Development of a Fission Neutron Spectrum from a D-T Neutron Generator by Spectrum Subtraction Technique

Copyright © 2021 Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a “work of the United States Government” for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government..

ABSTRACT: Californium-252 (252Cf) is considered essential by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the calibration of neutron instrumentation and dosimetry. Californium-252 has a relatively short half-life of 2.645 y; consequently, it must be replaced frequently to produce an adequate neutron flux for calibration. The user community is currently looking for a replacement for 252Cf. The patented technology described herein has a high probability of being that replacement. A preferred method to replace 252Cf would use an affordable and easily maintained neutron source that generates neutrons in an energy spectrum as close to that of 252Cf as possible. Deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron generators are both affordable and easily maintained, which makes them highly attractive for replacing 252Cf. The patented technology discussed in this paper simulates the 252Cf fission spectrum through a D-T neutron generator by using spectral subtraction. The primary spectrum is built using principally (n,xn) and (n,n') reactions in a variety of materials. In conjunction with the primary spectrum, an engineered background spectrum is generated using a second set of materials. This engineered background spectrum corrects for differences between the primary and desired spectra. This subtraction technique generates a spectrum very similar to 252Cf while maintaining a reasonable flux. Further, by choosing different scattering materials, any fission spectrum can be matched, including the thermal and epithermal components. This flexibility expands the potential use of this technology beyond simulating 252Cf to any desired neutron spectrum below 14 MeV.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:121

Enthalten in:

Health physics - 121(2021), 3 vom: 01. Sept., Seite 181-192

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Scates, Wade W [VerfasserIn]
Schrader, Bradley J [VerfasserIn]
Casanova, Konner M [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

10028-17-8
975X05H15A
Californium
Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Tritium

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 11.03.2022

Date Revised 16.08.2023

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1097/HP.0000000000001431

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM325776288