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Title: Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples

Abstract

Simultaneous photon and neutron interrogation of samples for the quantitative determination of total fissile nuclide and total fertile nuclide material present is made possible by the use of an electron accelerator. Prompt and delayed neutrons produced from resulting induced fissions are counted using a single detection system and allow the resolution of the contributions from each interrogating flux leading in turn to the quantitative determination sought. Detection limits for .sup.239 Pu are estimated to be about 3 mg using prompt fission neutrons and about 6 mg using delayed neutrons.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Santa Fe, NM
  3. Oak Ridge, TN
  4. Santa Barbara, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
865322
Patent Number(s):
4497768
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatus; method; quantitatively; evaluating; total; fissile; fertile; nuclide; content; samples; simultaneous; photon; neutron; interrogation; quantitative; determination; material; electron; accelerator; prompt; delayed; neutrons; produced; resulting; induced; fissions; counted; single; detection; allow; resolution; contributions; interrogating; flux; leading; sought; limits; 239; estimated; mg; fission; quantitative determination; electron accelerator; neutrons produced; fission neutron; prompt fission; delayed neutron; detection limits; nuclide content; neutron interrogation; total fertile; total fissile; induced fission; fertile nuclide; detection limit; /376/976/

Citation Formats

Caldwell, John T, Kunz, Walter E, Cates, Michael R, and Franks, Larry A. Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Caldwell, John T, Kunz, Walter E, Cates, Michael R, & Franks, Larry A. Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples. United States.
Caldwell, John T, Kunz, Walter E, Cates, Michael R, and Franks, Larry A. Tue . "Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865322.
@article{osti_865322,
title = {Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples},
author = {Caldwell, John T and Kunz, Walter E and Cates, Michael R and Franks, Larry A},
abstractNote = {Simultaneous photon and neutron interrogation of samples for the quantitative determination of total fissile nuclide and total fertile nuclide material present is made possible by the use of an electron accelerator. Prompt and delayed neutrons produced from resulting induced fissions are counted using a single detection system and allow the resolution of the contributions from each interrogating flux leading in turn to the quantitative determination sought. Detection limits for .sup.239 Pu are estimated to be about 3 mg using prompt fission neutrons and about 6 mg using delayed neutrons.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}