Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Neutron and gamma-ray energy reconstruction for characterization of special nuclear material

  • Clarke, Shaun D. (Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan) ;
  • Hamel, Michael C. (Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan) ;
  • Di fulvio, Angela (Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan) ;
  • Pozzi, Sara A. (Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan)
  • Received : 2017.05.25
  • Accepted : 2017.06.18
  • Published : 2017.09.25
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Abstract

Characterization of special nuclear material may be performed using energy spectroscopy of either the neutron or gamma-ray emissions from the sample. Gamma-ray spectroscopy can be performed relatively easily using high-resolution semiconductors such as high-purity germanium. Neutron spectroscopy, by contrast, is a complex inverse problem. Here, results are presented for $^{252}Cf$ and PuBe energy spectra unfolded using a single EJ309 organic scintillator; excellent agreement is observed with the reference spectra. Neutron energy spectroscopy is also possible using a two-plane detector array, whereby time-of-flight kinematics can be used. With this system, energy spectra can also be obtained as a function of position. Spatial-dependent energy spectra are presented for neutron and gamma-ray sources that are in excellent agreement with expectations.

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References

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