Design and performance of A 3He-free coincidence counter based on parallel plate boron-lined proportional technology
Abstract
Thermal neutron counters utilized and developed for deployment as non-destructive assay (NDA) instruments in the field of nuclear safeguards traditionally rely on 3He-based proportional counting systems. 3He-based proportional counters have provided core NDA detection capabilities for several decades and have proven to be extremely reliable with range of features highly desirable for nuclear facility deployment. Facing the current depletion of 3He gas supply and the continuing uncertainty of options for future resupply, a search for detection technologies that could provide feasible short-term alternative to 3He gas was initiated worldwide. As part of this effort, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) designed and built a 3He-free full scale thermal neutron coincidence counter based on boron-lined proportional technology. The boronlined technology was selected in a comprehensive inter-comparison exercise based on its favorable performance against safeguards specific parameters. This paper provides an overview of the design and initial performance evaluation of the prototype High Level Neutron counter – Boron (HLNB). The initial results suggest that current HLNB design is capable to provide ~80% performance of a selected reference 3He-based coincidence counter (High Level Neutron Coincidence Counter, HLNCC). Similar samples are expected to be measurable in both systems, however, slightly longer measurement times may bemore »
- Authors:
-
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1239264
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1247385
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-14-27950
Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002; PII: S0168900215002600
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 788; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
Citation Formats
Henzlova, D., Menlove, H. O., and Marlow, J. B. Design and performance of A 3He-free coincidence counter based on parallel plate boron-lined proportional technology. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2015.02.050.
Henzlova, D., Menlove, H. O., & Marlow, J. B. Design and performance of A 3He-free coincidence counter based on parallel plate boron-lined proportional technology. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.02.050
Henzlova, D., Menlove, H. O., and Marlow, J. B. Wed .
"Design and performance of A 3He-free coincidence counter based on parallel plate boron-lined proportional technology". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.02.050. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1239264.
@article{osti_1239264,
title = {Design and performance of A 3He-free coincidence counter based on parallel plate boron-lined proportional technology},
author = {Henzlova, D. and Menlove, H. O. and Marlow, J. B.},
abstractNote = {Thermal neutron counters utilized and developed for deployment as non-destructive assay (NDA) instruments in the field of nuclear safeguards traditionally rely on 3He-based proportional counting systems. 3He-based proportional counters have provided core NDA detection capabilities for several decades and have proven to be extremely reliable with range of features highly desirable for nuclear facility deployment. Facing the current depletion of 3He gas supply and the continuing uncertainty of options for future resupply, a search for detection technologies that could provide feasible short-term alternative to 3He gas was initiated worldwide. As part of this effort, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) designed and built a 3He-free full scale thermal neutron coincidence counter based on boron-lined proportional technology. The boronlined technology was selected in a comprehensive inter-comparison exercise based on its favorable performance against safeguards specific parameters. This paper provides an overview of the design and initial performance evaluation of the prototype High Level Neutron counter – Boron (HLNB). The initial results suggest that current HLNB design is capable to provide ~80% performance of a selected reference 3He-based coincidence counter (High Level Neutron Coincidence Counter, HLNCC). Similar samples are expected to be measurable in both systems, however, slightly longer measurement times may be anticipated for large samples in HLNB. The initial evaluation helped to identify potential for further performance improvements via additional tailoring of boron-layer thickness.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2015.02.050},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = C,
volume = 788,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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