Development of a portable active interrogation system for characterizing special nuclear material

C. E. Moss, M. L. Baruzzini, D. L. Chichester, J. C. Determan, J. D. Hutchinson, W. L. Myers, M. A. Nelson, E. B. Sorensen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Detection, identification, and characterization of shielded Special Nuclear Material (SNM), and especially of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), often require active interrogation. Active interrogation with neutrons or high energy photons induces fission and thus causes the emission of characteristic gamma and neutron radiation. The detection of the emitted radiation with simple detector systems often only indicates the presence of SNM. Analysis of the correlations of the neutron emissions can provide characteristics of a material, such as multiplication and mass. Such analyses are used in well counters for characterizing SNM. Our system consists of a portable pulsed neutron generator and a portable list-mode neutron detection system. The neutron correlations between the intense interrogating pulses from the neutron generator are analyzed to determine characteristics of the SNM. After the last interrogating pulse, the die away is analyzed to identify the type of SNM. We report data from a variety of SNM objects and present preliminary analysis results.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication25th International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, CAARI 2018
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9780735419056
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event25th International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, CAARI 2018 - Grapevine, United States
Duration: Aug 12 2018Aug 17 2018

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume2160
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference25th International Conference on the Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry, CAARI 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityGrapevine
Period08/12/1808/17/18

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