• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-37
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• 2005

The radiation detector research group at KAERI has developed a high efficiency neutron detector using a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM). The double GEM was fabricated and operated in an Ar/Isobutane mixture. For an application to a high efficiency neutron detector, $^6Li\;or\;^{10}B$ neutron converters coated on each surface of the multi GEM foils were considered. The optimized thickness of the thin film for a neutron detection was calculated with the MCNP and SRIM. The neutron efficiency was calculated by changing the chemical components of the thin film, and the thickness of the thin film. The thermalized neutrons were measured by a GEM detector with a thin neutron converter on the drift plate.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1041-1051
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• 2003

Neutron induced prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) offers a nondestructive, sensitive and relatively rapid method for the determination of trace and major elements and is proven to be convenient for online analysis of minerals, metals, coal, cement, petrochemical, coating, paper as well as many other materials and products. The technique has found many uses in medicine, industry, research, security and the detection of contraband items. This report reviews the present status and future trends of the PGAA techniques. Requirements for the system are neutron source, high resolution HPGe detectors with a high-voltage power supply, an amplifier, analog-to-digital converter, and a multichannel analyzer for the detection and measurement of prompt ${\gamma}$-ray emit form the neutron capture elements. Introducing a ${\gamma}$-${\gamma}$ coincidence system also improves the quality of the ${\gamma}$-ray spectrum by suppressing the background created from the Compton scattering of high energy prompt ${\gamma}$-rays. A PGAA system using a $^{252}Cf$ neutron source is currently under construction for the on-line measurement of several elements in aqueous samples at KAERI. The system can be applied for the detection of chemical weapons and explosives as well as various narcotics.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.921-928
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• 2013

A future nuclear energy system is being developed at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), the system involves a Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) linked with the pyro-process. The pyro-process produces a source material to fabricate a SFR fuel rod. Therefore, an isotopic fissile content assay is very important for fuel rod safety and SFR economics. A new technology for an analysis of isotopic fissile content has been proposed using a lead slowing down spectrometer (LSDS). The new technology has several features for a fissile analysis from spent fuel: direct isotopic fissile assay, no background interference, and no requirement from burnup history information. Several calculations were done on the designed spectrometer geometry: detection sensitivity, neutron energy spectrum analysis, neutron fission characteristics, self shielding analysis, and neutron production mechanism. The spectrum was well organized even at low neutron energy and the threshold fission chamber was a proper choice to get prompt fast fission neutrons. The characteristic fission signature was obtained in slowing down neutron energy from each fissile isotope. Another application of LSDS is for an optimum design of the spent fuel storage, maximization of the burnup credit and provision of the burnup code correction factor. Additionally, an isotopic fissile content assay will contribute to an increase in transparency and credibility for the utilization of spent fuel nuclear material, as internationally demanded.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.348-352
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• 2004

The mechanical alloying (MA) effect in immiscible V-Cu system with positive heat of mixing was studied by not only the neutron and X-ray diffraction but also the analysis of DSC spectra. The total energy, ΔHt accumulated during MA for the mixture of $V_{50}$ $Cu_{50}$ / powders increased with milling time and approached the saturation value of 14 kJ/mol after 120 h of milling. It can be seen that the free energy difference between the amorphous phase and the pure V and Cu powders with an atomic ratio 5:5 is estimated to be 11 kJ/mol by Miedema et al. This is thermodynamically taken as one of the evidences for the amorphization. The structural changes of V-Cu MA powders were characterized by the X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. We take a full advantage of a negligibly small scattering length of the V atom in the neutron diffraction measurement. The neutron diffraction data definitely indicate that the amorphization proceeds gradually but incompletely even after 120 h of MA and bcc-Cu Bragg peaks appears after 60 h of MA.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4002-4018
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• 2023

An integrated neutron interrogation system has been developed for non-destructive assay of highly-radioactive special nuclear materials, to accumulate knowledge of the method through developing and using it. The system combines a differential die-away (DDA) measurement system for the quantification of nuclear materials and a prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) system for the detection of neutron poisons which disturb the DDA measurements; a common D-T neutron generator is used. A special care has been taken for the selection of materials to reduce the background gamma rays produced by the interrogation neutrons. A series of measurements were performed to test the basic performance of the system. The results show that the DDA system can quantify plutonium of as small as 20 mg and it is not affected by intense neutron background up to 1.57 × 10⁷ s^-1 and gamma ray of 4.43 × 10¹⁰ s^-1. The gamma-ray background counting rate at the PGA detector was reduced down to 3.9 × 10³ s^-1 even with the use of the D-T neutron generator. The test measurements show that the PGA system is capable of detecting 0.783 g of boron and about 86.8 g of gadolinium in 30 min.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2023

The burnup profile of spent fuel should be determined accurately for the safety storage of spent fuel. In this study, a neutron detection system was developed as a part of basic research to analyze the burnup profile of spent fuel, and a performance was evaluated using a radiation source. The prototype of the neutron detection system was based on a ³He proportional chamber. The ³He proportional chamber is often used for neutron measurement and analysis because of its high neutron detection efficiency and simplicity for gamma ray rejection. For quantitative evaluation, tests were conducted using calibrated ²⁵²Cf and ¹³⁷Cs sources. In the performance evaluation, a field applicability was verified by analyzing the detection characteristics according to the nuclide.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.287-292
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• 2014

In this study, the neutron capture cross section of $^{180}Ta$(natural existence ratio: 0.012 %) obtain by measuring has been compared with the evaluated data for the capture data. In generally, the neutron capture resonance is defined as Breit-Wigner formula. The formula consists of the resonance parameters such as neutron width, total width and neutron width. However in the case of $^{180}Ta$, these are very poor experimental neutron capture cross section data and resonance information in below 10 eV. Therefore, in the study, we analyzed the neutron resonance of $^{180}Ta$ with the measuring the prompt gamma-ray from the sample. And the resonance was compared with the evaluated data by Mughabghab, ENDF/B-VII, JEFF-3.1 and TENDL 2012. Neutron sources from photonuclear reaction with 46-MeV electron linear accelerator at Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University used for cross section measurement of $^{180}Ta(n,{\gamma})^{181}Ta$ reaction. $BGO(Bi_4Ge_3O_{12})$ scintillation detectors used for measurement of the prompt gamma ray from the $^{180}Ta(n,{\gamma})^{181}Ta$ reaction. The BGO spectrometer was composed geometrically as total energy absorption detector.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.433-433
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• 2004

Neutron induced prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (NIPS) system measures the prompt gamma-ray, emitting by the interaction of a neutron with various materials. This system will be of great benefit to scientists worldwide, since it provides the non-destructive measurement of many elements in either solid or liquid wastes. A NIPS facility has been developed in Nuclear Chemistry Research Division, at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) with the aim of analyzing the major component elements in both aqueous and solid samples.(omitted)

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2016

Background: For an accelerator-based BNCT, we have fabricated a new detector consisting of quartz optical fibers that have excellent radiation-resistant characteristics. Materials and Methods: The developed detectors were irradiated at Kyoto University Research Reactor. Results and Discussion: The experimental results showed that the new detector had good output linearity for the neutron intensity, and the response of the new detector did not decrease during the irradiation. Conclusion: The new detector consisting of quartz optical fibers can be applied to measurement of neutron field of an accelerator-based BNCT.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.665-674
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• 2006

Three-dimensional neutron flux and fluence of Kori Unit 3 were evaluated using the synthesis technique described in Regulatory Guide 1.190 for all reactor geometry. For this purpose DORT neutron transport calculations from Cycle 1 to Cycle 15 were performed using BUGLE-96 cross-section library. The calculated flux and fluence were validated by comparing the calculated reaction rates to the measurement data from the dosimetry sensor set of the $5^{th}$ surveillance capsule withdrawn at the end of cycle 15 of Kori Unit 3. And then the best estimation of the neutron exposures for the reactor vessel beltline region was performed using the least square evaluation. These results can be used in the assessment of the state of embrittlement of Kori Unit 3 pressure vessel.