FIGARO : detecting nuclear materials using high-energy gamma rays for oxygen.

Conference · Tue Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2000

OSTI ID:766332

Michlich, B J; Smith, D L; Massey, T N; Ingram, D; Fessler, A

Potential diversion of nuclear materials is a major international concern. Fissile (e.g., U, Pu) and other nuclear materials (e.g., D, Be) can be detected using 6-7 MeV gamma rays produced in the {sup 19}F(p,{alpha}{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction. These gamma rays will induce neutron emission via the photoneutron and photofission processes in nuclear materials. However, they are not energetic enough to generate significant numbers of neutrons from most common benign materials, thereby reducing the false alarm rate. Neutrons are counted using an array of BF3 counters in a polyethylene moderator. Experiments have shown a strong increase in neutron count rates for depleted uranium, Be, D{sub 2}O, and {sup 6}Li, and little or no increase for other materials (e.g., H{sub 2}O, SS, Cu, Al, C, {sup 7}Li). Gamma source measurements using solid targets of CaF{sub 2} and MgF{sub 2} and a SF{sub 6} gas target show that proton accelerator of 3 MeV and 10-100 microampere average current could lead to acceptable detection sensitivity.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 766332
• Report Number(s): ANL/TD/CP-103050; TRN: US0102866
• Resource Relation: Conference: 2000 Conference on Applications of Accelerators in Research and Industry, Denton, TX (US), 11/01/2000--11/04/2000; Other Information: PBD: 10 Oct 2000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
BF3 COUNTERS
DEPLETED URANIUM
GAMMA SOURCES
NEUTRON EMISSION
OXYGEN
PHOTOFISSION
PHOTONEUTRONS
POLYETHYLENES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
BERYLLIUM
HEAVY WATER
LITHIUM 6
SENSITIVITY