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Title: Statistical estimation of the performance of a fast-neutron multiplicity system for nuclear material accountancy

Abstract

Statistical analyses have been performed to develop bounding estimates of the expected performance of a conceptual fast-neutron multiplicity system (FNMS) for assaying plutonium. The conceptual FNMS design includes 32 cubic liquid scintillator detectors, measuring 7.62 cm per side, configured into 4 stacked rings of 8 detectors each. Expected response characteristics for the individual FNMS detectors, as well as the response characteristics of the entire FNMS, were determined using Monte Carlo simulations based on prior validation experiments. The results from these simulations were then used to estimate the Pu assay capabilities of the FNMS in terms of counting time, assay mass, and assay mass variance, using assay mass variance as a figure of merit. The analysis results are compared against a commonly used thermal-neutron coincidence counter. The advantages of using a fast-neutron counting system versus a thermal-neutron counting system are significant. Most notably, the time required to perform an assay to an equivalent assay mass variance is greatly reduced with a fast-neutron system, by more than an order of magnitude compared with that of the thermal-neutron system, due to the reduced probability of random summing with the fast system. The improved FNMS performance is especially relevant for assays involving Pu massesmore » of 10 g or more.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
OSTI Identifier:
1365720
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1246219
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0002534
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: 784; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; Fast neutron; Neutron multiplicity; Nuclear material accountancy; Safeguards

Citation Formats

Chichester, David L., Thompson, Scott J., Kinlaw, Mathew T., Johnson, James T., Dolan, Jennifer L., Flaska, Marek, and Pozzi, Sara A. Statistical estimation of the performance of a fast-neutron multiplicity system for nuclear material accountancy. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027.
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Chichester, David L., Thompson, Scott J., Kinlaw, Mathew T., Johnson, James T., Dolan, Jennifer L., Flaska, Marek, & Pozzi, Sara A. Statistical estimation of the performance of a fast-neutron multiplicity system for nuclear material accountancy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027
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Chichester, David L., Thompson, Scott J., Kinlaw, Mathew T., Johnson, James T., Dolan, Jennifer L., Flaska, Marek, and Pozzi, Sara A. Mon . "Statistical estimation of the performance of a fast-neutron multiplicity system for nuclear material accountancy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1365720.
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@article{osti_1365720,
title = {Statistical estimation of the performance of a fast-neutron multiplicity system for nuclear material accountancy},
author = {Chichester, David L. and Thompson, Scott J. and Kinlaw, Mathew T. and Johnson, James T. and Dolan, Jennifer L. and Flaska, Marek and Pozzi, Sara A.},
abstractNote = {Statistical analyses have been performed to develop bounding estimates of the expected performance of a conceptual fast-neutron multiplicity system (FNMS) for assaying plutonium. The conceptual FNMS design includes 32 cubic liquid scintillator detectors, measuring 7.62 cm per side, configured into 4 stacked rings of 8 detectors each. Expected response characteristics for the individual FNMS detectors, as well as the response characteristics of the entire FNMS, were determined using Monte Carlo simulations based on prior validation experiments. The results from these simulations were then used to estimate the Pu assay capabilities of the FNMS in terms of counting time, assay mass, and assay mass variance, using assay mass variance as a figure of merit. The analysis results are compared against a commonly used thermal-neutron coincidence counter. The advantages of using a fast-neutron counting system versus a thermal-neutron counting system are significant. Most notably, the time required to perform an assay to an equivalent assay mass variance is greatly reduced with a fast-neutron system, by more than an order of magnitude compared with that of the thermal-neutron system, due to the reduced probability of random summing with the fast system. The improved FNMS performance is especially relevant for assays involving Pu masses of 10 g or more.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = C,
volume = 784,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027
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