Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications

Clarke, S. D.; Hamel, M. C.; Bourne, M. M.; Pozzi, S. A.

doi:10.1016/j.phpro.2017.09.006

Title: Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications

Abstract

Active interrogation creates an environment that is particularly challenging from a radiation-detection standpoint: the elevated background levels from the source can mask the desired signatures from the SNM. Neutron based interrogation experiments have shown that nanosecond-level timing is required to discriminate induced-fission neutrons from the scattered source neutrons. Previous experiments using high-energy bremsstrahlung X-rays have demonstrated the ability to induce and detect prompt photofission neutrons from single target materials; however, a real-world application would require spectroscopic capability to discern between photofission neutrons emitted by SNM and neutrons emitted by other reactions in non-SNM. Using digital pulseshape discrimination, organic liquid scintillators are capable of reliably detecting neutrons in an intense gamma-ray field. Photon misclassification rates as low as 1 in 10⁶ have been achieved, which is approaching the level of gaseous neutron detectors such as ³He without the need for neutron moderation. These scintillators also possess nanosecond-timing resolution, making them candidates for both neutron-and photon-driven active interrogation systems. Lastly, we have applied an array of liquid and NaI(Tl) scintillators to successfully image 13.7 kg of HEU interrogated by a DT neutron generator; the system was in the direct presence of the accelerator during the experiment.

Authors:

Clarke, S. D. ^[1]; Hamel, M. C. ^[1]; Bourne, M. M. ^[1]; Pozzi, S. A. ^[1]

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences

Publication Date:: Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE NA Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22)

OSTI Identifier:: 1454802

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0002534

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Physics Procedia

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 90; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 1875-3892

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; Organic scintillator; active interrogation; neutron imaging

Citation Formats


                    Clarke, S. D., Hamel, M. C., Bourne, M. M., and Pozzi, S. A. Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.phpro.2017.09.006.

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                    Clarke, S. D., Hamel, M. C., Bourne, M. M., & Pozzi, S. A. Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2017.09.006

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                    Clarke, S. D., Hamel, M. C., Bourne, M. M., and Pozzi, S. A. Thu .  
"Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2017.09.006.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1454802.

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@article{osti_1454802,

  title        = {Detectors for Active Interrogation Applications},

  author       = {Clarke, S. D. and Hamel, M. C. and Bourne, M. M. and Pozzi, S. A.},

  abstractNote = {Active interrogation creates an environment that is particularly challenging from a radiation-detection standpoint: the elevated background levels from the source can mask the desired signatures from the SNM. Neutron based interrogation experiments have shown that nanosecond-level timing is required to discriminate induced-fission neutrons from the scattered source neutrons. Previous experiments using high-energy bremsstrahlung X-rays have demonstrated the ability to induce and detect prompt photofission neutrons from single target materials; however, a real-world application would require spectroscopic capability to discern between photofission neutrons emitted by SNM and neutrons emitted by other reactions in non-SNM. Using digital pulseshape discrimination, organic liquid scintillators are capable of reliably detecting neutrons in an intense gamma-ray field. Photon misclassification rates as low as 1 in 106 have been achieved, which is approaching the level of gaseous neutron detectors such as 3He without the need for neutron moderation. These scintillators also possess nanosecond-timing resolution, making them candidates for both neutron-and photon-driven active interrogation systems. Lastly, we have applied an array of liquid and NaI(Tl) scintillators to successfully image 13.7 kg of HEU interrogated by a DT neutron generator; the system was in the direct presence of the accelerator during the experiment.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.phpro.2017.09.006},

  journal      = {Physics Procedia},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 90,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017},

  month        = {Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017}

}

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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1: Pulse shape discrimination for ²⁵²Cf in the presence of a high-intensity ⁶⁰Co source before (a) and after (b) rejection of piled-up pulses; the true neutron pulses are seen much more clearly in (b).

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