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

Chichester, David L.; Thompson, Scott J.; Kinlaw, Mathew T.; Johnson, James T.; Dolan, Jennifer L.; Flaska, Marek; Pozzi, Sara A.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027

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

Journal Article · Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.09.027· OSTI ID:1365720

Chichester, David L. ^[1]; Thompson, Scott J. ^[1]; Kinlaw, Mathew T. ^[1]; Johnson, James T. ^[1]; Dolan, Jennifer L. ^[2]; Flaska, Marek ^[2]; Pozzi, Sara A. ^[2]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

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.

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0002534

OSTI ID:: 1365720

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1246219

Journal Information:: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 784, Issue C; ISSN 0168-9002

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 28 works

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References (13)

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