• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 1973

For fast neutron spectroscopy in MeV region, a recoil proton telescope detector was designed and constructed so as to increase in detection efficiency without appreciable deterioration in energy resolution by adopting a special type of recoil proton radiator which is a combination of a ring-shaped vertical radiator and a cone-shaped horizontal radiator at a certain geometry. A neutron stopper was built in the detector system to minimize the background due to direct exposure of the Si(Li) detectors to primary incident neutrons. The detection efficiency and the energy resolution calculated at various neutron energies and geometries are given and these characteristics of the detector system were tested by 14.1 MeV neutrons. As the calculation predicted, the relative detection efficiency in case of the combined radiator system is almost 2.2 times of that for a single, ring-shaped vertical radiator system. The calculated energy resolution is 3.7% FWHM, whereas the measured resolution was 3.9% which means resolution broadening of approximately. 30% was resulted by introducing a combined radiator system into the telescope. Increase in background less than 40% was also observed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.549-555
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• 2017

A lead slowing-down spectrometer (LSDS) system is under development to analyze isotopic fissile content that is applicable to spent fuel and recycled material. The source neutron mechanism for efficient and effective generation was also determined. The source neutron interacts with a lead medium and produces continuous neutron energy, and this energy generates dominant fission at each fissile, below the unresolved resonance region. From the relationship between the induced fissile fission and the fast fission neutron detection, a mathematical assay model for an isotopic fissile material was set up. The assay model can be expanded for all fissile materials. The correction factor for self-shielding was defined in the fuel assay area. The corrected fission signature provides well-defined fission properties with an increase in the fissile content. The assay procedure was also established. The assay energy range is very important to take into account the prominent fission structure of each fissile material. Fission detection occurred according to the change of the Pu239 weight percent (wt%), but the content of U235 and Pu241 was fixed at 1 wt%. The assay result was obtained with 2~3% uncertainty for Pu239, depending on the amount of Pu239 in the fuel. The results show that LSDS is a very powerful technique to assay the isotopic fissile content in spent fuel and recycled materials for the reuse of fissile materials. Additionally, a LSDS is applicable during the optimum design of spent fuel storage facilities and their management. The isotopic fissile content assay will increase the transparency and credibility of spent fuel storage.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.837-846
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• 2014

A lead slowing down spectrometer (LSDS) is under development for analysis of isotopic fissile material contents in pyro-processed material, or spent fuel. Many current commercial fissile assay technologies have a limitation in accurate and direct assay of fissile content. However, LSDS is very sensitive in distinguishing fissile fission signals from each isotope. A neutron spectrum analysis was conducted in the spectrometer and the energy resolution was investigated from 0.1eV to 100keV. The spectrum was well shaped in the slowing down energy. The resolution was enough to obtain each fissile from 0.2eV to 1keV. The detector existence in the lead will disturb the source neutron spectrum. It causes a change in resolution and peak amplitude. The intense source neutron production was designed for ~E12 n's/sec to overcome spent fuel background. The detection sensitivity of U238 and Th232 fission chamber was investigated. The first and second layer detectors increase detection efficiency. Thorium also has a threshold property to detect the fast fission neutrons from fissile fission. However, the detection of Th232 is about 76% of that of U238. A linear detection model was set up over the slowing down neutron energy to obtain each fissile material content. The isotopic fissile assay using LSDS is applicable for the optimum design of spent fuel storage to maximize burnup credit and quality assurance of the recycled nuclear material for safety and economics. LSDS technology will contribute to the transparency and credibility of pyro-process using spent fuel, as internationally demanded.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2306-2312
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• 2020

Here we report on the first results of sensitivity evaluation of the gadolinium-aluminum-gallium- garnet (GAGG) scintillation detector with SiPM readout to fast and slow neutrons and, to the natural background and Co-60 γ-radiation as well. Data on sensitivity were obtained using certified dosimetry benches, so it can be utilized in the calculation of detection limits of neutron flux with such type of detectors. It was concluded that use of GAGG scintillator has a good prospect for neutron monitoring in different parts of nuclear research reactors and power plants.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.415-417
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• 2008

This study is to measure the radiation dose of neutrons generated by the particle accelerator during X-ray (photon) treatment with a neutron detection method by using CR-39, and to research how the generation of neutrons may incur problems associated with radiation doses for patient treatment when using high energy photons for cancer treatment as a clinical application. The findings are summarized as follows : The results showed that average 0.35mSv was measured with exposure of 1Gy photon in case of fast neutron, 0.65mSv with exposure of 2Gy photon, 1.82mSv exposure of 5Gy, 0.26mSv with exposure of 1Gy photon in case of thermal neutron, 0.56mSv with exposure of 2Gy photon, and 1.23mSv with exposure of 5Gy of photon. By measuring the occurrence of neutron by using Wedge Filter, it has been confirmed that the occurrence of neutrons increased when using Wedge Filter. The results also showed that more neutrons were detected over the existing experiments when using an SRS Cone requiring high doses of radiation. Total 2.85mSv neutrons were found on the average with exposure of 5Gy photon in case of fast neutron and 1.37mSv neutrons were found on the average with exposure of 5Gy photon in case of thermal neutron. During the general treatment, about 1.6 times more neutrons over 5Gy photon were found in case of fast neutron and about 1.12 time more neutrons over 5Gy photon were found in case of thermal neutron.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2018.11a
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• pp.155-156
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• 2018

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.72-73
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• 2019

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2017

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1964-1969
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• 2021

We developed a Dual-PPACs detector for fast neutron measurements that consists of two sets of PPAC: conventional PPAC and fission PPAC. A²³⁸U(U₃O₈) coating is placed in the fission PPAC's anode, which is used as the neutrons conversion layer. An experiment was performed to measure neutron time-of-flight (TOF) in which ²⁵²Cf spontaneous fission source was used. An excellent time resolution of 164ps has been observed at 6 mbar in isobutene gas. With the excellent time resolution of Dual-PPACs detector, exact neutron energy can be extracted from the timing measurement. The experimental detection efficiency was 1.9 × 10^-7, consistent with the efficiency of 2.5 × 10^-7 given by a Geant4 simulation. Ultimately, the results show that the Dual-PPACs detector is a suitable candidate for measuring fast neutrons in the future CiADS system.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 2022

CZT detectors, which are compound semiconductors that have been widely used recently for gamma-ray detection purposes, are difficult to detect neutrons because direct interaction with them does not occur unlike gamma-rays. In this paper, a method of detecting and determining energy levels (fast neutrons and thermal neutrons) of neutrons, in addition of identifying energy and nuclide of gamma-rays, and evaluating gamma dose rates using a CZT semiconductor detector is described. Neutrons may be detected by a secondary photoelectric effect or compton scattering process with a characteristic gamma-ray of 558.6 keV generated by a capture reaction (¹¹³Cd + ¹n → ¹¹⁴Cd + 𝛾) with cadmium (Cd) in the CZT detector. However, in the case of fast neutrons, the probability of capture reaction with cadmium (Cd) is very low, so it must be moderated to thermal neutrons using a moderator and the material and thickness of moderator should be determined in consideration of the portability and detection efficiency of the equipment. Conversely, in the case of thermal neutrons, the detection efficiency decreases due to shielding effect of moderator itself, so additional CZT detector that do not contain moderator must be configured. The CZT detector that does not contain moderator can be used to evaluate energy, nuclide, and gamma dose-rate for gamma-rays. The technology proposed in this paper provides a method for detecting both neutrons and gamma-rays using a CZT detector.