Applications of boron-loaded scintillating fibers as NDA tools for nuclear safeguards

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.56959· OSTI ID:700424

Mayo, Douglas R; Ensslin, Norbert; Mercer, David J; Miller, Michael C; Russo, Phyllis A; Sweet, Martin R ^[1]; Heger, A Sharif ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
2. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 (United States)

Nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation rely on nondestructive analytical tools for prompt and noninvasive detection, verification, and quantitative analysis of nuclear materials in demanding environments. A new tool based on the detection of correlated neutrons in narrow time windows is being investigated to fill the niche created by the current limitations of the existing methods based on polyethylene moderated {sup 3}He gas proportional tubes. Commercially produced Boron-loaded ({sup 10}B) plastic scintillating fibers are one such technology under consideration. The fibers can be configured in a system to have high efficiency, short neutron die-away, pulse height sensitivity, and mechanical flexibility. Various configurations of the fibers with high density polyethylene have been considered which calculationally result in high efficiency detectors with short die-away times. A discussion of the design considerations and calculations of the detector efficiency, die-away time, and simulated pulse height spectra along with preliminary test results are presented. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 700424
• Report Number(s): CONF-9711182--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 450; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
MATERIALS TESTING
NEUTRON DETECTION
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
OPTICAL FIBERS
PLASTIC SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS