Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples

Patent · Tue Feb 05 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5424533

Caldwell, J T; Cates, M R; Franks, L A; Kunz, W E

Simultaneous photon and neutron interrogation of samples for the quantitative determination of total fissile nuclide and total fertile nuclide material present is made possible by the use of an electron accelerator. Prompt and delayed neutrons produced from resulting induced fissions are counted using a single detection system and allow the resolution of the contributions from each interrogating flux leading in turn to the quantitative determination sought. Detection limits for /sup 239/Pu are estimated to be about 3 mg using prompt fission neutrons and about 6 mg using delayed delayed neutrons.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4497768
• OSTI ID: 5424533
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCELERATORS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
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ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
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EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
GAMMA DETECTION
HEAVY NUCLEI
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LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MATERIALS
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NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON SOURCES
NUCLEAR REACTION ANALYSIS
NUCLEI
PARTICLE SOURCES
PARTICLES
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PULSE RISE TIME
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPES
SAMPLING
TIMING PROPERTIES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES