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Title: Fissile material detection using neutron time-correlations from photofission

Journal Article · · AIP Advances
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5082174· OSTI ID:1512574
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [3]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Passport Systems Inc., North Billerica, MA (United States); Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
  3. Passport Systems Inc., North Billerica, MA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The detection of special nuclear materials (SNM) in commercial cargoes is a major objective in the field of nuclear security. In this work we investigate the use of two-neutron time-correlations from photo-fission using the Prompt Neutrons from Photofission (PNPF) detectors in Passport Systems Inc.’s (PSI) Shielded Nuclear Alarm Resolution (SNAR) platform for the purpose of detecting ~5 kg quantities of fissionable materials in seconds. The goal of this effort was to extend the secondary scan mode of this system to differentiate fissile materials, such as highly enriched uranium, from fissionable materials, such as low enriched and depleted uranium (LEU and DU). Experiments were performed using a variety of material samples, and data were analyzed using the variance-over-mean technique referred to as Y2F or Feynman-α. Results were compared to computational models to improve our ability to predict system performance for distinguishing fissile materials. Simulations were then combined with empirical formulas to generate receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for a variety of shielding scenarios. We show that a 10 second screening with a 200 μA 9 MeV X-ray beam is sufficient to differentiate kilogram quantities of HEU from DU in various shielding scenarios in a standard cargo container.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1512574
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-760386; 948750
Journal Information:
AIP Advances, Vol. 9, Issue 2; ISSN 2158-3226
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 2 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (16)

FIG. 1(p. 7)figure FIG. 1
FIG. 2(p. 8)figure FIG. 2
FIG. 3(p. 8)figure FIG. 3
TABLE I(p. 8)table TABLE I
FIG. 4(p. 9)figure FIG. 4
TABLE II(p. 9)table TABLE II
FIG. 5(p. 10)figure FIG. 5
FIG. 6(p. 10)figure FIG. 6
FIG. 7(p. 11)figure FIG. 7
FIG. 8(p. 11)figure FIG. 8
FIG. 9(p. 12)figure FIG. 9
TABLE III(p. 12)table TABLE III
FIG. 10(p. 13)figure FIG. 10
FIG. 11(p. 13)figure FIG. 11
TABLE IV(p. 13)table TABLE IV
FIG. 12(p. 14)figure FIG. 12

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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION