Direct fissile assay of enriched uranium using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response
Apparatus and method for the direct, nondestructive evaluation of the /sup 235/U nuclide content of samples containing UF/sub 6/, UF/sub 4/, or UO/sub 2/ utilizing the passive neutron self-interrogation of the sample resulting from the intrinsic production of neutrons therein. The ratio of the emitted neutron coincidence count rate to the total emitted neutron count rate is determined and yields a measure of the bulk fissile mass. The accuracy of the method is 6.8% (1sigma) for cylinders containing UF/sub 6/ with enrichments ranging from 6% to 98% with measurement times varying from 3-6 min. The samples contained from below 1 kg to greater than 16 kg. Since the subject invention relies on fast neutron self-interrogation, complete sampling of the UF/sub 6/ takes place, reducing difficulties arising from inhomogeneity of the sample which adversely affects other assay procedures. 4 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Application Number:
- ON: DE85017794
- OSTI ID:
- 5320785
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Direct fissile assay of highly enriched UF/sub 6/ using random self-interrogation and neutron coincidence response
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
URANIUM 235
RADIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
ACCURACY
ALPHA DECAY
ALPHA REACTIONS
COINCIDENCE METHODS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
NEUTRON DETECTION
SAFEGUARDS
SPONTANEOUS FISSION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DATA
DECAY
DETECTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FISSION
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM OXIDES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
400103* - Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures- (-1987)
055001 - Nuclear Fuels- Safeguards
Inspection
& Accountability- Technical Aspects