Examples for Nuclear Safeguards Applications

Abstract

Four simplified examples of actual safeguard calculations are provided. First is a combined (α,n) and spontaneous fission source in a nuclear fuel assembly in a water tank with fission detectors. Second is an HLNC2 high level neutron coincidence counter for spontaneous fission and (α,n) neutron multiplicity counting. Third is an NaI scintillation detector for a photon pulse-height tally measurement of a photon source from a cylindrical UO2 pellet. Fourth is a Cf shuffler, utilizing a 252Cf spontaneous fission source, used to measure a nuclear material item, with 3He tubes measuring the time-dependent delayed neutron buildup signature. The MCNP output from these calculations provides the data for safeguard analysis.