Design and characterization of the fission signature assay instrument for nuclear safeguards

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 5 Pages, 2023/05

Since 2015, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been working on the development of the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique for the quantification of fissile-nuclide content in mixed nuclear materials. Thanks to the efforts and lessons learned from past experiments, the ISCN has successfully designed and fabricated a final integrated instrument. The instrument is composed of a moderator and dose shield where different neutron sources, like Cf-252 and neutron generators, can be inserted to irradiate the sample. Within the moderator, a series of neutron detectors are installed for perform prompt neutron analysis and continuous monitoring of the neutron source emission. Thanks to an innovative transfer system, the sample is then moved to the gamma-ray detector in less than 1.5s providing a fast and reliable movement while being safe from possible contamination. In this work, we will describe the design details of this new instrument. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like".

Development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear safeguards, 2; Forward to a practical DGS instrument

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM 63rd Annual Meeting (Internet), 5 Pages, 2022/07

With the initial goal of fissile-nuclide content quantification in small samples containing uranium and plutonium, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is developing the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique. For this, while in the past years several experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the technique, a new instrument was designed considering the previous lessons learned. It includes a modular insertion for different neutron sources, like radioisotopes or neutron generators; a gamma-ray detector with improved data acquisition system allowing for real-time dead-time correction; and a full new mechanism for the sample transfer between irradiation and measurement. Together with this, neutron detectors are integrated to supplement the DGS mass analysis and monitor the source intensity. In this work, we will describe the new instrument and the preliminary results obtained from instrument characterization compared to previous experiments. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.

JAEA-JRC collaborative development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear material evaluation, 3; Fissile mass estimation with uranium samples

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Lee, H.-J.; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音; Abbas, K.*; Bogucarska, T.*; Crochemore, J.-M.*; Pedersen, B.*; Varasano, G.*

61st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM 2020), Vol.2, p.907 - 911, 2021/00

Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (DGS) is a nondestructive assay technique with the capability to quantify the fissile composition of small nuclear material samples from reprocessing plants. In recent years, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre performed several experiments using uranium and plutonium standard samples. In this paper, we present some of our recent experiment results showing the feasibility of DGS for fissile mass estimation. In particular, we interrogate uranium samples of different enrichment and we are showing that we were able to qualify significant peaks even for a depleted uranium sample above 2.7 MeV. Applying correction factors for neutron self-shielding and gamma self-absorption, we obtained a mass linear correlation when considering total integrated counts above 3.3 MeV as well as specific individual peak counts. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.

Application of probability generating function to the essentials of nondestructive nuclear materials assay system using neutron correlation

細馬 隆

JAEA-Research 2016-019, 53 Pages, 2017/01

JAEA-Research-2016-019.pdf:5.71MB

核物質非破壊測定システムの基礎への確率母関数の適用について研究を行った。最初に、高次の中性子相関を七重相関まで代数的に導出し、その基本的な性格を調べた。高次の中性子相関は、漏れ増倍率の増大に応じて急速に増大し、検出器の効率や設定によるが漏れ増倍率が1.3を超えると、より低次の中性子相関と交わり追い越してゆくことを見出した。続いて、高速中性子と熱中性子が共存する系において、高速中性子による核分裂数と二重相関計数率及び熱中性子による核分裂数と二重相関計数率を、代数的に導出した。従来の測定法と、differential die-away self-interrogation法によって得られるRossi-alpha結合分布と各エリアの面積比を用いれば、高速中性子と熱中性子それぞれの単位時間あたりの誘導核分裂数、ソース中性子1個あたりそれぞれの誘導核分裂数(1未満)及びそれぞれの二重相関計数率を、推定可能であることを見出した。

RI・研究所等廃棄物のクリアランスレベル確認のための非破壊線測定要素技術の開発

堤 正博; 大石 哲也*; 山外 功太郎; 吉田 真

JAERI-Research 2004-021, 43 Pages, 2004/12

JAERI-Research-2004-021.pdf:8.55MB

微弱放射線モニタリング技術の開発の一環として、RI・研究所等廃棄物に対するクリアランス確認測定システムの設計及び開発を行った。本研究では、非破壊線測定技術を高度化することにより、200リットルドラム缶やコンテナ中に含まれる放射性核種を定量することをねらった。しかしながら、RI使用施設や研究所から発生する廃棄物では、原子炉施設からの廃棄物とは異なり、多種多様な核種が対象となる,また核種の存在比も一定ではない,偏在した放射能分布を想定しなければならないなど、解決すべき課題が多い。これらに対処するために、それぞれの課題ごとに機能向上を図った、3つの線測定装置(ユニット)を開発した。開発した測定ユニットは、(1)核種同定型検出ユニット,(2)位置情報型検出ユニット,(3)高効率型検出ユニットである。本報告書では、クリアランスレベル確認測定に向けた全体の設計方針及び開発した個々の線測定ユニットの設計とその性能について考察する。

Developing DGS for reprocessing plant nuclear safeguards; Designing a compact instrument

Rossi, F.; Abbas, K.*; 小泉 光生; Lee, H.-J.; Nonneman, S.*; Pedersen, B.*; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

no journal, , 

In the field of nuclear material samples safeguard verifications, mixed high-radioactivity nuclear material in facility like reprocessing nuclear plant are challenging. Addressing this, the JAEA/ISCN is developing a DG-nondestructive assay technique. We successfully completed several experiments in collaboration with the EC/JRC to evaluate the instrumentation requirements of a compact instrument. In principle, a neutron source is used to produce neutrons that are then thermalized in a moderator before reaching the sample to induce fission. The optimization of the moderator is crucial to reach an efficient and compact instrument. Having a good thermalized neutron flux enhances the delayed gamma-ray signature of the fissile due to their greater thermal fission cross section compared to the fertile. After the irradiation, the gamma-ray peaks above 3 MeV are analyzed to determine the initial composition of the fissile nuclides. The gamma-ray spectrum and subsequent analysis are strongly affected by the source type; the sample; and the interrogation pattern, driven by the analysis. To investigate all these aspects, we performed several experiments using small standard samples of both Uranium and Plutonium with PUNITA to understand basic principles. These were factored into the JAEA DGCT instrument that was tested in PERLA. This work first describes the PUNITA and PERLA experiments and how these were used to validate the various model designs. From these, further modifications to reach our final instrument concept design for a deuterium-deuterium neutron generator source are presented. This work is supported by MEXT under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.