• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2018

In this paper, a neutron moderation system for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) based on a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source is proposed. Different materials have been studied in order to produce a high percentage of epithermal neutrons. A moderator with a construction mixture of $AlF_3$ and Al, three reflectors of $Al_2O_3$, BeO, graphite, and seven filters (Bi, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ti, a two-layer filter of Ti+Bi, and a two-layer filter of Ti+Pb) is considered. The MCNPX simulation code has been used to calculate the neutron and gamma flux at the output window of the neutronic system. The results show that the epithermal neutron flux is relatively high for four filters: Ti+Pb, Ti+Bi, Bi, and Ti. However, a layer of Ti cannot reduce the contribution of ${\gamma}$-rays at the output window. Although the neutron spectra filtered by the Ti+Bi and Ti+Pb overlap, a large fraction of neutrons (74.95%) has epithermal energy when the Ti+Pb is used as a filter. However, the percentages of the fast and thermal neutrons are 25% and 0.5%, respectively. The Bi layer provides a relatively low epithermal neutron flux. Moreover, an assembly configuration of 30% $AlF_3+70%$ Al moderator/$Al_2O_3$ reflector/a two-layer filter of Ti+Pb reduces the fast neutron flux at the output port much more than other assembly combinations. In comparison with a recent model suggested by Ghassoun et al., the proposed neutron moderation system provides a higher epithermal flux with a relatively low contamination of gamma rays.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 1994

The MCNP 4.2 code was used to calculate the thermal neutron flux distributions for $(n,\;{\gamma})$reaction in mainshell, annular plate, and subshell of the calandria of a CANDU 6 plant during operation. The thermal neutron flux distributions in calandria mainshell, annular plate, and subshell were in the range of $10^{11}{\sim}10^{13}\;neutrons/cm^2-sec$ which is somewhat higher than the previous estimates calculated by DOT 4.2 code. As an application to shielding analysis, photon dose rates outside the side and bottom shields were calculated. The resulting dose rates at the reactor accessible areas were below design target, $6 {\mu}Sv/h$. The methodology used in this study to evaluate the thermal neutron flux distribution for $(n,\;{\gamma})reaction$ can be applied to radiation shielding analysis of CANDU 6 type plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• 제10권5호
• /
• pp.337-341
• /
• 2016

We measured the neutron capture cross-section of natural Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction in the energy regions from 0.003 to 10 eV. The 46-MeV electron linear accelerator of Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University was used for generating a continuous neutron source. The neutron time-of-flight method was adopted for energy measurement. An assembly of BGO($Bi_4Ge_3O_{12}$) scintillators composed of 12 pieces of BGO crystals measured prompt gamma rays from Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction. The BGO assembly was located at a distance of $12.7{\pm}0.02m$ from the neutron source. In order to determine the neutron flux impinging on the Sm, the $^{10}B(n,{\alpha}{\gamma})^7Li$ standard cross-section were used. Natural Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction measurement result of the neutron capture cross-section was compared with the results of evaluation of the BROND-2.2 and the previous experimental data of J. C. Chou and V. N. Kononov.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.8-24
• /
• 1981

This paper presents flux-to-dose-rate conversion factors for neutrons and gamma rays based on the American National Standard Institute(ANSI) N666. These data are used to calculated the dose rate distribution of neutron and gamma ray in radiation fields. Neutron flux-to-dose-rate conversion factors for energies from $2.5{\times}10^{-8}$ to 20 MeV are presented; the corresponding energy range for gamma rays is 0.01 to 15 MeV. Flux-to-dose-rate conversion factors were calculated, under the assumption that radiation energy distribution has nonlinearity in the phantom, have different meaning from those values obtained by monoetiergetic radiation. Especially, these values were determined with the cross section library. The flux-to-dose-rate conversion factors obtained in this work were in a good agreement to the values presented by ANSI. Those data will be a useful for the radiation shielding analysis and the radiation dosimetry in the case of continuous energy distributions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.30-41
• /
• 2002

The neutron beam is fully characterized for the prompt gamma activation analysis facility at Hanaro in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI). The facility uses thermal neutrons which are diffracted vertically from a horizontal beam port by a set of pyrolytic graphite(PG) crystals positioned at the Bragg angle of 45" Neutron spectra, neutron flux and Cd-ratio are determined for the three extraction modes of diffracted beam by means of the theoretical and experimental efforts. To obtain theoretical result, the reflectivity of pyrolytic graphite is calculated in the diffraction model for mosaic crystal and the angular divergence after diffraction by mosaic crystal is estimated from Monte Carlo simulation. The time-of-flight spectrometer and gold activation wire are used for measuring the neutron spectra. Both the calculated and measured spectra have proven that the unique feature of polychromatic beam obtained by PG crystals are useful for PGAA. The thermal neutron flux of 7.9$\times$107 n/cm$^2$s and the Cd-ratio of 266 for gold have been achieved at the sample position while the reactor operates at 24 MW The uniformity of beam flux is 12% in the central 1$\times$1 cm$^2$ area. Finally, the beam is briefly characterized by the effective velocity and temperature which are determined by measuring the prompt Y-ray spectra for thin and thick boron samples.ples.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.787-791
• /
• 2017

Americium-beryllium (Am-Be; n, ${\gamma}$) is a neutron emitting source used in various research fields such as chemistry, physics, geology, archaeology, medicine, and environmental monitoring, as well as in the forensic sciences. It is a mobile source of neutron activity (20 Ci), yielding a small thermal neutron flux that is water moderated. The aim of this study is to develop a model to increase the neutron thermal flux of a source such as Am-Be. This study achieved multiple advantageous results: primarily, it will help us perform neutron activation analysis. Next, it will give us the opportunity to produce radio-elements with short half-lives. Am-Be single and multisource (5 sources) experiments were performed within an irradiation facility with a paraffin moderator. The resulting models mainly increase the thermal neutron flux compared to the traditional method with water moderator.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 1980

This paper presentss flux-to-dose conversion factors for neutrons and gamma-rays based on the concept of the maximum absorbed dose. Neutron flux-to-does-rate conversion factors for energies from 2.5$\times$10$^{-8}$ to 20 MeV are presented while the conversion factors for gamma-rays are given in the energy range of 0.01 to 15MeV. Flux-to-does-rate conversion factors, which were calculated under the assumption that the radiation energy distribution has nonlinearity in phantom, are different from those values obtained by monoenergetic radiation. Especially, these values obtained here were determined for the cross section libray such as DLC-23, DLC-27, and DLC-31. The flux-to-dose-rate conversion factors obtained in this work are in a good agreement with the values presented by American National Standard Institute (ANSI) N666. These results are used to calculate the dose rate distribution of neutron and gamma-ray in any radiation fields, and will be useful for the radiation shielding analysis, radiation protection and radiation dosimetry concerned with problems of continuous energy distribution.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권12호
• /
• pp.4329-4334
• /
• 2023

In this research, a prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) system is designed and constructed based on the use of a low power research reactor. For this purpose, despite the fact that this reactor did not include beam tubes, a thermal neutron beam line is installed inside the reactor tank. The extraction of the beam line from inside the tank made it possible to provide the neutron flux from the order of 106 n.cm^-2.s^-1. Also, because the beam line is installed in a tangential position to the reactor core, its gamma level has been minimized. Also, a suitable radiation shield is considered for the detector to minimize the background radiation and prevent radiation damage to the detector. Calculations and measurements are done in order to characterize this system, as well as spectrometry of several samples. The results of evaluations and experiments show that this system is suitable for performing PGNAA.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제41권4호
• /
• pp.378-383
• /
• 2016

Background: Radiation dose rates in PRIDE facility is evaluated quantitatively for assessing radiation safety of workers because of large amounts of depleted uranium being handled in PRIDE facility. Even if direct radiation from depleted uranium is very low and will not expose a worker to significant amounts of external radiation. Materials and Methods: ORIGEN-ARP code was used for calculating the neutron and gamma source term being generated from depleted uranium (DU), and the MCNP5 code was used for calculating the neutron and gamma fluxes and dose rates. Results and Discussion: The neutron and gamma fluxes and dose rates due to DU on spherical surface of 30 cm radius were calculated with the variation of DU mass and density. In this calculation, an imaginary case in which DU density is zero was added to check the self-shielding effect of DU. In this case, the DU sphere was modeled as a point. In case of DU mixed with molten salt of 50-250 g, the neutron and gamma fluxes were calculated respectively. It was found that the molten salt contents in DU had little effect on the neutron and the gamma fluxes. The neutron and the gamma fluxes, under the respective conditions of 1 and 5 kg mass of DU, and 5 and $19.1g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$ density of DU, were calculated with the molten salt (LiCl+KCl) of 50 g fixed, and compared with the source term. As the results, similar tendency was found in neutron and gamma fluxes with the variation of DU mass and density when compared with source spectra, except their magnitudes. Conclusion: In the case of the DU mass over 5 kg, the dose rate was shown to be higher than the environmental dose rate. From these results, it is concluded that if a worker would do an experiment with DU having over 5 kg of mass, the worker should be careful in order not to be exposed to the radiation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• 제16권5호
• /
• pp.426-429
• /
• 2003

Neutron induced prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (NIPS) system equipped with a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source and a n-type coaxial HPGe detector was installed for the quantitative analysis of aqueous samples in KAERI, Korea. Since the thermal neutron flux for the $^{252}Cf$ neutron source is relatively low compared to that for the reactor, the use of a thermal neutron reflector in the NIPS system may lead to improved results. The enhancement by using various reflectors was carried out by comparing the Cl peak with or without a cadmium plate between sample and the $^{252}Cf$ source. The use of pyrolitic graphite as a reflector provided a good result.