Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting

Menlove, Howard O; Bourret, Steven C; Krick, Merlyn S

Title: Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting

Abstract

This invention relates to both the apparatus and method for increasing the sensitivity of measuring the amount of radioactive material in waste by reducing the interference caused by cosmic ray generated neutrons. The apparatus includes: (a) a plurality of neutron detectors, each of the detectors including means for generating a pulse in response to the detection of a neutron; and (b) means, coupled to each of the neutrons detectors, for counting only some of the pulses from each of the detectors, whether cosmic ray or fission generated. The means for counting includes a means that, after counting one of the pulses, vetos the counting of additional pulses for a prescribed period of time. The prescribed period of time is between 50 and 200 .mu.s. In the preferred embodiment the prescribed period of time is 128 .mu.s. The veto means can be an electronic circuit which includes a leading edge pulse generator which passes a pulse but blocks any subsequent pulse for a period of between 50 and 200 .mu.s. Alternately, the veto means is a software program which includes means for tagging each of the pulses from each of the detectors for both time and position, means for counting onemore » « less

Inventors:

Menlove, Howard O ^[1]; Bourret, Steven C ^[1]; Krick, Merlyn S ^[1]

Los Alamos, NM

Issue Date:: 2002-01-01

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 874590

Patent Number(s):: 6420712

Assignee:: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION

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G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
G01T1/167 - Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination
G01T1/185 - with ionisation chamber arrangements
G01T3/00 - Measuring neutron radiation

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DOE Contract Number:: W-7405-ENG-36

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: cosmic; ray; neutron; background; reduction; localized; coincidence; veto; counting; relates; apparatus; method; increasing; sensitivity; measuring; amount; radioactive; material; waste; reducing; interference; caused; generated; neutrons; plurality; detectors; including; means; generating; pulse; response; detection; coupled; pulses; fission; vetos; additional; prescribed; period; time; 50; 200; embodiment; 128; electronic; circuit; leading; edge; generator; passes; blocks; subsequent; alternately; software; tagging; position; rejecting; originate; interval; die-away; polyethylene; shield; pods; 10; vetoing; included; adjacent; pod; detector; produced; counted; leading edge; neutron count; /250/

Citation Formats


                    Menlove, Howard O, Bourret, Steven C, and Krick, Merlyn S. Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting.  United States: N. p., 2002. 
        Web.

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                    Menlove, Howard O, Bourret, Steven C, & Krick, Merlyn S. Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting.  United States.

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                    Menlove, Howard O, Bourret, Steven C, and Krick, Merlyn S. Tue .  
        "Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874590.

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@article{osti_874590,

  title        = {Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting},

  author       = {Menlove, Howard O and Bourret, Steven C and Krick, Merlyn S},

  abstractNote = {This invention relates to both the apparatus and method for increasing the sensitivity of measuring the amount of radioactive material in waste by reducing the interference caused by cosmic ray generated neutrons. The apparatus includes: (a) a plurality of neutron detectors, each of the detectors including means for generating a pulse in response to the detection of a neutron; and (b) means, coupled to each of the neutrons detectors, for counting only some of the pulses from each of the detectors, whether cosmic ray or fission generated. The means for counting includes a means that, after counting one of the pulses, vetos the counting of additional pulses for a prescribed period of time. The prescribed period of time is between 50 and 200 .mu.s. In the preferred embodiment the prescribed period of time is 128 .mu.s. The veto means can be an electronic circuit which includes a leading edge pulse generator which passes a pulse but blocks any subsequent pulse for a period of between 50 and 200 .mu.s. Alternately, the veto means is a software program which includes means for tagging each of the pulses from each of the detectors for both time and position, means for counting one of the pulses from a particular position, and means for rejecting those of the pulses which originate from the particular position and in a time interval on the order of the neutron die-away time in polyethylene or other shield material. The neutron detectors are grouped in pods, preferably at least 10. The apparatus also includes means for vetoing the counting of coincidence pulses from all of the detectors included in each of the pods which are adjacent to the pod which includes the detector which produced the pulse which was counted.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2002},

  month        = {1}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Passive neutron design study for 200-L waste drums
report, September 1997

Menlove, H. O.; Beddingfield, D. B.; Pickrell, M. M.
LA--13333-MS
https://doi.org/10.2172/534520

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Title: Cosmic ray neutron background reduction using localized coincidence veto neutron counting

Abstract

Citation Formats

Passive neutron design study for 200-L waste drums report, September 1997

Passive neutron design study for 200-L waste drums
report, September 1997