Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS) with Gamma Spectrometry for Attributes of Pu, HEU, and Detection of HE and Chemical Agents

Conference · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2002

OSTI ID:799521

Mihalczo, J. T. ^[1]; Mattingly, J. K. ^[1]; Mullens, J. A. ^[1]; Neal, J. S. ^[1]

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

A combined Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS)-gamma ray spectrometry system can be used passively to obtain the following attributes of Pu: presence, fissile mass, 240/239 ratio, and metal vs. oxide. This system can also be used with a small, portable, DT neutron generator to measure the attributes of highly enriched uranium (HEU): presence, fissile mass, enrichment, metal vs. oxide; and detect the presence of high explosives (HE). For the passive system, time-dependent coincidence distributions can be used for the presence, fissile mass, metal vs. oxide for Pu, and gamma-ray spectrometry can be used for 239/240 ratio and presence. So presence can be confirmed by two methods. For the active system with a DT neutron generator, all four attributes for both Pu and HEU can be determined from various features of the time-dependent coincidence distribution measurements for both Pu and HEU. Active gamma ray spectrometry would also give presence and 240/239 ratio for Pu, enrichment for HEU, and metal vs. oxide for both. Active gamma ray spectrometry would determine the presence of HE. The various features of time-dependent coincidence distributions and gamma ray spectrometry that determine these attributes are discussed with some examples from previous determinations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22800
• OSTI ID: 799521
• Report Number(s): Y/LB--16,124
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DETECTION
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
Gamma Ray Spectrometry System
HEU
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
NEUTRON GENERATORS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS)
PLUTONIUM