Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons
- Plainfield, IL
- Ibaraki, JP
Radiography apparatus includes an arrangement for circulating pure water continuously between a location adjacent a source of energetic neutrons, such as a tritium target irradiated by a deuteron beam, and a remote location where radiographic analysis is conducted. Oxygen in the pure water is activated via the .sup.16 O(n,p).sup.16 N reaction using .sup.14 -MeV neutrons produced at the neutron source via the .sup.3 H(d,n).sup.4 He reaction. Essentially monoenergetic gamma rays at 6.129 (predominantly) and 7.115 MeV are produced by the 7.13-second .sup.16 N decay for use in radiographic analysis. The gamma rays have substantial penetrating power and are useful in determining the thickness of materials and elemental compositions, particularly for metals and high-atomic number materials. The characteristic decay half life of 7.13 seconds of the activated oxygen is sufficient to permit gamma ray generation at a remote location where the activated water is transported, while not presenting a chemical or radioactivity hazard because the radioactivity falls to negligible levels after 1-2 minutes.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5572559
- OSTI ID:
- 870679
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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115
129
13
13-second
14
16
activated
adjacent
analysis
apparatus
arrangement
beam
characteristic
chemical
circulating
compositions
conducted
continuously
decay
determining
deuteron
elemental
elemental composition
emitted
energetic
energetic neutron
energetic neutrons
essentially
falls
fusion
fusion neutrons
gamma
gamma ray
gamma rays
generation
half
half life
hazard
high-atomic
irradiated
levels
life
location
materials
metals
mev
mev neutrons
minutes
monoenergetic
negligible
neutron
neutron source
neutrons
neutrons produced
oxygen
particularly
penetrating
permit
power
predominantly
produced
pure
pure water
radioactivity
radiographic
radiography
radiography apparatus
ray
rays
rays emitted
reaction
remote
remote location
source
substantial
sufficient
target
thickness
transported
tritium
useful
via
water