Detection of Special Nuclear Material in Cargo Containers Using Neutron Interrogation

Slaughter, D.R.; Accatino, M.R.; Bernstein, Aaron; Candy, James V.; Dougan, A.; Hall, James M.; Loshak, A.; Manatt, D.R.; Meyer, A.W.; Pohl, B.A.; Prussin, S.G.; Walling, R. S.; Weirup, D.L.

doi:10.2172/15005260

Cited by 41 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…[11,12] In addition to maximizing high energy gamma detection probability, the detector design must minimize interference from low energy gammas (i.e. it must be able to reject low energy gammas without undue loss of the high energy gamma signal).…”

Section: B Gamma Detection Methods and Energiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior work has shown that interference from gammas emitted between neutron pulse phases by non-SNM materials is low at gamma energies of 2.5 MeV and above. [12] Therefore the plastic scintillator configuration and signal readout and processing methods chosen should maximize gamma detection probability above 3 MeV while minimizing gamma detection probability below 2.5 MeV. As discussed earlier, the light collection efficiency for events in the scintillator bars varies with location in the bar, energy resolution will be poor.…”

Section: B Gamma Detection Methods and Energiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inexpensive plain plastic scintillator can be used in addition to lithiated plastic scintillator to yield high detection efficiencies for high energy gammas and improve fast neutron detection efficiencies by acting as a neutron moderator and reflector, both neutrons and high energy gammas being excellent signatures for the presence of SNM. [12] A reasonable approach is to intersperse bars of lithiated plastic scintillator in with plain plastic scintillator in a pattern that optimizes the detector neutronics while holding down the amount of lithium required.…”

Section: A Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cargo in a shipping container in which SNM is concealed). [11,12] The sensitivity of a detector system to radioactive material is a function of its intrinsic efficiency (equivalent to the detection probability; the probability of a radiation particle incident on the detector producing a count in the detector) and the solid angle it subtends around the radioactive material. To maximize sensitivity it is therefore desirable to use a large-area detector with a very high intrinsic detection efficiency, or detection probability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Signal Analysis for Radiation Event Identification

Wallace¹

2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An analysis program has been developed to identify scintillation pulses using the digitized signals from two photomultiplier tubes viewing the output from a common source. The analysis is directed towards identifying the noise pulses in the background signal level. In this work a neutron detector test system is constructed and methods incorporated into a program for processing digitized signals from the detector so as to determine the effectiveness of amplitude discrimination for identifying neutron pulses in the presence of spurious events. Two methods are used for identifying pulses, one based on locating a monotonic increase in the signal amplitude exceeding some threshold value and the other on a locating a number of sequential signal data points exceeding the mean and standard deviation of the baseline of the record. The software written for controlling the digital oscilloscope is flexible and allows the selection of records to be taken such that statistically useful properties can be calculated as to the loss of efficiency that results from using a discriminator to remove noise. Experimental results are presented for a lithiated sol-gel based neutron scintillator tested using this system.

show abstract

Section: B Gamma Detection Methods and Energiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: B Gamma Detection Methods and Energiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Design Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Signal Analysis for Radiation Event Identification

Wallace¹

2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These systems can be utilized to inspect cargo in shipping containers at seaports, border crossings, and air transport containers, or be deployed as mobile inspection systems. For the pulse-die away technique for locating SNM, pulsing with no neutrons between pulses, as demonstrated here, is important for detection of the resultant delayed fission neutrons [5].…”

Section: Special Nuclear Materials (Snm) Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Intensity, Pulsed, D-D Neutron Generator

Williams¹,

Vainionpaa²,

Jones³

et al. 2009

AIP Conference Proceedings

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Single ion-beam RF-plasma neutron generators are presented as a laboratory source of intense neutrons. The continuous and pulsed operations of such a neutron generator using the deuterium-deuterium fusion reaction are reported. The neutron beam can be pulsed by switching the RF plasma and/or a gate electrode. These generators are actively vacuum pumped so that a continuous supply of deuterium gas is present for the production of ions and neutrons. This contributes to the generator's long life. These single-beam generators are capable of producing up to 10 10 n/s. Previously, Adelphi and LBNL have demonstrated these generators' applications in fast neutron radiography, Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).Together with an inexpensive compact moderator, these high-output neutron generators extend useful applications to home laboratory operations.

show abstract

Homeland Security and Contraband Detection

Lanza¹

2009

Neutron Imaging and Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Detection of Special Nuclear Material in Cargo Containers Using Neutron Interrogation

Cited by 41 publications

References 17 publications

Signal Analysis for Radiation Event Identification

Signal Analysis for Radiation Event Identification

High Intensity, Pulsed, D-D Neutron Generator

Homeland Security and Contraband Detection

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About