Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870679

Smith, Donald L ^[1]; Ikeda, Yujiro ^[2]; Uno, Yoshitomo ^[2]

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1. Plainfield, IL
2. 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 (United States)
• 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

Related Subjects

radiography
apparatus
gamma
rays
emitted
water
activated
fusion
neutrons
arrangement
circulating
pure
continuously
location
adjacent
source
energetic
tritium
target
irradiated
deuteron
beam
remote
radiographic
analysis
conducted
oxygen
via
16
reaction
14
-mev
produced
neutron
essentially
monoenergetic
129
predominantly
115
mev
13-second
decay
substantial
penetrating
power
useful
determining
thickness
materials
elemental
compositions
particularly
metals
high-atomic
characteristic
half
life
13
sufficient
permit
ray
generation
transported
chemical
radioactivity
hazard
falls
negligible
levels
1-2
minutes
neutrons produced
mev neutrons
gamma rays
gamma ray
neutron source
remote location
rays emitted
pure water
half life
radiography apparatus
elemental composition
fusion neutrons
energetic neutrons
energetic neutron
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