Development of a compact fast-neutron spectrometer for nuclear emergency response applications

Perello, Jesus; Shin, Tony H.; Cutler, Theresa; Bartlett, K.; Bates, Cameron; Beckman, Darrel; Borgwardt, Tyler; Hemsing, D.; Mercer, D.; Smith, K.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2023.168468

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Neutron time-of-ight systems can provide very good neutron spectroscopy, but require large distances (order of one meter) to operate and multiple radiation detectors [5][6][7]. Additional methods have been explored that are based on the multiplicity and angular correlations between detected neutrons [8,9].…”

Section: Background and Past Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron Spectroscopy of Plutonium using a Handheld Detection System

Clarke,

Lopez,

Mozin

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability to distinguish multiple forms of plutonium from one another, such as oxide and metal, is paramount to areas of nuclear nonproliferation and international safeguards. In its metal form, plutonium can be readily used in a nuclear weapon, while oxide forms are associated with nuclear reactor fuel. Oxide-based plutonium forms emit neutrons with an energy spectrum that is significantly different from the fission neutrons that are emitted from plutonium metal. Organic scintillation detectors output pulses that are proportional to the neutron energy deposited, and therefore present a means of distinguishing these plutonium forms based on their energy spectra. In this work, metal and oxide forms of plutonium were measured using a handheld detection system based on an organic glass scintillator. Monte Carlo modeling of these experiments was performed to provide insight into the origin of the features in the observed light output spectra. Through analysis of multiple regions of these spectra, in a matter of minutes we were able to unambiguously discriminate oxide and metal plutonium forms from one another and from a plutonium-beryllium neutron source, which was considered for comparison because these sources are commonly used in industrial applications. The ability to discriminate weapons-usable material from nuclear reactor fuel has applications in nuclear treaty verification and safeguards.

show abstract

Section: Background and Past Workmentioning

confidence: 99%