Plutonium scrap multiplicity counter operation manual

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6833651

Menlove, H O; Baca, J; Krick, M S; Kroncke, K E; Langner, D G

This manual describes the design features and performance and operating characteristics for the plutonium scrap multiplicity counter (PSMC). It counts neutron multiplicities to quantitatively assay plutonium in many forms, including impure scrap and waste. Monte Carlo neutronic calculations were used to design the high-efficiency (55%) detector using eighty [sup 3]He tubes in a high-density polyethylene body. The new multiplicity shift-register electronics can sort multiplicities up to 256. The PSMC can be applied to plutonium masses in the range from a few milligrams to 5 kg; both conventional coincidence counting and multiplicity counting are used as appropriate. This manual gives the performance data and preliminary calibration parameters for the PSMC.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6833651
• Report Number(s): LA-12479-M; ISPO--349; ON: DE93005837
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440103* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA DETECTION
CALCULATION METHODS
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
DETECTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HE-3 COUNTERS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HELIUM 3 REACTIONS
ISOTOPES
MANUALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
OPERATION
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES