Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons
Abstract
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}N-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. 15 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 392645
- Patent Number(s):
- 5572559
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-583,150; TRN: 96:028499
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 5 Nov 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; 07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCE TECHNOLOGY; GAMMA RADIOGRAPHY; GAMMA SOURCES; DESIGN; OXYGEN 16 TARGET; NEUTRON REACTIONS; CHARGE-EXCHANGE REACTIONS; NITROGEN 16; NITROGEN 14; GAMMA DECAY; TRITIUM TARGET; HELIUM 4
Citation Formats
Smith, D L, Ikeda, Yujiro, and Uno, Yoshitomo. Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Smith, D L, Ikeda, Yujiro, & Uno, Yoshitomo. Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons. United States.
Smith, D L, Ikeda, Yujiro, and Uno, Yoshitomo. Tue .
"Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons". United States.
@article{osti_392645,
title = {Radiography apparatus using gamma rays emitted by water activated by fusion neutrons},
author = {Smith, D L and Ikeda, Yujiro and Uno, Yoshitomo},
abstractNote = {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}N-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. 15 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1996},
month = {11}
}