Monte Carlo analysis of nondestructive assay techniques for highly enriched uranium oxide

S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, S. A. Pozzi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nondestructive assay (NDA) of uranium samples is typically performed using either active neutron multiplicity counting or passive gamma-ray spectroscopy. For large quantities (around 10 kg) of pure, highly enriched uranium (HEU) such as HEU oxide, active well coincidence counters (AWCCs) are widely used to detect time-correlated neutrons from neutron-induced fission with 3He tubes embedded in a polyethylene moderator. The active source used to induce the fissions is typically americium-lithium (AmLi). The purported advantage of this method over gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis is the greater penetrability of neutrons in the measured samples; however, the degree of this advantage has not been yet quantified in detail. The objective of this work is to perform Monte Carlo simulations of neutron multiplicity and gamma-ray spectroscopic analysis for the determination of the fissile mass of HEU-oxide samples. A range of such samples has been previously measured using both an AWCC and a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Here, the two techniques are directly compared in their ability to detect a range of diverted uranium-oxide masses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages331-335
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781467301183
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2011
Event2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011 - Valencia, Spain
Duration: Oct 23 2011Oct 29 2011

Publication series

NameIEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
ISSN (Print)1095-7863

Other

Other2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2011
Country/TerritorySpain
CityValencia
Period10/23/1110/29/11

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Radiation
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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