Method and apparatus for determination of temperature, neutron absorption cross section and neutron moderating power

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863800

Vagelatos, Nicholas ^[1]; Steinman, Donald K ^[1]; John, Joseph ^[1]; Young, Jack C ^[2]

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1. San Diego, CA
2. Escondido, CA

A nuclear method and apparatus determines the temperature of a medium by injecting fast neutrons into the medium and detecting returning slow neutrons in three first energy ranges by producing three respective detection signals. The detection signals are combined to produce three derived indicia each systematically related to the population of slow neutrons returning from the medium in a respective one of three second energy ranges, specifically exclusively epithermal neutrons, exclusively substantially all thermal neutrons and exclusively a portion of the thermal neutron spectrum. The derived indicia are compared with calibration indicia similarly systematically related to the population of slow neutrons in the same three second energy ranges returning from similarly irradiated calibration media for which the relationships temperature, neutron absorption cross section and neutron moderating power to such calibration indicia are known. The comparison indicates the temperature at which the calibration indicia correspond to the derived indicia and consequently the temperature of the medium. The neutron absorption cross section and moderating power of the medium can be identified at the same time.

• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0936
• Assignee: IRT Corporation (San Diego, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4251724
• OSTI ID: 863800
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
determination
temperature
neutron
absorption
section
moderating
power
nuclear
determines
medium
injecting
fast
neutrons
detecting
returning
slow
energy
ranges
producing
respective
detection
signals
combined
produce
derived
indicia
systematically
related
population
specifically
exclusively
epithermal
substantially
thermal
portion
spectrum
compared
calibration
similarly
irradiated
media
relationships
comparison
indicates
correspond
consequently
identified
time
neutron moderating
detection signals
thermal neutron
fast neutron
thermal neutrons
energy range
fast neutrons
neutron absorption
energy ranges
epithermal neutrons
detection signal
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