Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources
Abstract
A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a graphing component that displays the plot of the neutron distribution from the unknown source over a Poisson distribution and a plot of neutrons due to background or environmental sources. The system further includes a known neutron source placed in proximity to the unknown source to actively interrogate the unknown source in order to accentuate differences in neutron emission from the unknown source from Poisson distributions and/or environmental sources.
- Inventors:
-
- Alamo, CA
- Berkeley, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1055712
- Patent Number(s):
- 8194814
- Application Number:
- 11/925,682
- Assignee:
- Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Citation Formats
Rowland, Mark S, and Snyderman, Neal J. Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web.
Rowland, Mark S, & Snyderman, Neal J. Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources. United States.
Rowland, Mark S, and Snyderman, Neal J. Tue .
"Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1055712.
@article{osti_1055712,
title = {Detecting fission from special nuclear material sources},
author = {Rowland, Mark S and Snyderman, Neal J},
abstractNote = {A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a graphing component that displays the plot of the neutron distribution from the unknown source over a Poisson distribution and a plot of neutrons due to background or environmental sources. The system further includes a known neutron source placed in proximity to the unknown source to actively interrogate the unknown source in order to accentuate differences in neutron emission from the unknown source from Poisson distributions and/or environmental sources.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}
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Dispersion of the neutron emission in U-235 fission
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Third Moment of the Number of Neutrons Detected in Short Time Intervals
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