Monte Carlo evaluation of passive NMIS for assay of plutonium in shielded containers

Conference · Sun Jul 16 04:00:00 EDT 2000

OSTI ID:757200

Valentine, T. E. ^[1]; Chiang, L. G. ^[1]; Mihalczo, J. T. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Preliminary Monte Carlo simulations have demonstrated that passive Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS) measurements can be used to determine the mass of Pu in AT400-R containers with measurement times as short as a few minutes. The sensitivity of the proposed detectors to gamma rays should enhance this measurement method because the gamma rays from fission, induced or spontaneous, escape this container more easily than neutrons. In these calculations, the container contained two Pu spheres with mass varying between 0.5 and 2 Kg with ~6 wt% ²⁴⁰Pu.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 757200
• Report Number(s): Y/LB--16,027
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTAINERS
GAMMA DETECTION
MONTE CARLO METHOD
Measurements
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS)
PLUTONIUM
Passive
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNERS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING