located in the thermal column. This almost simultaneous oscillation of the standard and specimen eliminates errors caused by power drifts or fluctuations. The use of a continuous graphite rod for the container or carrier reduces undesirable scattering effects of the carrier. The oscillator was calibrated using the cross section of gold foil as a standard. Effects of geometry on measured cross sections were investigated. In general, larger samples gave higher apparent crosssection values than thin foils of comparable cross sections. Most measurements to date were made on powdered-metal samples. Values obtained at Battelle are presented and compared with values from Oak Ridge on similar samples. At present the sensitivity of the oscillator is limited to total absorption cross sections on the order of 1 mm/sup 2/ for accurate crosssection data. The limit of the accuracy of the measurements is approximately the accuracy to which the absorption cross section of the standard sample is known. An analysis of the errors indicates that cross sections on the order of 1 mm/sup 2/ can be measured to accuracies within plus or minus 5% without further modification of the oscillator. In general, the accuracy increases as the cross section is increased. (auth)
Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-92
NSA Number:
NSA-12-010979
OSTI ID:
4316732
Report Number(s):
BMI-1265
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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