Neutron and Photon Transport in Sea-Going Cargo Containers

Journal Article · Wed Feb 09 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of Applied Physics

OSTI ID:884761

Pruet, J; Descalle, M; Hall, J; Pohl, B; Prussin, S G

Factors affecting sensing of small quantities of fissionable material in large sea-going cargo containers by neutron interrogation and detection of {beta}-delayed photons are explored. The propagation of variable-energy neutrons in cargos, subsequent fission of hidden nuclear material and production of the {beta}-delayed photons, and the propagation of these photons to an external detector are considered explicitly. Detailed results of Monte Carlo simulations of these stages in representative cargos are presented. Analytical models are developed both as a basis for a quantitative understanding of the interrogation process and as a tool to allow ready extrapolation of the results to cases not specifically considered here.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 884761
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JRNL-209546
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 094908 Vol. 97; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CARGO
CONTAINERS
DETECTION
EXTRAPOLATION
FISSION
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
NEUTRONS
PHOTON TRANSPORT
PHOTONS
PRODUCTION