A Californium-252 Fission Spectrum Irradiation Facility for Neutron Reaction Rate Measurements

Grundl, J.A.; Spiegel, V.; Eisenhauer, C.M.; Heaton, Henry; Gilliam, D.; Bigelow, J.E.

doi:10.13182/nt77-a31755

Cited by 23 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…CONFIGURATION AND CHARACTERISTICS [Gr77a], [La82a] The two irradiation locations at NBS are distinguished by the degree to which the neutron source is isolated from environmental neutron return: Cf deposit in an aluminum pellet encapsulated in a thin-walled stainless steel cylinder. The position of the californium deposit relative to the capsule surface is known to ± 0.5 mm based on constraints of fabrication and…”

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Compendium of benchmark neutron fields for reactor dosimetry :

Grundl¹,

Eisenhauer²

1986

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Compendium of benchmark neutron fields for reactor dosimetry :

Grundl¹,

Eisenhauer²

1986

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Neutron irradiations were performed at the Californium Neutron Irradiation Facility (CNIF) at NIST, using spontaneous fission neutrons from 252 Cf decay as previously described [ 20 , 21 ]. To reduce the gamma component of the radiation field, a lead shield 2.1 cm in thickness was placed between the 252 Cf source and the samples.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant disparity in base and sugar damage in DNA resulting from neutron and electron irradiation

Pang

Nico

Karam

et al. 2014

Journal of Radiation Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this study, a comparison of the effects of neutron and electron irradiation of aqueous DNA solutions was investigated to characterize potential neutron signatures in DNA damage induction. Ionizing radiation generates numerous lesions in DNA, including base and sugar lesions, lesions involving base–sugar combinations (e.g. 8,5′-cyclopurine-2′-deoxynucleosides) and DNA–protein cross-links, as well as single- and double-strand breaks and clustered damage. The characteristics of damage depend on the linear energy transfer (LET) of the incident radiation. Here we investigated DNA damage using aqueous DNA solutions in 10 mmol/l phosphate buffer from 0–80 Gy by low-LET electrons (10 Gy/min) and the specific high-LET (∼0.16 Gy/h) neutrons formed by spontaneous 252Cf decay fissions. 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), (5′R)-8,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyadenosine (R-cdA) and (5′S)-8,5′-cyclo-2′-deoxyadenosine (S-cdA) were quantified using liquid chromatography–isotope-dilution tandem mass spectrometry to demonstrate a linear dose dependence for induction of 8-OH-dG by both types of radiation, although neutron irradiation was ∼50% less effective at a given dose compared with electron irradiation. Electron irradiation resulted in an exponential increase in S-cdA and R-cdA with dose, whereas neutron irradiation induced substantially less damage and the amount of damage increased only gradually with dose. Addition of 30 mmol/l 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (TRIS), a free radical scavenger, to the DNA solution before irradiation reduced lesion induction to background levels for both types of radiation. These results provide insight into the mechanisms of DNA damage by high-LET 252Cf decay neutrons and low-LET electrons, leading to enhanced understanding of the potential biological effects of these types of irradiation.

show abstract

“…To understand the performance of the spectrometer, it was important to characterize it in known fast neutron fields. This was accomplished through a series of measurements performed at the Californium Neutron Irradiation Facility (CNIF) at NIST [55]. The CNIF provided monoenergetic neutron generators at 2.5 MeV and 14 MeV and several 252 Cf neutron sources whose activities were known at the level of 1 % to 2 %.…”

Section: Energy Response To Monoenergetic Neutronsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast neutron detection with a segmented spectrometer

Langford

Bass

Beise

et al. 2015

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A fast neutron spectrometer consisting of segmented plastic scintillator and 3 He proportional counters was constructed for the measurement of neutrons in the energy range 1 MeV to 200 MeV. We discuss its design, principles of operation, and the method of analysis. The detector is capable of observing very low neutron fluxes in the presence of ambient gamma background and does not require scintillator pulse-shape discrimination. The spectrometer was characterized for its energy response in fast neutron fields of 2.5 MeV, 14 MeV, and the results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Measurements of the fast neutron flux and energy response at 120 m above sea-level (39.130 • N, 77.218• W) and at a depth of 560 m in a limestone mine are presented. Finally, the design of a spectrometer with improved sensitivity and energy resolution is discussed.

show abstract

A Californium-252 Fission Spectrum Irradiation Facility for Neutron Reaction Rate Measurements

Cited by 23 publications

References 3 publications

Compendium of benchmark neutron fields for reactor dosimetry :

Compendium of benchmark neutron fields for reactor dosimetry :

Significant disparity in base and sugar damage in DNA resulting from neutron and electron irradiation

Fast neutron detection with a segmented spectrometer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About