Neutron absorbing article and method for manufacture of such article

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hortman, M.T.; Mcmurtry, C.H.; Naum, R.G.; Owens, D.P.

1980-01-01

A neutron absorbing article, preferably in long, thin, flat form , suitable for but not necessarily limited to use in storage racks for spent nuclear fuel at locations between volumes of such stored fuel, to absorb neutrons from said spent fuel and prevent uncontrolled nuclear reaction of the spent fuel material, is composed of finely divided boron carbide particles and a solid, irreversibly cured phenolic polymer, forming a continuous matrix about the boron carbide particles, in such proportions that at least 6% of b10 from the boron carbide content is present therein. The described articles withstand thermal cycling from repeated spent fuel insertions and removals, withstand radiation from said spent nuclear fuel over long periods of time without losing desirable neutron absorbing and physical properties, are sufficiently chemically inert to water so as to retain neutron absorbing properties if brought into contact with it, are not galvanically corrodible and are sufficiently flexible so as to withstand operational basis earthquake and safe shutdown earthquake seismic events, without loss of neutron absorbing capability and other desirable properties, when installed in storage racks for spent nuclear fuel. The disclosure also relates to a plurality of such neutron absorbing articles in a storage rack for spent nuclear fuel and to a method for the manufacture of the articles

Aluminum alloy excellent in neutron absorbing performance

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Iida, Tetsuya; Tamamura, Tadao; Morimoto, Hiroyuki; Ouchi, Ken-ichiro.

1987-01-01

Purpose: To obtain structural materials made of aluminum alloys having favorable neutron absorbing performance and excellent in the performance as structural materials such as processability and strength. Constitution: Powder of Gd 2 O 3 as a gadolinium compound or metal gadolinium is uniformly mixed with the powder of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The amount of the gadolinium compound added is set to 0.1 - 30 % by weight. No sufficient neutron absorbing performance can be obtained if it is less than 0.1 % by weight, whereas the processability and mechanical property of the alloy are degraded if it exceeds 30 % by weight. Further, the grain size is set to less about 50 μm. Further, since the neutron absorbing performance varies greatly if the aluminum powder size exceeds 100 μm, the diameter is set to less than about 100 μm. These mixtures are molded in a hot press. This enables to obtain aimed structural materials. (Takahashi, M.)

Performance evaluation of METAMIC neutron absorber in spent fuel storage rack

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Kiyoung Kim

2018-06-01

Full Text Available High-density spent fuel (SF storage racks have been installed to increase SF pool capacity. In these SF racks, neutron absorber materials were placed between fuel assemblies allowing the storage of fuel assemblies in close proximity to one another. The purpose of the neutron absorber materials is to preclude neutronic coupling between adjacent fuel assemblies and to maintain the fuel in a subcritical storage condition. METAMIC neutron absorber has been used in high-density storage racks. But, neutron absorber materials can be subject to severe conditions including long-term exposure to gamma radiation and neutron radiation. Recently, some of them have experienced degradation, such as white spots on the surface. Under these conditions, the material must continue to serve its intended function of absorbing neutrons. For the first time in Korea, this article uses a neutron attenuation test to examine the performance of METAMIC surveillance coupons. Also, scanning electron microscope analysis was carried out to verify the white spots that were detected on the surface of METAMIC. In the neutron attenuation test, there was no significant sign of boron loss in most of the METAMIC coupons, but the coupon with white spots had relatively less B-10 content than the others. In the scanning electron microscope analysis, corrosion material was detected in all METAMIC coupons. Especially, it was confirmed that the coupon with white spots contains much more corrosion material than the others. Keywords: Blister, Criticality, METAMIC, Neutron Absorber, Neutron Attenuation Test, Scanning Electron Microscope

Method for manufacture of neutron absorbing articles

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Owens, D.

1980-01-01

A one-step curing method for the manufacture of a neutron absorbing article which comprises irreversibly curing, in desired article form, a form-retaining mixture of boron carbide particles, curable phenolic resin in solid state and in particula te form and a minor proportion of a liquid medium, which boils at a temperature below 200*c., at an elevated temperature so as to obtain bonding of the irreversibly cured phenolic polymer resulting to the boron carbide particles and production of the neutron absorbing article in desired form

A neutron-absorbing porcelain enamel for coating nuclear equipment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Iverson, D.C.

1988-01-01

In 1985, nuclear safety analyses showed that under upset conditions, strict administrative controls were necessary to limit access to a new processing vessel for enriched uranium service at the Savannah River Plant (SRP). In order to increase the level of nuclear safety associated with that vessel, the traditional methods of incorporating neutron absorbers (borated stainless steel, boral, cadmium foil, etc.) were reviewed, however, process conditions did not permit their use. A neutron-absorbing porcelain enamel containing large amounts of cadmium and boron was developed as a safe, cost-effective alternative to traditional neutron-absorbing methods. Several pieces of coated process equipment have been installed or are planned for installation at SRP

Neutron absorbers, and the production method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kayano, Hideo; Yajima, Seishi; Oono, Hironori.

1979-01-01

Purpose: To integrally sinter a metal powder and a metal network material thereby to obtain a material having a high neutron absorbing function, an excellent corrosion resistance and an excellent oxidation resistance. Method: An element having a high neutron absorbing function, such as Gd, or a compound thereof and a powder of a metal having excellent corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and ductility, such as Fe, Cr or the like are uniformly mixed with each other. In a case where a substance having a neutron absorbing function is a hydroxide an organic complex or the like, it is formed into a gel-like substance and mixed uniformly with the metal powder, the gel-like substance being pasted, and covered on the surface of the metal powder and dried. Then, the mixture or the dry coated material is extended and the metal network material having excellent corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and ductility is covered or interposed or between at least one layer of upper, intermediate or lower layers of said laminated material, and thereafter is subjected to cold or hot rolling, and then sintered and furthermore rolled, if necessary, the thus treated material being burned in vacuum or a non-oxidizing atmosphere. (Kamimura, M.)

Neutron absorbing room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber compositions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zoch, H.L.

1979-01-01

A neutron absorbing composition is described and consists of a one-component room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber composition or a two-component room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber composition in which the composition contains from 25 to 300 parts by weight based on the base silanol or vinyl containing diorganopolysiloxane polymer of a boron compound or boron powder as the neutron absorbing ingredient. An especially useful boron compound in this application is boron carbide. 20 claims

A new neutron absorber material for criticality control

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wells, Alan H.

2007-01-01

A new neutron absorber material based on a nickel metal matrix composite has been developed for applications such as the Transport, Aging, and Disposal (TAD) canister for the Yucca Mountain Project. This new material offers superior corrosion resistance to withstand the more demanding geochemical environments found in a 300,000 year to a million year repository. The lifetime of the TAD canister is currently limited to 10,000 years, reflecting the focus of current regulations embodied in 10 CFR 63. The use of DOE-owned nickel stocks from decommissioned enrichment facilities could reduce the cost compared to stainless steel/boron alloy. The metal matrix composite allows the inclusion of more than one neutron absorber compound, so that the exact composition may be adjusted as needed. The new neutron absorber material may also be used for supplementary criticality control of stored or transported PWR spent fuel by forming it into cylindrical pellets that can be inserted into a surrogate control rod. (authors)

A state-of-the-art report on the development of B{sub 4}C materials as neutron absorbers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jung, Choong Hwan; Kim, Sun Jae; Park, Jee Yun; Kang, Dae Kab [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon (Korea, Republic of)

1994-01-01

Boron of 10 atomic weight is one of the best neutron absorbing elements. Among the boron compounds, B{sub 4}C and its composites exhibit excellent material properties. Those materials absorb thermal and fast neutrons, are thermally and chemically very stable, and are very strong in mechanical properties. By neutron irradiation B-10 transforms into Li releasing one He atom. This He release causes swelling, cracking and fragmentation of B{sub 4}C bulks and results in degradation of the materials. The essence of technical developments of B{sub 4}C-based neutron absorbers is the minimization of the effects of He release, and this can be realized through microstructural optimizations of grain and porosity distributions. While pure B{sub 4}C is very difficult in sintering, new neutron absorbing materials of B{sub 4}C-cermets are being developed. B{sub 4}C-cermets are composite materials in which B{sub 4}C powders are dispersed in the metal matrix of Al or Cu. Those materials show easiness in sintering, mechanical forming, and B{sub 4}C content controlling. Neutron absorbing and shielding materials play an important role for the safety of reactor operations and environmental protections. Those materials are being used as monolithic pellets for control rods, burnable poison fuel rods, rack materials for spent fuel storages, shielding materials for shipping casks, and especially for shielding plates for liquid metal reactors. 37 figs., 12 tabs., 41 refs. (Author).

Neutron absorbed dose in a pacemaker CMOS

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Borja H, C. G.; Guzman G, K. A.; Valero L, C. Y.; Banuelos F, A.; Hernandez D, V. M.; Vega C, H. R. [Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares, Calle Cipres No. 10, Fracc. La Penuela, 98068 Zacatecas (Mexico); Paredes G, L., E-mail: candy_borja@hotmail.com [ININ, Carretera Mexico-Toluca s/n, 52750 Ocoyoacac, Estado de Mexico (Mexico)

2011-11-15

The absorbed dose due to neutrons by a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) has been estimated using Monte Carlo methods. Eventually a person with a pacemaker becomes a patient that must be treated by radiotherapy with a linear accelerator; the pacemaker has integrated circuits as CMOS that are sensitive to intense and pulsed radiation fields. When the Linac is working in Bremsstrahlung mode an undesirable neutron field is produced due to photoneutron reactions; these neutrons could damage the CMOS putting the patient at risk during the radiotherapy treatment. In order to estimate the neutron dose in the CMOS a Monte Carlo calculation was carried out where a full radiotherapy vault room was modeled with a W-made spherical shell in whose center was located the source term of photoneutrons produced by a Linac head operating in Bremsstrahlung mode at 18 MV. In the calculations a phantom made of tissue equivalent was modeled while a beam of photoneutrons was applied on the phantom prostatic region using a field of 10 x 10 cm{sup 2}. During simulation neutrons were isotropically transported from the Linac head to the phantom chest, here a 1 {theta} x 1 cm{sup 2} cylinder made of polystyrene was modeled as the CMOS, where the neutron spectrum and the absorbed dose were estimated. Main damages to CMOS are by protons produced during neutron collisions protective cover made of H-rich materials, here the neutron spectrum that reach the CMOS was calculated showing a small peak around 0.1 MeV and a larger peak in the thermal region, both connected through epithermal neutrons. (Author)

Thermal Evaluation of Storage Rack with an Advanced Neutron Absorber during Normal Operation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lee, Hee-Jae; Kim, Mi-Jin; Sohn, Dong-Seong [UNIST, Ulsan (Korea, Republic of)

2016-10-15

The storage capacity of the domestic wet storage site is expected to reach saturation from Hanbit in 2024 to Sin-wolseong in 2038 and accordingly management alternatives are urgently taken. Since installation of the dense rack is considered in the short term, it is necessary to urgently develop an advanced neutron absorber which can be applied to a spent nuclear fuel storage facility. Neutron absorber is the material for controlling the reactivity. A material which has excellent thermal neutron absorption ability, high strength and corrosion resistance must be selected as the neutron absorber. Existing neutron absorbers are made of boron which has a good thermal absorption ability such as BORAL and METAMIC. However, possible problems have been reported in using the boron-based neutron absorber for wet storage facility. Gadolinium is known to have higher neutron absorption cross-section than that of boron. And the strength of duplex stainless steel is about 1.5 times higher than stainless steel 304 which has been frequently used as a structural material. Therefore, duplex stainless steel which contains gadolinium is in consideration as an advanced neutron absorber. Temperature distribution is shown in figure 4. In pool bottom region near the inlet shows a relatively low tendency and heat generated from the fuel assemblies is transmitted to the pool upper region by the vertical flow. Also, temperature gradient appear in rack structures for the axial direction and temperature is uniformly distributed in the pool upper region. Table 1 presents the calculated results. The maximum temperature is 306.63K and does not exceed the 333.15K (60℃). The maximum temperature of the neutron absorber is 306.48K.

Estimate of absorbed dose received by individuals irradiated with neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fonseca, E.S. da; Mauricio, C.L.P.

1995-01-01

An innovating methodology is proposed to estimate the absorbed dose received by individuals irradiated with neutrons in an accident, even in the case that the victim is not using any kind of neutron dosemeter. The method combines direct measurements of 24 Na and 32 P activated in the human body. The calculation method was developed using data taken from previously published papers and experimental measurements. Other irradiations results in different neutron spectra prove the validity of the methodology here proposed. Using a whole body counter to measure 24 Na activity, it is possible to evaluate neutron absorbed doses in the order of 140 μGy of very soft (thermal) spectra. For fast neutron fields, the lower limit for neutron dose detection increases, but the present method continues to be very useful in accidents, with higher neutron doses. (author). 5 refs., 1 fig., 4 tabs

Intermediate and fast neutron absorbed doses in fast neutron field at the RB reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sokcic-Kostic, M.; Pesic, M.; Antic, D.

1987-10-01

The experimental fuel channel EFC is created as one of the fast neutron fields at the RB reactor. The intermediate and fast neutron spectra in EFC are measured by activation technique. The intermediate and fast neutron absorbed doses are computed on the basis of these experimental results. At the end the obtained doses are compared. (author)

Integrity of neutron-absorbing components of LWR fuel systems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bailey, W.J.; Berting, F.M.

1991-03-01

A study of the integrity and behavior of neutron-absorbing components of light-water (LWR) fuel systems was performed by Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) and sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The components studies include control blades (cruciforms) for boiling-water reactors (BWRs) and rod cluster control assemblies for pressurized-water reactors (PWRs). The results of this study can be useful for understanding the degradation of neutron-absorbing components and for waste management planning and repository design. The report includes examples of the types of degradation, damage, or failures that have been encountered. Conclusions and recommendations are listed. 84 refs

Long-term effects of neutron absorber and fuel matrix corrosion on criticality

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Culbreth, W.G.; Zielinski, P.R.

1994-01-01

Proposed waste package designs will require the addition of neutron absorbing material to prevent the possibility of a sustained chain reaction occurring in the fuel in the event of water intrusion. Due to the low corrosion rates of the fuel matrix and the Zircaloy cladding, there is a possibility that the neutron absorbing material will corrode and leak from the waste container long before the subsequent release of fuel matrix material. An analysis of the release of fuel matrix and neutron absorber material based on a probabilistic model was conducted and the results were used to prepare input to KENO-V, an neutron criticality code. The results demonstrate that, in the presence of water, the computed values of k eff exceeded the maximum of 0.95 for an extended period of time

Neutron absorbing element

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kasai, Shigeo.

1991-01-01

The present invention concerns a neutron absorbing element of a neutron shielding member used for an LMFBR type reactor. The inside of a fuel can sealed at both of the upper and the lower ends thereof with plugs is partitioned into an upper and a lower chambers by an intermediate plug. A discharging hole is disposed at the upper end plug, which is in communication with the outside. A communication tube is disposed at the intermediate end plug and it is in communication with the lower chamber containing B 4 C pellets. A cylindrical support member having three porous plugs connected in series is disposed at the lower surface of the discharging hole provided at the upper end plug. Further, the end of the discharging hole is sealed with high temperature solder and He atmosphere is present at the inside of the fuel can. With such a constitution, the supporting differential pressure of the porous plugs can be made greater while discharging He gases generated from B 4 C to the outside. Further, the porous plugs can be surely wetted by coolants. Accordingly, it is possible to increase life time and shorten the size. (I.N.)

Apparatus and method for the measurement of neutron moderating or absorbing properties of objects

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Untermyer, S.I.

1981-01-01

An apparatus and method for measuring the neutron moderating or absorbing properties of objects or materials is disclosed in which a fast neutron source cooperates with a neutron absorbing material which reduces the energy of the fast neutrons by inelastic scattering so that they can be readily thermalized by a moderator. A thermal neutron detector is disposed adjacent the material and serves to detect thermal neutrons emitted by a moderator placed to receive and thermalize the reduced energy neutrons. A material whose absorption is to be measured is placed between a moderator and the detector

Neutron absorbing article and method for manufacture thereof

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Forsyth, P.F.; Mcmurtry, C.H.; Naum, R.G.

1980-01-01

A composite, neutron absorbing, coated article, suitable for installation in storage racks for spent nuclear fuel and for other neutron absorbing applications, includes a backing member, preferably of flexible material such as woven fiberglass cloth, a synthetic organic polymeric coating or a plurality of such coatings on the backing member, preferably of cured phenolic resin, such as phenol formaldehyde or trimethylolphenol formaldehyde and boron carbide particles held to the backing member by the cured coating or a plurality of such coatings. Also within the invention is a method for the manufacture of the neutron absorbing coated article and the use of such an article. In a preferred method the backing member is first coated on both sides thereof with a filling coating of thermosettable liquid phenolic resin, which is then partially cured to solid state, one side of the backing member is then coated with a mixture of thermosettable liquid resin and finely divided boron carbide particles and the resin is partially cured to solid state, the other side is coated with a similar mixture, larger boron carbide particles are applied to it and the resin is partially cured to solid state, such side of the article is coated with thermosettable liquid phenolic resin, the resin is partially cured to solid state and such resin, including previously applied partially cured resins, is cured to final cross-linked and permanently set form

A Study on the Design of Novel Neutron Absorber Using Artificial Rare Earth Compound

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kim, Song Hyun; Shin, Chang Ho; Lee, Seung Hyun; Park, Jeia; Kim, Jong Kyung [Hanyang Univ., Seoul (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Soon Young [RADCORE Co., Ltd., Daejeon (Korea, Republic of); Park, Hwan Seo [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

2013-10-15

The artificial rare earth compounds (RE{sub 2}O{sub 3}) generated by the result of the pyro-processing are radioactive wastes which have many long-live radionuclides. Due to the high and long-lived radioactivity of the article RE{sub 2}O{sub 3}, specific radiation shielding and disposal techniques are required. In this study, a simultaneous disposal method of the RE{sub 2}O{sub 3} with the spent fuels is proposed by reusing them for the neutron absorber. In this study, the neutron absorber based on artificial RE{sub 2}O{sub 3} compound was designed for the use in the spent fuel storage. The design of the storage racks for the WH 17Χ17 and PLUS7 spent fuel assemblies were designed and the criticalities were evaluated with the various RE{sub 2}O{sub 3} compositions. Also, the radioactivity and irradiation calculations were performed for the applicability and stability analyses of the neutron absorber into the spent fuel storage. The results show that the neutron absorber can sufficiently reduce the criticality under the regulation guideline. It is expected that the neutron absorber can contribute minimizing the disposal area of the radioactive wastes as well as the reducing the costs and resources for the using the other types of the neutron absorbers.

On the perturbative calculation of the vibration noise by strong absorbers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pazsit, I.; Karlsson, J.

1997-01-01

In two previous papers the neutron noise, induced by small vibrations of a strong absorber, was treated (Pazsit 1984, 1988). In these, two different rod models and corresponding different linearization procedures were used. The first, called the Feinberg-Galanin-Williams (FGW) model, uses a δ-function approximation of both the static and the vibrating rod. This model corresponds to preserving the static boundary condition (logarithmic derivative) at the surface of the moving rod. The second, a perturbative approach called the ε/d model, starts with a finite absorber and represents the vibration by two stationary absorbing layers with strengths fluctuating in opposite phase. It was found that these two models lead to differing results, indicating a contradiction. In this paper we show that the reason for this contradiction is that the previous results based on the ε/d model are in error. The error is due to the fact that the effect of the static rod was neglected in the Green's function. The correct ε/d result is calculated here in both one and two dimensions and is shown to be equivalent to the FGW results. This serves also as a confirmation of the two-dimensional FGW result which had earlier been derived only by heuristic arguments. (Author)

Removing fuelling transient using neutron absorbers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Paquette, S.; Chan, P.K.; Bonin, H.W., E-mail: Stephane.Paquette@rmc.ca [Royal Military College of Canada, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Dept., Kingston, Ontario (Canada); Pant, A. [Cameco Fuel Manufacturing, Port Hope, Ontario (Canada)

2012-07-01

Preliminary criticality and burnup calculation results indicate that by employing a small amount of neutron absorber the fuelling transient, currently occurring in a CANDU 37-element fuel bundle, can be significantly reduced. A parametric study using the Los Alamos National Laboratories' MCNP 5 code and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's WIMS-AECL 3.1 is presented in this paper. (author)

Genetic effects induced by neutrons in Drosophila melanogaster I. Determination of absorbed dose

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Delfin, A.; Paredes, L.C.; Zambrano, F.; Guzman-Rincon, J.; Urena-Nunez, F.

2001-01-01

A method to obtain the absorbed dose in Drosophila melanogaster irradiated in the thermal column facility of the Triga Mark III Reactor has been developed. The method is based on the measurements of neutron activation of gold foils produced by neutron capture to obtain the neutron fluxes. These fluxes, combined with the calculations of kinetic energy released per unit mass, enables one to obtain the absorbed doses in Drosophila melanogaster

High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Guillen, Donna; Greenwood, Lawrence R.; Parry, James

2014-06-22

A need was determined for a thermal neutron absorbing material that could be cooled in a gas reactor environment without using large amounts of a coolant that would thermalize the neutron flux. A new neutron absorbing material was developed that provided high conduction so a small amount of water would be sufficient for cooling thereby thermalizing the flux as little as possible. An irradiation experiment was performed to assess the effects of radiation and the performance of a new neutron absorbing material. Neutron fluence monitors were placed inside specially fabricated holders within a set of drop-in capsules and irradiated for up to four cycles in the Advanced Test Reactor. Following irradiation, the neutron fluence monitor wires were analyzed by gamma and x-ray spectrometry to determine the activities of the activation products. The adjusted neutron fluences were calculated and grouped into three bins – thermal, epithermal and fast to evaluate the spectral shift created by the new material. Fluence monitors were evaluated after four different irradiation periods to evaluate the effects of burn-up in the absorbing material. Additionally, activities of the three highest activity isotopes present in the specimens are given.

Absorbed dose conversion coefficients for embryo and foetus in neutron fields

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chen, J.

2007-01-01

The Monte Carlo code MCNPX has been used to determine mean absorbed doses to the embryo and foetus when the mother is exposed to neutron fields. There are situations, such as on-board aircraft, where high-energy neutrons are often peaked in top down (TOP) direction. In addition to previous publications for standard irradiation geometries, this study provides absorbed dose conversion coefficients for the embryo of 8 weeks and the foetus of 3, 6 or 9 months at TOP irradiation geometry. The conversion coefficients are compared with the coefficients in isotropic irradiation (ISO). With increasing neutron energies, the conversion coefficients in TOP irradiation become dominant. A set of conversion coefficients is constructed from the higher value in either ISO or TOP irradiation at a given neutron energy. In cases where the irradiation geometry is not adequately known, this set of conversion coefficients can be used in a conservative dose assessment for embryo and foetus in neutron fields. (authors)

Mitigation of end flux peaking in CANDU fuel bundles using neutron absorbers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pierce, D.; Chan, P.K., E-mail: dylan.pierce@rmc.ca [Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston ON, (Canada); Shen, W. [Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa ON, (Canada)

2015-07-01

End flux peaking (EFP) is a phenomenon where a region of elevated neutron flux occurs between two adjoining fuel bundles. These peaks lead to an increase in fission rate and therefore greater heat generation. It is known that addition of neutron absorbers into fuel bundles can help mitigate EFP, yet implementation in Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) type reactors using natural uranium fuel has not been pursued. Monte Carlo N-Particle code (MCNP) 6.1 was used to simulate the addition of a small amount of neutron absorbers strategically within the fuel pellets. This paper will present some preliminary results collected thus far. (author)

Characterization and MCNP simulation of neutron energy spectrum shift after transmission through strong absorbing materials and its impact on tomography reconstructed image.

Science.gov (United States)

Hachouf, N; Kharfi, F; Boucenna, A

2012-10-01

An ideal neutron radiograph, for quantification and 3D tomographic image reconstruction, should be a transmission image which exactly obeys to the exponential attenuation law of a monochromatic neutron beam. There are many reasons for which this assumption does not hold for high neutron absorbing materials. The main deviations from the ideal are due essentially to neutron beam hardening effect. The main challenges of this work are the characterization of neutron transmission through boron enriched steel materials and the observation of beam hardening. Then, in our work, the influence of beam hardening effect on neutron tomographic image, for samples based on these materials, is studied. MCNP and FBP simulation are performed to adjust linear attenuation coefficients data and to perform 2D tomographic image reconstruction with and without beam hardening corrections. A beam hardening correction procedure is developed and applied based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of the projections data. Results from original and corrected 2D reconstructed images obtained shows the efficiency of the proposed correction procedure. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measurement of neutron and gamma absorbed doses in phantoms exposed to mixed fields

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Beraud-Sudreau, E.; Lemaire, G.; Maas, J.

1985-01-01

In order to study the dosimetric characteristics of PIN junctions, the absorbed doses measured by junctions and FLi7 in air and water phantoms were compared with the doses measured by classical neutron dosimetry in mixed fields. The validity of the experimental responses of PIN junctions being thus checked and established, neutron and gamma dose distributions in tissue equivalent plastic phantoms (plastinaut) and mammals (piglets) were evaluated as well as the absorbed dose distributions in the pig bone-marrow producing areas. By using correlatively a Monte-Carlo calculation method and applying some simplifying assumptions, the absorbed doses were derived from the spectrum of SILENE's neutrons at various depths inside a cubic water phantom and the results were compared with some from the literature [fr

First-principles investigation of neutron-irradiation-induced point defects in B4C, a neutron absorber for sodium-cooled fast nuclear reactors

Science.gov (United States)

You, Yan; Yoshida, Katsumi; Yano, Toyohiko

2018-05-01

Boron carbide (B4C) is a leading candidate neutron absorber material for sodium-cooled fast nuclear reactors owing to its excellent neutron-capture capability. The formation and migration energies of the neutron-irradiation-induced defects, including vacancies, neutron-capture reaction products, and knocked-out atoms were studied by density functional theory calculations. The vacancy-type defects tend to migrate to the C–B–C chains of B4C, which indicates that the icosahedral cage structures of B4C have strong resistance to neutron irradiation. We found that lithium and helium atoms had significantly lower migration barriers along the rhombohedral (111) plane of B4C than perpendicular to this plane. This implies that the helium and lithium interstitials tended to follow a two-dimensional diffusion regime in B4C at low temperatures which explains the formation of flat disk like helium bubbles experimentally observed in B4C pellets after neutron irradiation. The knocked-out atoms are considered to be annihilated by the recombination of the close pairs of self-interstitials and vacancies.

Fuelling study of CANDU reactors using neutron absorber poisoned fuel

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Song, J.J.; Chan, P.K.; Bonin, H.W., E-mail: s25815@rmc.ca [Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON (Canada)

2014-07-01

A comparative fuelling study is conducted to determine the potential gain in operating margin for CANDU reactors incurred by implementing a change to the design of the conventional 37-element natural uranium (NU) fuel. The change involves insertion of minute quantities of neutron absorbers, Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3}, into the fuel pellets. The Reactor Fuelling Simulation Program (RFSP) is used to conduct core-following simulations, for the regular 37-element NU fuel, which is to be used as control for comparison. Preliminary results are presented for fuelling with the regular 37-element NU fuel, which indicate constraints on fuelling that may be relaxed with addition of neutron absorbers. (author)

Simulation of a silicon neutron detector coated with TiB2 absorber

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krapohl, D; Nilsson, H-E; Petersson, S; Slavicek, T; Thungström, G; Pospisil, S

2012-01-01

Neutron radiation cannot be directly detected in semiconductor detectors and therefore needs converter layers. Planar clean-room processing can be used in the manufacturing process of semiconductor detectors with metal layers to produce a cost-effective device. We used the Geant4 Monte-Carlo toolkit to simulate the performance of a semiconductor neutron detector. A silicon photo-diode was coated with vapour deposited titanium, aluminium thin films and a titaniumdiboride (TiB 2 ) neutron absorber layer. The neutron capture reaction 10B(n, alpha)7Li is taken advantage of to create charged particles that can be counted. Boron-10 has a natural abundance of about SI 19.8%. The emitted alpha particles are absorbed in the underlying silicon detector. We varied the thickness of the converter layer and ran the simulation with a thermal neutron source in order to find the best efficiency of the TiB 2 converter layer and optimize the clean room process.

Neutronic analysis of absorbing materials for the control rod system in reactor ALLEGRO

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cajko, Frantisek; Secansky, Michal; Chrebet, Tomas; Zajac, Radoslav; Darilek, Petr [VUJE, a.s., Trnava (Slovakia)

2016-09-15

Experimental reactor ALLEGRO is a gas cooled fast reactor in the design stage. The current design of its reactivity control system is based on control rods filled with boron carbide as the absorber. Because of disadvantages connected to high boron enrichment a possibility of using other absorbent materials was explored to lower the boron enrichment and increase the worth of the control rods. The results of neutronic Monte-Carlo analyses in a computational supercell are presented in this paper. Three absorbent materials most suitable for a use in reactor ALLEGRO (B{sub 4}C, EuB{sub 6} and ReB{sub 2}) have been analysed also in a full core model. A possible benefit of a neutron trap concept is explored as well but materials with satisfactory neutronic properties proved to be not suitable for expected high temperatures in the reactor.

Neutron physics calculation for WWER-1000 absorber element lifetime determination

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kurakin, K.Yu.; Kushmanov, S.A.

2009-01-01

Absorber element with compound absorber has been operating in WWER-1000 power units since 1995. AE design meets operating organizations requirements for reliability, service life (to 10 years) and safety functions. Extension of AE service life up to 20 - 30 years by the complex of calculation and experimental work is an important problem of WWER new designs development. The paper deals with the issues related to calculation determination of main factors that influence AE service life limitation - neutron flux and fluence onto absorbing and structural materials during extended service life. (Authors)

Nuclear reactor control device by vertical displacement of neutron absorber scram rods

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Defaucheux, Jacques; Pasqualini, Gilbert; Wiart, Albert; Martin, Jean.

1981-01-01

Nuclear reactor control system by vertical displacement of an assembly absorbing the neutrons inside a reactor core and drop of the absorbing assembly in maximum insertion position under the effect of its own weight for emergency shutdown. The absorbing assembly is secured to the bottom end of a vertical control rod, the displacement of which is actuated by an electro-magnetic device [fr

Neutron absorber qualification and acceptance testing from the designer's perspective

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bracey, W.; Chiocca, R.

2004-01-01

Starting in the mid 1990's, the USNRC began to require less than 100% credit for the 10B present in fixed neutron absorbers spent fuel transport packages. The current practice in the US is to use only 75% of the specified 10B in criticality safety calculations unless extensive acceptance testing demonstrates both the presence of the 10B and uniformity of its distribution. In practice, the NRC has accepted no more than 90% credit for 10B in recent years, while other national competent authorities continue to accept 100%. More recently, with the introduction of new neutron absorber materials, particularly aluminum / boron carbide metal matrix composites, the NRC has also expressed expectations for qualification testing, based in large part on Transnuclear's successful application to use a new composite material in the TN-68 storage / transport cask. The difficulty is that adding more boron than is really necessary to a metal has some negative effects on the material, reducing the ductility and the thermal conductivity, and increasing the cost. Excessive testing requirements can have the undesired effect of keeping superior materials out of spent fuel package designs, without a corresponding justification based on public safety. In European countries and especially in France, 100% credit has been accepted up to now with materials controls specified in the Safety Analysis Report (SAR): Manufacturing process approved by qualification testing Materials manufacturing controlled under a Quality Assurance system. During fabrication, acceptance testing directly on products or on representative samples. Acceptance criteria taking into account a statistical uncertainty corresponding to 3σ. The original and current bases for the reduced 10 B credit, the design requirements for neutron absorber materials, and the experience of Transnuclear and Cogema Logistics with neutron absorber testing are examined. Guidelines for qualification and acceptance testing and process controls

Safety implications of anomalous effects of neutron absorbers on criticality

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Clayton, E.D.

1987-04-01

A number of ''anomalies'' in nuclear criticality have been disclosed in recent years, and as new data have become available additional anomalies have come to light. Application of existing data, without familiarity with the anomalies could lead to diminished criticality control, or more costly less efficient control. As neutron absobers are frequently used for criticality control, this paper briefly presents and discusses six apparent anomalies pertaining to the effect of neutron absorbers on the criticality of fissionable material

Thermal Performance and Operation Limit of Heat Pipe Containing Neutron Absorber

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kim, Kyung Mo; Jeong, Yeong Shin; Kim, In Guk; Bang, In Choel [UNIST, Ulsan (Korea, Republic of)

2015-05-15

Recently, passive safety systems are under development to ensure the core cooling in accidents involving impossible depressurization such as station blackout (SBO). Hydraulic control rod drive mechanisms, passive auxiliary feedwater system (PAFS), Passive autocatalystic recombiner (PAR), and so on are types of passive safety systems to enhance the safety of nuclear power plants. Heat pipe is used in various engineering fields due to its advantages in terms of easy fabrication, high heat transfer rate, and passive heat transfer. Also, the various concepts associated with safety system and heat transfer using the heat pipe were developed in nuclear engineering field.. Thus, our group suggested the hybrid control rod which combines the functions of existing control rod and heat pipe. If there is significant temperature difference between active core and condenser, the hybrid control rod can shutdown the nuclear fission reaction and remove the decay heat from the core to ultimate heat sink. The unique characteristic of the hybrid control rod is the presence of neutron absorber inside the heat pipe. Many previous researchers studied the effect of parameters on the thermal performance of heat pipe. However, the effect of neutron absorber on the thermal performance of heat pipe has not been investigated. Thus, the annular heat pipe which contains B{sub 4}C pellet in the normal heat pipe was prepared and the thermal performance of the annular heat pipe was studied in this study. Hybrid control rod concept was developed as a passive safety system of nuclear power plant to ensure the safety of the reactor at accident condition. The hybrid control rod must contain the neutron absorber for the function as a control rod. So, the effect of neutron absorber on the thermal performance of heat pipe was experimentally investigated in this study. Temperature distributions at evaporator section of annular heat pipe were lower than normal heat pipe due to the larger volume occupied by

Study of thermal neutron currents near cylindrical absorbers located in heavy water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Simard, Y.N.

1973-01-01

The experiments reported involved determining the angular response of detectors to neutrons exterior to the surface of long cylindrical absorbers immersed in a scattering medium. The absorbers consisted of solid cylinders of copper, cadmium, or natural uranium in a fuel lattice, and combinations of copper and cadmium, as well as voided cylinders. The scattering (moderating) medium consisted of heavy water. (author)

Computed phase equilibria for burnable neutron absorbing materials for advanced pressurized heavy water reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Corcoran, E.C. [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, P.O. Box 17000, St. Forces, Kingston, Ont., K7K 7B4 (Canada)], E-mail: emily.corcoran@rmc.ca; Lewis, B.J.; Thompson, W.T. [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, P.O. Box 17000, St. Forces, Kingston, Ont., K7K 7B4 (Canada); Hood, J. [Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Sheridan Park, 2251 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ont., L5K 1B2 (Canada); Akbari, F.; He, Z. [Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ont., K0J 1J0 (Canada); Reid, P. [Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Sheridan Park, 2251 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, Ont., L5K 1B2 (Canada)

2009-03-31

Burnable neutron absorbing materials are expected to be an integral part of the new fuel design for the Advanced CANDU [CANDU is as a registered trademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.] Reactor. The neutron absorbing material is composed of gadolinia and dysprosia dissolved in an inert cubic-fluorite yttria-stabilized zirconia matrix. A thermodynamic model based on Gibbs energy minimization has been created to provide estimated phase equilibria as a function of composition and temperature. This work includes some supporting experimental studies involving X-ray diffraction.

The strong non-reciprocity of metamaterial absorber: characteristic, interpretation and modelling

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li Yuanxun; Xie Yunsong; Zhang Huaiwu; Liu Yingli; Wen Qiye; Ling Weiwei, E-mail: liyuanxun@uestc.edu.c [State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Film and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054 (China)

2009-05-07

We simulated the metamaterial absorbers in two propagation conditions and observed the universal phenomenon of strong non-reciprocity. It is found that this non-reciprocity cannot be well interpreted using the effective medium theory, which indicates that the designing and understanding for the metamaterial absorber based on the proposed effective medium theory could not be applicable. The reason is pointed out that the metamaterial absorber does not satisfy the homogeneous-effective limit. So we put forward a three-parameter modified effective medium theory to fully describe the metamaterial absorbers. We have also investigated the relationships of S-parameters and absorptance among the metamaterial absorbers and the two components inside. Then the power absorption distributions in these three structures are discussed in detail. It can be concluded that the absorption is derived from the ERR structure and is enhanced largely by the coupling mechanism, and the strong non-reciprocity results from the different roles which wire structure plays in both propagation conditions.

The strong non-reciprocity of metamaterial absorber: characteristic, interpretation and modelling

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li Yuanxun; Xie Yunsong; Zhang Huaiwu; Liu Yingli; Wen Qiye; Ling Weiwei

2009-01-01

We simulated the metamaterial absorbers in two propagation conditions and observed the universal phenomenon of strong non-reciprocity. It is found that this non-reciprocity cannot be well interpreted using the effective medium theory, which indicates that the designing and understanding for the metamaterial absorber based on the proposed effective medium theory could not be applicable. The reason is pointed out that the metamaterial absorber does not satisfy the homogeneous-effective limit. So we put forward a three-parameter modified effective medium theory to fully describe the metamaterial absorbers. We have also investigated the relationships of S-parameters and absorptance among the metamaterial absorbers and the two components inside. Then the power absorption distributions in these three structures are discussed in detail. It can be concluded that the absorption is derived from the ERR structure and is enhanced largely by the coupling mechanism, and the strong non-reciprocity results from the different roles which wire structure plays in both propagation conditions.

Neutron relative biological effectiveness for solid cancer incidence in the Japanese A-bomb survivors: an analysis considering the degree of independent effects from γ-ray and neutron absorbed doses with hierarchical partitioning

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Walsh, Linda [Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Department Radiation Protection and Health, Oberschleissheim (Germany); University of Manchester, The Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Manchester (United Kingdom)

2013-03-15

It has generally been assumed that the neutron and γ-ray absorbed doses in the data from the life span study (LSS) of the Japanese A-bomb survivors are too highly correlated for an independent separation of the all solid cancer risks due to neutrons and due to γ-rays. However, with the release of the most recent data for all solid cancer incidence and the increased statistical power over previous datasets, it is instructive to consider alternatives to the usual approaches. Simple excess relative risk (ERR) models for radiation-induced solid cancer incidence fitted to the LSS epidemiological data have been applied with neutron and γ-ray absorbed doses as separate explanatory covariables. A simple evaluation of the degree of independent effects from γ-ray and neutron absorbed doses on the all solid cancer risk with the hierarchical partitioning (HP) technique is presented here. The degree of multi-collinearity between the γ-ray and neutron absorbed doses has also been considered. The results show that, whereas the partial correlation between the neutron and γ-ray colon absorbed doses may be considered to be high at 0.74, this value is just below the level beyond which remedial action, such as adding the doses together, is usually recommended. The resulting variance inflation factor is 2.2. Applying HP indicates that just under half of the drop in deviance resulting from adding the γ-ray and neutron absorbed doses to the baseline risk model comes from the joint effects of the neutrons and γ-rays - leaving a substantial proportion of this deviance drop accounted for by individual effects of the neutrons and γ-rays. The average ERR/Gy γ-ray absorbed dose and the ERR/Gy neutron absorbed dose that have been obtained here directly for the first time, agree well with previous indirect estimates. The average relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons relative to γ-rays, calculated directly from fit parameters to the all solid cancer ERR model with both

Axial distribution of absorbed doses in fast neutron field at the RB reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sokcic-Kostic, M.; Pesic, M.; Antic, D.; Ninkovic, M.

1988-11-01

The coupled fast thermal system CFTS at the RB reactor is created for obtaining fast neutron fields. The axial distribution of fast neutron flux density in its second configuration (CFTS-2) is measured. The axial distribution of absorbed doses is computed on the basis of mentioned experimental results. At the end these experimental and computed results are given. (Author)

Neutron absorber qualification and acceptance testing from the designer's perspective

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bracey, W. [Transnuclear, Inc, Hawthorne, NY (United States); Chiocca, R. [Cogema Logistics, St. Quentin en Yvelines (France)

2004-07-01

Starting in the mid 1990's, the USNRC began to require less than 100% credit for the 10B present in fixed neutron absorbers spent fuel transport packages. The current practice in the US is to use only 75% of the specified 10B in criticality safety calculations unless extensive acceptance testing demonstrates both the presence of the 10B and uniformity of its distribution. In practice, the NRC has accepted no more than 90% credit for 10B in recent years, while other national competent authorities continue to accept 100%. More recently, with the introduction of new neutron absorber materials, particularly aluminum / boron carbide metal matrix composites, the NRC has also expressed expectations for qualification testing, based in large part on Transnuclear's successful application to use a new composite material in the TN-68 storage / transport cask. The difficulty is that adding more boron than is really necessary to a metal has some negative effects on the material, reducing the ductility and the thermal conductivity, and increasing the cost. Excessive testing requirements can have the undesired effect of keeping superior materials out of spent fuel package designs, without a corresponding justification based on public safety. In European countries and especially in France, 100% credit has been accepted up to now with materials controls specified in the Safety Analysis Report (SAR): Manufacturing process approved by qualification testing Materials manufacturing controlled under a Quality Assurance system. During fabrication, acceptance testing directly on products or on representative samples. Acceptance criteria taking into account a statistical uncertainty corresponding to 3{sigma}. The original and current bases for the reduced {sup 10}B credit, the design requirements for neutron absorber materials, and the experience of Transnuclear and Cogema Logistics with neutron absorber testing are examined. Guidelines for qualification and acceptance testing and

Scaling neutron absorbed dose distributions from one medium to another

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Awschalom, M.; Rosenberg, I.; Ten Haken, R.K.

1982-11-01

Central axis depth dose (CADD) and off-axis absorbed dose ratio (OAR) measurements were made in water, muscle and whole skeletal bone TE-solutions, mineral oil and glycerin with a clinical neutron therapy beam. These measurements show that, for a given neutron beam quality and field size, there is a universal CADD distribution at infinity if the depth in the phantom is expressed in terms of appropriate scaling lengths. These are essentially the kerma-weighted neutron mean free paths in the media. The method used in ICRU No. 26 to scale the CADD by the ratio of the densities is shown to give incorrect results. the OAR's measured in different media at depths proportional to the respective mean free paths were also found to be independent of the media to a good approximation. It is recommended that relative CADD and OAR measurements be performed in water because of its universality and convenience. A table of calculated scaling lengths is given for various neutron energy spectra and for various tissues and materials of practical importance in neutron dosimetry

Investigation of reactivity change and neutron noise due to random absorber vibrations. 2

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Barthel, R.

1984-01-01

Perturbations of the neutron flux due to stochastically excited vibrations of absorbers have been investigated using a one-dimensional core model with N pointlike absorbers. Taking into account the flux depressions near the absorbers, pronounced peaks in the spectral power densities of the flux fluctuations have been found at multiples of the resonance frequencies in addition to the direct imaging of the resonances of absorber vibrations. Investigation of the space dependence of the corresponding transfer functions has shown that a localization is possible by means of the double frequency effect and that the dispersion of absorber vibrations can be determined by using the triple frequency effect. The conclusions of the paper are qualitatively compared with results of noise measurements at a pressurized water reactor. (author)

Standard practice for qualification and acceptance of boron based metallic neutron absorbers for nuclear criticality control for dry cask storage systems and transportation packaging

CERN Document Server

American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia

2007-01-01

1.1 This practice provides procedures for qualification and acceptance of neutron absorber materials used to provide criticality control by absorbing thermal neutrons in systems designed for nuclear fuel storage, transportation, or both. 1.2 This practice is limited to neutron absorber materials consisting of metal alloys, metal matrix composites (MMCs), and cermets, clad or unclad, containing the neutron absorber boron-10 (10B). 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Excitation of surface waves of ultracold neutrons on absorbing trap walls as anomalous loss factor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bokun, R.Ch.

2006-01-01

One analyzed probability of excitation of surface waves of ultracold neutrons in terms of a plane model consisting of three media: vacuum, a finite depth neutron absorbing substance layer and a neutron reflecting substrate. One demonstrated the absence of the mentioned surface waves in terms of the generally accepted model of two media: vacuum contiguous to the plane surface of a substance filled half-space. One pointed out the effect of the excited surface waves of ultracold neutrons on the increase of their anomalous losses in traps [ru

Some neutron absorbing elements and devices for fast nuclear reactors regulation systems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kervalishvili, P.J.

2010-01-01

It is shown that performed technological, physical-mechanical and radiation tests clearly indicate the prospects of using Neutron Absorbing Elements (NAE) based on B-10 and some rare-earth compounds during the creation of highly effective Control and Safety System (CSS) rods for fast neutron nuclear energetic reactors. Particular attention was paid to the development of new and upgrading of existing computing and real technologies for designing and preparing the optimizing NAE items characterized by all physical and strength properties for obtaining desirable operational parameters of CSS rods on their base

An optimized absorbing potential for ultrafast, strong-field problems

Science.gov (United States)

Yu, Youliang; Esry, B. D.

2018-05-01

Theoretical treatments of strong-field physics have long relied on the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The most effective such treatments utilize a discrete spatial representation—a grid. Since most strong-field observables relate to the continuum portion of the wave function, the boundaries of the grid—which act as hard walls and thus cause reflection—can substantially impact the observables. Special care thus needs to be taken. While there exist a number of attempts to solve this problem—e.g., complex absorbing potentials and masking functions, exterior complex scaling, and coordinate scaling—none of them are completely satisfactory. The first of these is arguably the most popular, but it consumes a substantial fraction of the computing resources in any given calculation. Worse, this fraction grows with the dimensionality of the problem. In addition, no systematic way to design such a potential has been used in the strong-field community. In this work, we address these issues and find a much better solution. By comparing with previous widely used absorbing potentials, we find a factor of 3–4 reduction in the absorption range, given the same level of absorption over a specified energy interval.

Neutron-absorbing alloys

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Portnoi, K.I.; Arabei, L.B.; Gryaznov, G.M.; Levi, L.I.; Lunin, G.L.; Kozhukhov, V.M.; Markov, J.M.; Fedotov, M.E.

1975-01-01

A process is described for the production of an alloy consiting of 1 to 20% In, 0.5 to 15% Sm, and from 3 to 18% Hf, the balance being Ni. Such alloys show a good absorption capacity for thermal and intermediate neutrons, good neutron capture efficiency, and good corrosion resistance, and find application in nuclear reactor automatic control and safety systems. The Hf provides for the maintenance of a reasonably high order of neutron capture efficiency throughout the lifetime of a reactor. The alloys are formed in a vacuum furnace operating with an inert gas atmosphere at 280 to 300 mm.Hg. They have a corrosion resistance from 3 to 3.5 times that of the Ag-based alloys commonly employed, and a neutron capture efficiency about twice that of the Ag alloys. Castability and structural strength are good. (U.K.)

Absorbant materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Quetier, Monique.

1978-11-01

Absorbants play a very important part in the nuclear industry. They serve for the control, shut-down and neutron shielding of reactors and increase the capacity of spent fuel storage pools and of special transport containers. This paper surveys the usual absorbant materials, means of obtainment, their essential characteristics relating to their use and their behaviour under neutron irradiation [fr

Matter and Radiation in Strong Magnetic Fields of Neutron Stars

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lai, D

2006-01-01

Neutron stars are found to possess magnetic fields ranging from 10 8 G to 10 15 G, much larger than achievable in terrestrial laboratories. Understanding the properties of matter and radiative transfer in strong magnetic fields is essential for the proper interpretation of various observations of magnetic neutron stars, including radio pulsars and magnetars. This paper reviews the atomic/molecular physics and condensed matter physics in strong magnetic fields, as well as recent works on modeling radiation from magnetized neutron star atmospheres/surface layers

Nuclear criticality safety: general. 6. Application of Fixed Neutron Absorbers in the New Hanford PFP Horizontal Rack Design

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lan, J.S.; Miller, E.M.; Toffer, H.; Mo, B.S.

2001-01-01

The Hanford Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) is currently in a waste cleanup and plutonium stabilization mode. Plutonium-bearing materials are processed through thermal treatment, creating forms of oxides suitable for long-term storage. Stabilized materials at PFP are stored in a variety of cans such as the bag-less transfer cans (BTCs), which are ultimately contained in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 3013 can; both cans are larger than previously used plutonium storage containers and hold more plutonium. To compensate for the increased plutonium loadings, added engineered safety features were considered in the storage facilities. The vaults in PFP, subdivided into concrete-walled cubicles, will contain both new and older cans. The DOE 3013 and BTC cans may be loaded with up to 4.4 kg of plutonium as a compound (mostly oxide). New racks that store cans horizontally are being constructed to hold both new and older containers. The loading objective is to accommodate 70 kg of plutonium per cubicle. Two design analysis approaches for the new racks were considered. The first approach incorporated neutron absorption provided by the structural materials of the rack and the cans in determining a safe configuration. A rack loading arrangement was determined as shown in Fig. 1 and specified in Table I. This approach provides compliance with criticality control requirements; however, added administrative controls were needed to accommodate a sufficient number of cans in specific locations to achieve 70 kg of plutonium per cubicle. The 4.4-kg plutonium container can be placed only in predetermined locations. The second approach evaluated the addition of a fixed neutron absorber plate along the back wall of the cubicle (Fig. 1). The location of the special plate facilitates installation of the racks and provides additional criticality safety margin beyond the first approach. Its presence permits loading of racks with up to 4.4-kg plutonium cans in any storage locations

Standard specification for boron-Based neutron absorbing material systems for use in nuclear spent fuel storage racks

CERN Document Server

American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia

2011-01-01

1.1 This specification defines criteria for boron-based neutron absorbing material systems used in racks in a pool environment for storage of nuclear light water reactor (LWR) spent-fuel assemblies or disassembled components to maintain sub-criticality in the storage rack system. 1.2 Boron-based neutron absorbing material systems normally consist of metallic boron or a chemical compound containing boron (for example, boron carbide, B4C) supported by a matrix of aluminum, steel, or other materials. 1.3 In a boron-based absorber, neutron absorption occurs primarily by the boron-10 isotope that is present in natural boron to the extent of 18.3 ± 0.2 % by weight (depending upon the geological origin of the boron). Boron, enriched in boron-10 could also be used. 1.4 The materials systems described herein shall be functional – that is always be capable to maintain a B10 areal density such that subcriticality Keff <0.95 or Keff <0.98 or Keff < 1.0 depending on the design specification for the service...

Strong Neutron Pairing in core+4n Nuclei.

Science.gov (United States)

Revel, A; Marqués, F M; Sorlin, O; Aumann, T; Caesar, C; Holl, M; Panin, V; Vandebrouck, M; Wamers, F; Alvarez-Pol, H; Atar, L; Avdeichikov, V; Beceiro-Novo, S; Bemmerer, D; Benlliure, J; Bertulani, C A; Boillos, J M; Boretzky, K; Borge, M J G; Caamaño, M; Casarejos, E; Catford, W N; Cederkäll, J; Chartier, M; Chulkov, L; Cortina-Gil, D; Cravo, E; Crespo, R; Datta Pramanik, U; Díaz Fernández, P; Dillmann, I; Elekes, Z; Enders, J; Ershova, O; Estradé, A; Farinon, F; Fraile, L M; Freer, M; Galaviz, D; Geissel, H; Gernhäuser, R; Golubev, P; Göbel, K; Hagdahl, J; Heftrich, T; Heil, M; Heine, M; Heinz, A; Henriques, A; Ignatov, A; Johansson, H T; Jonson, B; Kahlbow, J; Kalantar-Nayestanaki, N; Kanungo, R; Kelic-Heil, A; Knyazev, A; Kröll, T; Kurz, N; Labiche, M; Langer, C; Le Bleis, T; Lemmon, R; Lindberg, S; Machado, J; Marganiec, J; Movsesyan, A; Nacher, E; Najafi, M; Nilsson, T; Nociforo, C; Paschalis, S; Perea, A; Petri, M; Pietri, S; Plag, R; Reifarth, R; Ribeiro, G; Rigollet, C; Röder, M; Rossi, D; Savran, D; Scheit, H; Simon, H; Syndikus, I; Taylor, J T; Tengblad, O; Thies, R; Togano, Y; Velho, P; Volkov, V; Wagner, A; Weick, H; Wheldon, C; Wilson, G; Winfield, J S; Woods, P; Yakorev, D; Zhukov, M; Zilges, A; Zuber, K

2018-04-13

The emission of neutron pairs from the neutron-rich N=12 isotones ^{18}C and ^{20}O has been studied by high-energy nucleon knockout from ^{19}N and ^{21}O secondary beams, populating unbound states of the two isotones up to 15 MeV above their two-neutron emission thresholds. The analysis of triple fragment-n-n correlations shows that the decay ^{19}N(-1p)^{18}C^{*}→^{16}C+n+n is clearly dominated by direct pair emission. The two-neutron correlation strength, the largest ever observed, suggests the predominance of a ^{14}C core surrounded by four valence neutrons arranged in strongly correlated pairs. On the other hand, a significant competition of a sequential branch is found in the decay ^{21}O(-1n)^{20}O^{*}→^{18}O+n+n, attributed to its formation through the knockout of a deeply bound neutron that breaks the ^{16}O core and reduces the number of pairs.

Process and device for identifying nuclear reactor neutron absorber rod etancheity defect

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pelletier, J.; Parrat, D.

1990-01-01

For identifying defects in the sealing of neutron absorbing rods. The rod is placed in a pressure tight enclosure filled with a chemically agressive solution. After a time the pressure is released to allow the solution come out of the rod. An analysis of the solution allows the detection of radioactive isotopes of metals which are in the rod [fr

Neutron absorbing article and method for manufacture of such article

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McMurty, C.H.; Naum, R.G.; Owens, D.P.; Hortman, M.T.

1981-01-01

A neutron absorbing article is described which comprises boron carbide particles and an irreversibly-cured phenol aldehyde condensation polymer cured to a continuous matrix about the boron carbide particles. Such an article may be used in spent fuel storage racks. It can be manufactured by mixing together a curable phenolic resin with boron carbide particles, compacting the mixture to an article of desired shape, curing the resin at an elevated temperature, impregnating the cured article with curable phenolic resin in liquid state, and curing the article again

Fabrication and characterization of dysprosia and alumina based inert matrix neutron absorbers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

D Ovidio, C.; Oliber, E.; Leiva, S.; Malachevsky, M. T; Taboada, H

2009-01-01

Among the elements of the lanthanides series, dysprosium has interesting nuclear properties. Its high thermal neutron absorption cross-section makes it a good neutron absorber. The best ceramic compound apt for nuclear use is its oxide, the disprosia (Dy 2 O 3 ). In order to fabricate neutron absorbers diluted in an inert matrix, it is relevant to study the preparation of a ceramic compound based on alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and disprosia. In this work, we characterize a particular composition (44,5wt% Dy 2 O 3 , 55,5wt% Al 2 O 3 ) by determining the geometrical density, microstructure and phase formation. The chosen composition corresponds to the lowest temperature eutectic of the alumina-disprosia system, allowing the sintering to proceed at 1700 oC in air. Comparing the data of the green and sinterized pellets, the relative shrinking is of about 17 %, in the same proportion both for diameter and length. The corresponding volumetric reduction is of about 43 %, indicating an increase of the relative geometric density of ∼ 70 %. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the existence of two phases corresponding to the lower eutectic: Dy 3 Al 5 O 1 2 and Al 2 O 3 . The calculated theoretical density is ∼ 5.2 g/cm3. Consequently, the relative density of the pellets is 92 %, indicating the feasibility for the fabrication of the proposed material. In a near future, samples will be irradiated to evaluate their behavior for nuclear use. [es

Neutron absorbers and detector types for spent fuel verification using the self-interrogation neutron resonance densitometry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rossa, Riccardo; Borella, Alessandro; Labeau, Pierre-Etienne; Pauly, Nicolas; Meer, Klaas van der

2015-01-01

The Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) is a passive non-destructive assay (NDA) technique that is proposed for the direct measurement of 239 Pu in a spent fuel assembly. The insertion of neutron detectors wrapped with different neutron absorbing materials, or neutron filters, in the central guide tube of a PWR fuel assembly is envisaged to measure the neutron flux in the energy region close to the 0.3 eV resonance of 239 Pu. In addition, the measurement of the fast neutron flux is foreseen. This paper is focused on the determination of the Gd and Cd neutron filters thickness to maximize the detection of neutrons within the resonance region. Moreover, several detector types are compared to identify the optimal condition and to assess the expected total neutron counts that can be obtained with the SINRD measurements. Results from Monte Carlo simulations showed that ranges between 0.1–0.3 mm and 0.5–1.0 mm ensure the optimal conditions for the Gd and Cd filters, respectively. Moreover, a 239 Pu fission chamber is better suited to measure neutrons close to the 0.3 eV resonance and it has the highest sensitivity to 239 Pu, in comparison with a 235 U fission chamber, with a 3 He proportional counter, and with a 10 B proportional counter. The use of a thin Gd filter and a thick Cd filter is suggested for the 239 Pu and 235 U fission chambers to increase the total counts achieved in a measurement, while a thick Gd filter and a thin Cd filter are envisaged for the 3 He and 10 B proportional counters to increase the sensitivity to 239 Pu. We concluded that an optimization process that takes into account measurement time, filters thickness, and detector size is needed to develop a SINRD detector that can meet the requirement for an efficient verification of spent fuel assemblies

Neutron absorbers and detector types for spent fuel verification using the self-interrogation neutron resonance densitometry

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rossa, Riccardo, E-mail: rrossa@sckcen.be [SCK-CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang, 200, B2400 Mol (Belgium); Université libre de Bruxelles, Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles, Service de Métrologie Nucléaire (CP 165/84), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50, B1050 Brussels (Belgium); Borella, Alessandro, E-mail: aborella@sckcen.be [SCK-CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang, 200, B2400 Mol (Belgium); Labeau, Pierre-Etienne, E-mail: pelabeau@ulb.ac.be [Université libre de Bruxelles, Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles, Service de Métrologie Nucléaire (CP 165/84), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50, B1050 Brussels (Belgium); Pauly, Nicolas, E-mail: nipauly@ulb.ac.be [Université libre de Bruxelles, Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles, Service de Métrologie Nucléaire (CP 165/84), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50, B1050 Brussels (Belgium); Meer, Klaas van der, E-mail: kvdmeer@sckcen.be [SCK-CEN, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, Boeretang, 200, B2400 Mol (Belgium)

2015-08-11

The Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) is a passive non-destructive assay (NDA) technique that is proposed for the direct measurement of {sup 239}Pu in a spent fuel assembly. The insertion of neutron detectors wrapped with different neutron absorbing materials, or neutron filters, in the central guide tube of a PWR fuel assembly is envisaged to measure the neutron flux in the energy region close to the 0.3 eV resonance of {sup 239}Pu. In addition, the measurement of the fast neutron flux is foreseen. This paper is focused on the determination of the Gd and Cd neutron filters thickness to maximize the detection of neutrons within the resonance region. Moreover, several detector types are compared to identify the optimal condition and to assess the expected total neutron counts that can be obtained with the SINRD measurements. Results from Monte Carlo simulations showed that ranges between 0.1–0.3 mm and 0.5–1.0 mm ensure the optimal conditions for the Gd and Cd filters, respectively. Moreover, a {sup 239}Pu fission chamber is better suited to measure neutrons close to the 0.3 eV resonance and it has the highest sensitivity to {sup 239}Pu, in comparison with a {sup 235}U fission chamber, with a {sup 3}He proportional counter, and with a {sup 10}B proportional counter. The use of a thin Gd filter and a thick Cd filter is suggested for the {sup 239}Pu and {sup 235}U fission chambers to increase the total counts achieved in a measurement, while a thick Gd filter and a thin Cd filter are envisaged for the {sup 3}He and {sup 10}B proportional counters to increase the sensitivity to {sup 239}Pu. We concluded that an optimization process that takes into account measurement time, filters thickness, and detector size is needed to develop a SINRD detector that can meet the requirement for an efficient verification of spent fuel assemblies.

Scaling neutron absorbed dose distributions from one medium to another

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Awschalom, M.; Rosenberg, I.; Ten Haken, R.K.

1983-01-01

Central axis depth dose (CADD) and off-axis absorbed dose ratio (OAR) measurements were made in water, muscle and whole skeletal bone tissue-equivalent (TE) solutions, mineral oil, and glycerin with a clinical neutron therapy beam. These measurements show that, for a given neutron beam quality and field size, there is a universal CADD distribution at infinity if the depth in the phantom is expressed in terms of appropriate scaling lengths. These are essentially the kerma-weighted neutron mean free paths in the media. The method used in ICRU Report No. 26 to scale the CADD by the ratio of the densities is shown to give incorrect results. The OARs measured in different media at depths proportional to the respective mean free paths were also found to be independent of the media to a good approximation. Therefore, neutron beam CADDs and OARs may be measured in either TE solution (USA practice) or water (European practice), and having determined the respective scaling lengths, all measurements may be scaled from one medium to any other. It is recommended that for general treatment planning purposes, scaling be made to TE muscle with a density of 1.04 g cm -3 , since this value represents muscle and other soft tissues better than TE solution of density 1.07 g cm -3 . For such a transformation, relative measurements made in water are found to require very small corrections. Hence, it is further recommended that relative CADD and OAR measurements be performed in water because of its universality and convenience. Finally, a table of calculated scaling lengths is given for various neutron energy spectra and for various tissues and materials of practical importance in neutron dosimetry

Preparation and characterization of ceramic neutron absorbers based on dysprosia and gadolinia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Burgos, F.; Oliber, E.; Leiva S; Lestani, H.; Malachevsky, M.T.; Taboada, H.; D'Ovidio, C.

2012-01-01

Among the elements of the lanthanide series, dysprosium and gadolinium have interesting nuclear properties. Due to their high thermal neutron absorption cross-section they are good neutron absorbers. The only compounds suitable for nuclear use are their oxides, dysprosia (Dy 2 O 3 ) and gadolinia (Gd 2 O 3 ). To fabricate neutron absorbers diluted in an inert matrix, e.g. alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), it is relevant to study the preparation of a ceramic compound based on alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and dysprosia or gadolinia. In this work, we characterize four different nominal compositions with high contents of gadolinia and dysprosia: (a) (45 wt% Dy 2 O 3 , 55 wt% Al 2 O 3 ), (b) (93 wt% Dy 2 O 3 , 7 wt% Al 2 O 3 ), (c) (50 wt% Gd 2 O 3 , 50 wt% Al 2 O 3 ) and (d) (90 wt% Gd 2 O 3 , 10 wt% Al 2 O 3 ). These compositions were selected as their stoichiometry correspond to the eutectic phases found in the respective phase diagrams, so as to attain sinterization at lower temperatures of approximately 1700 o C in air. The investigated parameters are the geometrical density of the pellets, the microstructure and the phases observed using x-ray diffraction. Contraction of the pellets was obtained by measuring the volumetric change between the green and the sintered samples. It was observed that the relative contraction was the same both in thickness and diameter. We discuss the eutectic phase formation and densification observed for the different compositions (author)

One-speed neutron transport in spheres with totally absorbing cores

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sjoestrand, N.G.

1988-01-01

Stationary and time-dependent transport of neutrons of one speed has been studied in spheres with totally absorbing cores. For stationary, critical reactors the number of secondaries per collision has been calculated numerically for various inner and outer radii. In the time-dependent case, the decay constant has been calculated for spherical shells of different inner radii and thicknesses. For a fixed ratio between shell thickness and inner radius, the curve of the decay constant versus shell thickness crosses the Corngold limit in the same way as the curve for a homogeneous sphere. When the ratio goes to zero the curve approaches that for an infinite slab. The behaviour is discussed in view of a new result from collision theory, viz. that the following condition must be fulfilled for a body at the point where the decay constant curve crosses the Corngold limit: the average exit distance of the neutrons is equal to the mean free path for scattering

Determination of the Neutron Flux in the Reactor Zones with the Strong Neutron Absorption and Leakage

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ljubenov, V.; Milosevic, M.

2004-11-01

The procedures for the numerical and experimental determination of the neutron flux in the zones with the strong neutron absorption and leakage are described in this paper. Numerical procedure is based on the application of the SCALE-4.4a code system where the Dancoff factors are determined by the VEGA2DAN code. Two main parts of the experimental methodology are measurement of the activity of irradiated foils and determination of the averaged neutron absorption cross-section in the foils by the SCALE-4.4a calculation procedure. The proposed procedures have been applied for the determination of the neutron flux in the internal neutron converter used with the RB reactor core configuration number 114. (author)

Apparatus for controlling a nuclear reactor by vertical displacement of a unit absorbing neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wiart, A.; Defaucheux, J.; Martin, J.; Pasqualini, G.

1980-01-01

Apparatus is described for controlling a nuclear reactor by vertical displacement of a unit absorbing neutrons, comprising, inside a sealed enclosure in communication with the interior of the reactor, a movable magnetic piece connected to a control shaft which is itself connected to the absorbent unit. This magnetic piece has at least two radial projections. The magnetic piece is displaced by an inductor with at least two pole shoes corresponding to the projections on the magnetic piece and allowing magnetic coupling between the inductor and the magnetic piece. The inductor and its displacement device are disposed outside the sealed enclosure. A control means allows the control shaft to be uncoupled from a member assuring its suspension so as to drop the absorbent unit in the event of emergency shutdown. The apparatus is particularly applicable to control rods of pressurized water nuclear reactors

Scattering of strongly absorbed particles near the Coulomb barrier

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fernandez, B.

1979-01-01

The elastic scattering of strongly absorbed particles near the Coulomb barrier is sensitive to one size parameter, which is the distance at which the real nuclear potential has some fixed value, 0.2 MeV for α-particle, 1 MeV for 16 O. This size parameter can be related in a simple way to the radial distance of the target nucleus where the density takes some given value, 2x10 -3 nucleon /fm 3 for α-particle scattering and 5x10 -3 nucleon/fm 3 for 16 O scattering

Magnetization of dense neutron matter in a strong magnetic field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Isaev, A.A.; Yang, J.

2010-01-01

Spin polarized states in neutron matter at a strong magnetic field up to 1018 G are considered in the model with the Skyrme effective interaction. Analyzing the self consistent equations at zero temperature, it is shown that a thermodynamically stable branch of solutions for the spin polarization parameter as a function of the density corresponds to the negative spin polarization when the majority of neutron spins are oriented oppositely to the direction of the magnetic field. In addition, beginning from some threshold density dependent on the magnetic field strength, the self-consistent equations have also two other branches of solutions for the spin polarization parameter with the positive spin polarization. The free energy corresponding to one of these branches turns out to be very close to the free energy corresponding to the thermodynamically preferable branch with the negative spin polarization. As a consequence, at a strong magnetic field, the state with the positive spin polarization can be realized as a metastable state at the high density region in neutron matter which changes into a thermodynamically stable state with the negative spin polarization with decrease in the density at some threshold value. The calculations of the neutron spin polarization parameter, energy per neutron, and chemical potentials of spin-up and spin-down neutrons as functions of the magnetic field strength show that the influence of the magnetic field remains small at the field strengths up to 1017 G.

High conduction neutron absorber to simulate fast reactor environment in an existing test reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Donna Post Guillen; Larry R. Greenwood; James R. Parry

2014-06-22

A new metal matrix composite material has been developed to serve as a thermal neutron absorber for testing fast reactor fuels and materials in an existing pressurized water reactor. The performance of this material was evaluated by placing neutron fluence monitors within shrouded and unshrouded holders and irradiating for up to four cycles. The monitor wires were analyzed by gamma and X-ray spectrometry to determine the activities of the activation products. Adjusted neutron fluences were calculated and grouped into three bins—thermal, epithermal, and fast—to evaluate the spectral shift created by the new material. A comparison of shrouded and unshrouded fluence monitors shows a thermal fluence decrease of ~11 % for the shielded monitors. Radioisotope activity and mass for each of the major activation products is given to provide insight into the evolution of thermal absorption cross-section during irradiation. The thermal neutron absorption capability of the composite material appears to diminish at total neutron fluence levels of ~8 × 1025 n/m2. Calculated values for dpa in excess of 2.0 were obtained for two common structural materials (iron and nickel) of interest for future fast flux experiments.

Quantitative determination of absorbed hydrogen in oxidised zircaloy by means of neutron radiography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Grosse, M.; Lehmann, E.; Vontobel, P.; Steinbrueck, M.

2006-01-01

Hydrogen absorbed in steam-oxidised zircaloy can be determined quantitatively by means of neutron radiography. Correlation parameters between the total cross section and hydrogen content as well as oxide layer thickness were determined quantitatively. At H/Zr atomic ratios lower than 1.0, linear correlations between the hydrogen content and total cross section exist. The total cross section of Zr is lower and the effect of the hydrogen is higher in radiography measurements with a cold neutron spectrum than with a thermal spectrum. A Be filter reduces the effects of lower wavelength and epithermal neutrons and extends the linear correlations to higher H/Zr atomic ratios. Due to the better possibilities of background corrections, the neutron image should be detected by a CCD camera for a proper quantitative analysis with a medium spatial resolution of about 0.1 mm. A higher spatial resolution, but larger uncertainties in the quantitative hydrogen determination are achieved by measurements with imaging plates. The effect of oxygen layers on the total cross section is much smaller than the effect of hydrogen. The total cross section measured depends linearly on the oxide layer thickness

Electrochemical Corrosion Testing of Neutron Absorber Materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tedd Lister; Ron Mizia; Sandra Birk; Brent Matteson; Hongbo Tian

2006-01-01

The Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) has been directed by DOE-RW to develop a new repository waste package design based on the transport, aging, and disposal canister (TAD) system concept. A neutron poison material for fabrication of the internal spent nuclear fuel (SNF) baskets for these canisters needs to be identified. A material that has been used for criticality control in wet and dry storage of spent nuclear fuel is borated stainless steel. These stainless products are available as an ingot metallurgy plate product with a molybdenum addition and a powder metallurgy product that meets the requirements of ASTM A887, Grade A. A new Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd alloy has been developed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) with its research partners (Sandia National Laboratory and Lehigh University) with DOE-EM funding provided by the National Spent Nuclear Fuel Program (NSNFP). This neutron absorbing alloy will be used to fabricate the SNF baskets in the DOE standardized canister. The INL has designed the DOE Standardized Spent Nuclear Fuel Canister for the handling, interim storage, transportation, and disposal in the national repository of DOE owned spent nuclear fuel (SNF). A corrosion testing program is required to compare these materials in environmental conditions representative of a breached waste canister. This report will summarize the results of crevice corrosion tests for three alloys in solutions representative of ionic compositions inside the waste package should a breech occur. The three alloys in these tests are Neutronit A978 (ingot metallurgy, hot rolled), Neutrosorb 304B4 Grade A (powder metallurgy, hot rolled), and Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd alloy (ingot metallurgy, hot rolled)

A proposal on evaluation method of neutron absorption performance to substitute conventional neutron attenuation test

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kim, Je Hyun; Shim, Chang Ho; Kim, Sung Hyun; Choe, Jung Hun; Cho, In Hak; Park, Hwan Seo; Park, Hyun Seo; Kim, Jung Ho; Kim, Yoon Ho

2016-01-01

For a verification of newly-developed neutron absorbers, one of guidelines on the qualification and acceptance of neutron absorbers is the neutron attenuation test. However, this approach can cause a problem for the qualifications that it cannot distinguish how the neutron attenuates from materials. In this study, an estimation method of neutron absorption performances for materials is proposed to detect both direct penetration and back-scattering neutrons. For the verification of the proposed method, MCNP simulations with the experimental system designed in this study were pursued using the polyethylene, iron, normal glass and the vitrified form. The results show that it can easily test neutron absorption ability using single absorber model. Also, from simulation results of single absorber and double absorbers model, it is verified that the proposed method can evaluate not only the direct thermal neutrons passing through materials, but also the scattered neutrons reflected to the materials. Therefore, the neutron absorption performances can be accurately estimated using the proposed method comparing with the conventional neutron attenuation test. It is expected that the proposed method can contribute to increase the reliability of the performance of neutron absorbers

A proposal on evaluation method of neutron absorption performance to substitute conventional neutron attenuation test

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kim, Je Hyun; Shim, Chang Ho [Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Sung Hyun [Nuclear Fuel Cycle Waste Treatment Research Division, Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Osaka (Japan); Choe, Jung Hun; Cho, In Hak; Park, Hwan Seo [Ionizing Radiation Center, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Waste Treatment Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of); Park, Hyun Seo; Kim, Jung Ho; Kim, Yoon Ho [Ionizing Radiation Center, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)

2016-12-15

For a verification of newly-developed neutron absorbers, one of guidelines on the qualification and acceptance of neutron absorbers is the neutron attenuation test. However, this approach can cause a problem for the qualifications that it cannot distinguish how the neutron attenuates from materials. In this study, an estimation method of neutron absorption performances for materials is proposed to detect both direct penetration and back-scattering neutrons. For the verification of the proposed method, MCNP simulations with the experimental system designed in this study were pursued using the polyethylene, iron, normal glass and the vitrified form. The results show that it can easily test neutron absorption ability using single absorber model. Also, from simulation results of single absorber and double absorbers model, it is verified that the proposed method can evaluate not only the direct thermal neutrons passing through materials, but also the scattered neutrons reflected to the materials. Therefore, the neutron absorption performances can be accurately estimated using the proposed method comparing with the conventional neutron attenuation test. It is expected that the proposed method can contribute to increase the reliability of the performance of neutron absorbers.

Neutron physical investigations on the use of burnable poisons and gray absorber rods in large pressurized water reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brosche, C.; Katinger, T.; Kollmar, W.; Thieme, K.; Wagner, M.R.

1977-11-01

Methods and results of neutron physics calculations are described using burnable poisons and gray absorber rods in large PWR's. Calculated and measured values are compared, the effort for programming has been guessed. (orig.) [de

The influence of hyperons and strong magnetic field in neutron star properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lopes, L.L.; Menezes, D.P.

2012-01-01

Neutron stars are among the most exotic objects in the universe and constitute a unique laboratory to study nuclear matter above the nuclear saturation density. In this work, we study the equation of state (EoS) of the nuclear matter within a relativistic model subject to a strong magnetic field. We then apply this EoS to study and describe some of the physical characteristics of neutron stars, especially the massradius relation and chemical compositions. To study the influence of the magnetic field and the hyperons in the stellar interior, we consider altogether four solutions: two different magnetic fields to obtain a weak and a strong influence; and two configurations: a family of neutron stars formed only by protons, electrons, and neutrons and a family formed by protons, electrons, neutrons, muons, and hyperons. The limit and the validity of the results found are discussed with some care. In all cases, the particles that constitute the neutron star are in ,B equilibrium and zero total net charge. Our work indicates that the effect of a strong magnetic field has to be taken into account in the description of magnetars, mainly if we believe that there are hyperons in their interior, in which case the influence of the magnetic field can increase the mass by more than 10 %. We have also seen that although a magnetar can reach 2.48 M0, a natural explanation of why we do not know pulsars with masses above 2.0 Mo arises. We also discuss how the magnetic field affects the strangeness fraction in some standard neutron star masses, and to conclude our paper, we revisit the direct Urca process related to the cooling of the neutron stars and show how it is affected by the hyperons and the magnetic field. (author)

Measurement of the Decay of Thermal Neutrons in Water Poisoned with the Non-1/v Neutron Absorber Cadmium

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Larsson, L G; Moeller, E

1968-01-15

Measurements have been made of the decay constant of thermal neutrons in water poisoned with the non-1/v absorber cadmium. An experimental method has been used in which proper spatial integration of the neutron flux enables data, representative of the infinite medium to be accumulated without waiting for the establishment of a fundamental mode distribution. The change in effective cross section with concentration of the dissolved cadmium, d{sigma}{sub eff}/dN. has been determined for infinite medium at 20 deg C. Two- and three parameter fits of the decay constant yield -(0.32 {+-} 0.09) x 10{sup -17} barn cm{sup 3} and -(0.47 {+-} 0.10) x 10{sup -17} barn cm{sup 3}, respectively. Earlier published measurements have resulted in two to five times larger values, whereas a published calculated value of Nelkin's model is - 0.33 x 10{sup -17} barn cm{sup 3}.

Measurement of the Decay of Thermal Neutrons in Water Poisoned with the Non-1/v Neutron Absorber Cadmium

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Larsson, L.G.; Moeller, E.

1968-01-01

Measurements have been made of the decay constant of thermal neutrons in water poisoned with the non-1/v absorber cadmium. An experimental method has been used in which proper spatial integration of the neutron flux enables data, representative of the infinite medium to be accumulated without waiting for the establishment of a fundamental mode distribution. The change in effective cross section with concentration of the dissolved cadmium, dσ eff /dN. has been determined for infinite medium at 20 deg C. Two- and three parameter fits of the decay constant yield -(0.32 ± 0.09) x 10 -17 barn cm 3 and -(0.47 ± 0.10) x 10 -17 barn cm 3 , respectively. Earlier published measurements have resulted in two to five times larger values, whereas a published calculated value of Nelkin's model is - 0.33 x 10 -17 barn cm 3

Polarized X-Ray Emission from Magnetized Neutron Stars: Signature of Strong-Field Vacuum Polarization

Science.gov (United States)

Lai, Dong; Ho, Wynn C.

2003-08-01

In the atmospheric plasma of a strongly magnetized neutron star, vacuum polarization can induce a Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein type resonance across which an x-ray photon may (depending on its energy) convert from one mode into the other, with significant changes in opacities and polarizations. We show that this vacuum resonance effect gives rise to a unique energy-dependent polarization signature in the surface emission from neutron stars. The detection of polarized x rays from neutron stars can provide a direct probe of strong-field quantum electrodynamics and constrain the neutron star magnetic field and geometry.

Polarized x-ray emission from magnetized neutron stars: signature of strong-field vacuum polarization.

Science.gov (United States)

Lai, Dong; Ho, Wynn C G

2003-08-15

In the atmospheric plasma of a strongly magnetized neutron star, vacuum polarization can induce a Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein type resonance across which an x-ray photon may (depending on its energy) convert from one mode into the other, with significant changes in opacities and polarizations. We show that this vacuum resonance effect gives rise to a unique energy-dependent polarization signature in the surface emission from neutron stars. The detection of polarized x rays from neutron stars can provide a direct probe of strong-field quantum electrodynamics and constrain the neutron star magnetic field and geometry.

Burnable absorber-integrated Guide Thimble (BigT) - 1. Design concepts and neutronic characterization on the fuel assembly benchmarks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yahya, Mohd-Syukri; Yu, Hwanyeal; Kim, Yonghee

2016-01-01

This paper presents the conceptual designs of a new burnable absorber (BA) for the pressurized water reactor (PWR), which is named 'Burnable absorber-integrated Guide Thimble' (BigT). The BigT integrates BA materials into standard guide thimble in a PWR fuel assembly. Neutronic sensitivities and practical design considerations of the BigT concept are points of highlight in the first half of the paper. Specifically, the BigT concepts are characterized in view of its BA material and spatial self-shielding variations. In addition, the BigT replaceability requirement, bottom-end design specifications and thermal-hydraulic considerations are also deliberated. Meanwhile, much of the second half of the paper is devoted to demonstrate practical viability of the BigT absorbers via comparative evaluations against the conventional BA technologies in representative 17x17 and 16x16 fuel assembly lattices. For the 17x17 lattice evaluations, all three BigT variants are benchmarked against Westinghouse's existing BA technologies, while in the 16x16 assembly analyses, the BigT designs are compared against traditional integral gadolinia-urania rod design. All analyses clearly show that the BigT absorbers perform as well as the commercial BA technologies in terms of reactivity and power peaking management. In addition, it has been shown that sufficiently high control rod worth can be obtained with the BigT absorbers in place. All neutronic simulations were completed using the Monte Carlo Serpent code with ENDF/B-VII.0 library. (author)

Absorbed dose by a CMOS in radiotherapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Borja H, C. G.; Valero L, C. Y.; Guzman G, K. A.; Banuelos F, A.; Hernandez D, V. M.; Vega C, H. R.; Paredes G, L. C.

2011-10-01

Absorbed dose by a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit as part of a pacemaker, has been estimated using Monte Carlo calculations. For a cancer patient who is a pacemaker carrier, scattered radiation could damage pacemaker CMOS circuits affecting patient's health. Absorbed dose in CMOS circuit due to scattered photons is too small and therefore is not the cause of failures in pacemakers, but neutron calculations shown an absorbed dose that could cause damage in CMOS due to neutron-hydrogen interactions. (Author)

Absorbed dose by a CMOS in radiotherapy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Borja H, C. G.; Valero L, C. Y.; Guzman G, K. A.; Banuelos F, A.; Hernandez D, V. M.; Vega C, H. R. [Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares, Calle Cipres No. 10, Fracc. La Penuela, 98068 Zacatecas (Mexico); Paredes G, L. C., E-mail: candy_borja@hotmail.com [ININ, Carretera Mexico-Toluca s/n, 52750 Ocoyoacac, Estado de Mexico (Mexico)

2011-10-15

Absorbed dose by a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit as part of a pacemaker, has been estimated using Monte Carlo calculations. For a cancer patient who is a pacemaker carrier, scattered radiation could damage pacemaker CMOS circuits affecting patient's health. Absorbed dose in CMOS circuit due to scattered photons is too small and therefore is not the cause of failures in pacemakers, but neutron calculations shown an absorbed dose that could cause damage in CMOS due to neutron-hydrogen interactions. (Author)

Scram device having a multiplicity of neutron absorbing masses

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Giuggio, N.; Noyes, R.C.

1981-01-01

An apparatus is described for holding, releasing, and resetting a multiplicity of neutron-absorbing balls within a safety assembly of a liquid metal reactor. Vertically-hinged trap doors rest on the shoulders of a generally cylindrical release valve which is actuated by either the regular or by the self-actuated scram actuator. The doors and the valve shoulder provide a floor for the balls to be suspended above the reactor core during normal operation. When the actuator displaces the release valve, the doors lose their support and swing downward, permitting the poison balls to drop into the core. In the reset mode of operation, a platform at the bottom of the core is raised to lift the balls and swing the trap doors upward until the balls are above the door hinges. The release valve is reset to support the doors and the platform is lowered to the bottom of the safety assembly

Spin-polarized states in neutron matter in a strong magnetic field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Isayev, A. A.; Yang, J.

2009-01-01

Spin-polarized states in neutron matter in strong magnetic fields up to 10 18 G are considered in the model with the Skyrme effective interaction. By analyzing the self-consistent equations at zero temperature, it is shown that a thermodynamically stable branch of solutions for the spin-polarization parameter as a function of density corresponds to the negative spin polarization when the majority of neutron spins are oriented opposite to the direction of the magnetic field. Besides, beginning from some threshold density dependent on magnetic field strength, the self-consistent equations also have two other branches of solutions for the spin-polarization parameter with the positive spin polarization. The free energy corresponding to one of these branches turns out to be very close to that of the thermodynamically preferable branch. As a consequence, in a strong magnetic field, the state with the positive spin polarization can be realized as a metastable state in the high-density region in neutron matter, which, under decreasing density, at some threshold density changes to a thermodynamically stable state with the negative spin polarization.

Strongly Coupled Chameleons and the Neutronic Quantum Bouncer

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brax, Philippe; Pignol, Guillaume

2011-01-01

We consider the potential detection of chameleons using bouncing ultracold neutrons. We show that the presence of a chameleon field over a planar plate would alter the energy levels of ultracold neutrons in the terrestrial gravitational field. When chameleons are strongly coupled to nuclear matter, β > or approx. 10 8 , we find that the shift in energy levels would be detectable with the forthcoming GRANIT experiment, where a sensitivity of the order of 1% of a peV is expected. We also find that an extremely large coupling β > or approx. 10 11 would lead to new bound states at a distance of order 2 μm, which is already ruled out by previous Grenoble experiments. The resulting bound, β 11 , is already 3 orders of magnitude better than the upper bound, β 14 , from precision tests of atomic spectra.

Radial oscillations of neutron stars in strong magnetic fields

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

The eigen frequencies of radial pulsations of neutron stars are calculated in a strong magnetic field. At low densities we use the magnetic BPS equation of state (EOS) similar to that obtained by Lai and Shapiro while at high densities the EOS obtained from the relativistic nuclear mean field theory is taken and extended to ...

Elements and process for recording direct image neutron radiographs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Poignant, R.V. Jr.; Przybylowicz, E.P.

1975-01-01

An element is provided for recording a direct image neutron radiograph, thus eliminating the need for a transfer step (i.e., the use of a transfer screen). The element is capable of holding an electrostatic charge and comprises a first layer for absorbing neutrons and generating a current by dissipation of said electrostatic charge in proportion to the number of neutrons absorbed, and a second layer for conducting the current generated by the absorbed neutrons, said neutron absorbing layer comprising an insulative layer comprising neutron absorbing agents in a concentration of at least 10 17 atoms per cm 3 . An element for enhancing the effect of the neutron beam by utilizing the secondary emanations of neutron absorbing materials is also disclosed along with a process for using the device. (U.S.)

Response functions for computing absorbed dose to skeletal tissues from neutron irradiation

Science.gov (United States)

Bahadori, Amir A.; Johnson, Perry; Jokisch, Derek W.; Eckerman, Keith F.; Bolch, Wesley E.

2011-11-01

Spongiosa in the adult human skeleton consists of three tissues—active marrow (AM), inactive marrow (IM) and trabecularized mineral bone (TB). AM is considered to be the target tissue for assessment of both long-term leukemia risk and acute marrow toxicity following radiation exposure. The total shallow marrow (TM50), defined as all tissues lying within the first 50 µm of the bone surfaces, is considered to be the radiation target tissue of relevance for radiogenic bone cancer induction. For irradiation by sources external to the body, kerma to homogeneous spongiosa has been used as a surrogate for absorbed dose to both of these tissues, as direct dose calculations are not possible using computational phantoms with homogenized spongiosa. Recent micro-CT imaging of a 40 year old male cadaver has allowed for the accurate modeling of the fine microscopic structure of spongiosa in many regions of the adult skeleton (Hough et al 2011 Phys. Med. Biol. 56 2309-46). This microstructure, along with associated masses and tissue compositions, was used to compute specific absorbed fraction (SAF) values for protons originating in axial and appendicular bone sites (Jokisch et al 2011 Phys. Med. Biol. 56 6857-72). These proton SAFs, bone masses, tissue compositions and proton production cross sections, were subsequently used to construct neutron dose-response functions (DRFs) for both AM and TM50 targets in each bone of the reference adult male. Kerma conditions were assumed for other resultant charged particles. For comparison, AM, TM50 and spongiosa kerma coefficients were also calculated. At low incident neutron energies, AM kerma coefficients for neutrons correlate well with values of the AM DRF, while total marrow (TM) kerma coefficients correlate well with values of the TM50 DRF. At high incident neutron energies, all kerma coefficients and DRFs tend to converge as charged-particle equilibrium is established across the bone site. In the range of 10 eV to 100 Me

Compilation of Existing Neutron Screen Technology

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

N. Chrysanthopoulou

2014-01-01

Full Text Available The presence of fast neutron spectra in new reactors is expected to induce a strong impact on the contained materials, including structural materials, nuclear fuels, neutron reflecting materials, and tritium breeding materials. Therefore, introduction of these reactors into operation will require extensive testing of their components, which must be performed under neutronic conditions representative of those expected to prevail inside the reactor cores when in operation. Due to limited availability of fast reactors, testing of future reactor materials will mostly take place in water cooled material test reactors (MTRs by tailoring the neutron spectrum via neutron screens. The latter rely on the utilization of materials capable of absorbing neutrons at specific energy. A large but fragmented experience is available on that topic. In this work a comprehensive compilation of the existing neutron screen technology is attempted, focusing on neutron screens developed in order to locally enhance the fast over thermal neutron flux ratio in a reactor core.

Conceptual design of a two-phase flow absorber system for neutron flux regulation in a CANDU-PHW-1250 reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lepp, R.M.; Moeck, E.O.

1979-07-01

A two-phase absorber control (TOPAC) system has been under development at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories to meet the need for improved spatial neutron flux control for future CANDU power reactors. Aspects of the conceptual design study presented in this paper include system controllability, in-reactor noise sensitiity, the effect of equipment malfunctions on plant operation, and a comparison with competing systems. The TOPAC system is shown to be a viable alternative to existing and future neutron flux regulating systems based on liquid H 2 O zone compartments. (auth)

Neutron detector using sol-gel absorber

Science.gov (United States)

Hiller, John M.; Wallace, Steven A.; Dai, Sheng

1999-01-01

An neutron detector composed of fissionable material having ions of lithium, uranium, thorium, plutonium, or neptunium, contained within a glass film fabricated using a sol-gel method combined with a particle detector is disclosed. When the glass film is bombarded with neutrons, the fissionable material emits fission particles and electrons. Prompt emitting activated elements yielding a high energy electron contained within a sol-gel glass film in combination with a particle detector is also disclosed. The emissions resulting from neutron bombardment can then be detected using standard UV and particle detection methods well known in the art, such as microchannel plates, channeltrons, and silicon avalanche photodiodes.

Strongly coupled chameleon fields: Possible test with a neutron Lloyd's mirror interferometer

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pokotilovski, Yu.N.

2013-01-01

The consideration of possible neutron Lloyd's mirror interferometer experiment to search for strongly coupled chameleon fields is presented. The chameleon scalar fields were proposed to explain the acceleration of expansion of the Universe. The presence of a chameleon field results in a change of a particle's potential energy in vicinity of a massive body. This interaction causes a phase shift of neutron waves in the interferometer. The sensitivity of the method is estimated

Influence of the neutron flux shape on the value of absorbed neutron dose; Uticaj oblika neutronskog spektra na vrednost apsorbovane doze neutrona

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Miric, I; Miric, P [Institute of nuclear sciences Boris Kidric, Vinca, Beograd (Yugoslavia)

1974-07-01

This paper deals with the study od specific doses dependence on the type and approximation procedures of neutron spectra. Values of specific dose rates (dose per neutron cm{sub 2}) were analysed for neutron spectra from RB reactor in Vinca, Crac facility in Valduc (France) and HPRR reactor in Oak Ridge (USA). Data used in this analysis were obtained by methods used in Harwell (AERE), Oak Ridge (ORNL), Chalk River (AECL), CEN de Cadarache (CEA) and in the Boris Kidric Institute (IBK). Specific absorbed neutron doses were determined for each of the estimated spectra and presented in the form of kerma/(n.cm{sup -2}) and rad/((n.cm{sup -2}) units. The obtained results have shown the influence of the flux approximation procedure on the values of conversion factors for obtaining neutron doses from neutron flux. U okviru ovog rada radjeno je na ispitivanju zavisnosti specificnih doza od vrste i nacina aproksimacije neutronskog spektra. U radu su analizirane vrednosti specificnih doza (doza po n.cm{sup -2}) za neutronske spektre koji se dobijaju oko sledecih nuklearnih postrojenja: reaktora RB u Vinci, postrojenja CRAC u Valduc-u (Francuska), reaktora HPRR u Oak Ridge-u (SAD). Za analizu su korisceni podaci dobijeni metodama koje se koriste u nuklearnim centrima Harwell (AERE), Oak Ridge-u (ORNL), Chalk River-u (AECL), CEN de Cadarache (CEA) i Institutu Boris Kidric (IBK). Za svaki procenjeni spektar odredjene su specificne apsorbovane doze neutrona izrazene u kerma/(n.cm{sup -2}) i rad/(n.cm{sup -2}) jedinicama. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali koliko nacin aproksimacije spektra utice na vrednost konverzionih faktora koji sluze za prelazak sa fluksa na dozu neutrona (author)

TLD-300 detectors for separate measurement of total and gamma absorbed dose distributions of single, multiple, and moving-field neutron treatments

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rassow, J.

1984-01-01

Fast neutron therapy requirements, because of the poor depth dose characteristic of present therapeutical sources, are at least as complex in treatment plans as photon therapy. The physical part of the treatment planning is very important; however, it is much more complicated than for photons or electrons owing to the need for: Separation of total and gamma absorbed dose distributions (Dsub(T) and Dsub(G)); and more stringent tissue-equivalence conditions of phantoms than in photon therapy. Therefore, methods of clinical dosimetry for the separate determination of total and gamma absorbed dose distributions in irregularly shaped (inhomogeneous) phantoms are needed. A method using TLD-300 (CaF 2 :Tm) detectors is described, which is able to give an approximate solution of the above-mentioned dosimetric requirements. The two independent doses, Dsub(T) and Dsub(G), can be calculated by an on-line computer analysis of the digitalized glow curve of TLD-300 detectors, irradiated with d(14)+Be neutrons of the cyclotron isocentric neutron therapy facility CIRCE in Essen. Results are presented for depth and lateral absorbed dose distributions (Dsub(T) and Dsub(G)) for fixed neutron beams of different field sizes compared with measurements by standard procedures (TE-TE ionization chamber, GM counter) in an A-150 phantom. The TLD-300 results for multiple and moving-field treatments (with and without wedge filters) in a patient simulating irregularly shaped (inhomogeneous) phantoms, are shown together with computer calculations of these dose distributions. The probable causes for some systematic deviations are discussed, which lead to open problems for further investigations owing to features of the detector material and the evaluation method, but mainly to differences in the composition of phantom materials used for the calculations (standard dose distributions) and TLD-300 measurements. (author)

RBE/absorbed dose relationship of d(50)-Be neutrons determined for early intestinal tolerance in mice

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gueulette, J.; Wambersie, A.

1978-01-01

RBE/absorbed dose relationship of d(50)-Be neutrons (ref.: 60 Co) was determined using intestinal tolerance in mice (LD50) after single and fractionated irradiation. RBE is 1.8 for a single fraction (about 1000 rad 60 Co dose); it increases when decreasing dose and reaches the plateau value of 2.8 for a 60 Co dose of about 200 rad. This RBE value is used for the clinical applications with the cyclotron 'Cyclone' at Louvain-la-Neuve [fr

Strong Neutron-γ Competition above the Neutron Threshold in the Decay of ^{70}Co.

Science.gov (United States)

Spyrou, A; Liddick, S N; Naqvi, F; Crider, B P; Dombos, A C; Bleuel, D L; Brown, B A; Couture, A; Crespo Campo, L; Guttormsen, M; Larsen, A C; Lewis, R; Möller, P; Mosby, S; Mumpower, M R; Perdikakis, G; Prokop, C J; Renstrøm, T; Siem, S; Quinn, S J; Valenta, S

2016-09-30

The β-decay intensity of ^{70}Co was measured for the first time using the technique of total absorption spectroscopy. The large β-decay Q value [12.3(3) MeV] offers a rare opportunity to study β-decay properties in a broad energy range. Two surprising features were observed in the experimental results, namely, the large fragmentation of the β intensity at high energies, as well as the strong competition between γ rays and neutrons, up to more than 2 MeV above the neutron-separation energy. The data are compared to two theoretical calculations: the shell model and the quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA). Both models seem to be missing a significant strength at high excitation energies. Possible interpretations of this discrepancy are discussed. The shell model is used for a detailed nuclear structure interpretation and helps to explain the observed γ-neutron competition. The comparison to the QRPA calculations is done as a means to test a model that provides global β-decay properties for astrophysical calculations. Our work demonstrates the importance of performing detailed comparisons to experimental results, beyond the simple half-life comparisons. A realistic and robust description of the β-decay intensity is crucial for our understanding of nuclear structure as well as of r-process nucleosynthesis.

{sup 10}B areal density: A novel approach for design and fabrication of B{sub 4}C/6061Al neutron absorbing materials

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Yuli [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Wang, Wenxian, E-mail: wangwenxian@tyut.edu.cn [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Zhou, Jun [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA 16563 (United States); Chen, Hongsheng [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Zhang, Peng [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); College of Physics and Optoelectronics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China)

2017-04-15

In this paper, a novel approach to evaluate the neutron shielding performance of a boron-containing neutron absorbing material was proposed for the first time through the establishment of a direct relationship between {sup 10}B areal density ({sup 10}BAD) of the material and its neutron absorption ratio. It is found when the {sup 10}BAD of a material is greater than 0.034 g/cm{sup 2}, the material will achieve a good neutron shielding performance. Based on this proposed approach, B{sub 4}C/6061Al composite plates with different B{sub 4}C content (10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%) were successfully fabricated using vacuum hot pressing followed by hot-extrusion. The characteristics of the B{sub 4}C/Al interface were studied in details using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the effects of B{sub 4}C particle content on microstructure and mechanical properties of the Al matrix were investigated. Through current studies, B{sub 4}C/6061Al composite plates possessing good neutron shielding performance and tensile strength are found to be able to be fabricated using either 20 wt% of B{sub 4}C content with a plate thickness of 4.5 mm or 30 wt% B{sub 4}C content with a plate thickness of 3 mm. - Graphical abstract: In this paper, a novel approach to evaluate the neutron shielding ability of a boron-containing neutron shielding material was proposed for the first time through the establishment of a direct relationship between {sup 10}B area density ({sup 10}BAD) of the material and its neutron shielding ratio. - Highlights: •{sup 10}BAD was proposed to evaluate the boron-containing neutron absorber material’s neutron shielding performance. •The direct relationship between the {sup 10}BAD and neutron shielding performance was firstly established. •TEM analysis of the composites reveals that an amorphous layer exists at the Al/B{sub 4}C interface. •Suitable B{sub 4}C contents and thickness for the fabrication of B{sub 4}C/6061A1 NAC plate were given in the

Nuclear reactor neutron shielding

Science.gov (United States)

Speaker, Daniel P; Neeley, Gary W; Inman, James B

2017-09-12

A nuclear reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material disposed in a lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel. The lower portion of the reactor pressure vessel is disposed in a reactor cavity. An annular neutron stop is located at an elevation above the uppermost elevation of the nuclear reactor core. The annular neutron stop comprises neutron absorbing material filling an annular gap between the reactor pressure vessel and the wall of the reactor cavity. The annular neutron stop may comprise an outer neutron stop ring attached to the wall of the reactor cavity, and an inner neutron stop ring attached to the reactor pressure vessel. An excore instrument guide tube penetrates through the annular neutron stop, and a neutron plug comprising neutron absorbing material is disposed in the tube at the penetration through the neutron stop.

Mechanical shock absorber

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vrillon, Bernard.

1973-01-01

The mechanical shock absorber described is made of a constant thickness plate pierced with circular holes regularly distributed in such a manner that for all the directions along which the strain is applied during the shock, the same section of the substance forming the plate is achieved. The shock absorber is made in a metal standing up to extensive deformation before breaking, selected from a group comprising mild steels and austenitic stainless steels. This apparatus is used for handling pots of fast neutron reactor fuel elements [fr

Burnable absorber coated nuclear fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chubb, W.; Radford, K.C.; Parks, B.H.

1984-01-01

A nuclear fuel body which is at least partially covered by a burnable neutron absorber layer is provided with a hydrophobic overcoat generally covering the burnable absorber layer and bonded directly to it. In a method for providing a UO 2 fuel pellet with a zirconium diboride burnable poison layer, the fuel body is provided with an intermediate niobium layer. (author)

Nondestructive assay of subassemblies of various spent or fresh fuels by active neutron interrogation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ragan, G.L.; Ricker, C.W.; Chiles, M.M.; Ingersoll, D.T.; Slaughter, G.G.

1979-01-01

Recent studies show that subassemblies containing various spent fuels could be assayed rapidly and accurately by a nondestructive assay system using active neutron interrogation and prompt-neutron detection. Subassembly penetration is achieved by 24-keV (Sb--Be) interrogation neutrons; the spent-fuel neutron background is overridden by using strong interrogating sources and prompt-neutron signals, and background gammas are absorbed by lead. Experiments have demonstrated the potential for assaying with better than 5% accuracy, three spent plutonium-fueled subassemblies per hour. Calculations, validated by experiments, predict even better performance for fresh or uranium-fueled subassemblies; several performance estimates are given

Fundamental of neutron radiography and the present of neutron radiography in Japan

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sekita, Junichiro

1988-01-01

Neutron radiography refers to the application of transmitted neutrons to analysis. In general, thermal neutron is used for neutron radiography. Thermal neutron is easily absorbed by light atoms, including hydrogen, boron and lithium, while it is not easily absorbed by such heavy atoms as tungsten, lead and uranium, permitting detection of impurities in heavy metals. Other neutrons than thermal neutron can also be applied. Cold neutron is produced from fast neutron using a moderator to reduce its energy down to below that of thermal neutron. Cold neutron is usefull for analysis of thick material. Epithermal neutron can induce resonance characteristic of each substance. With a relatively small reaction area, fast neutron permits observation of thick samples. Being electrically neutral, neutrons are difficult to detect by direct means. Thus a substance that releases charged particles is put in the path of neutrons for indirect measurement. X-ray film combined with converter screen for conversion of neutrons to charge particles is placed behind the sample. Photographing is carried out by a procedure similar to X-ray photography. Major institues and laboratories in Japan provided with neutron radiography facilities are listed. (Nogami, K.)

Neutron radiography for nondestructive testing

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

John, J.

1979-01-01

Neutron radiography is similar to X-ray inspection in that both depend upon use of radiation that penetrates some materials and is absorbed by others to provide a contrast image of conditions not readily available for visual inspection. X-rays are absorbed by dense materials, such as metals, whereas neutrons readily penetrate metals, but are absorbed by materials containing hydrogen. The neutron radiography has been successfully applied to a number of inspection situations. These include the inspection of explosives, advanced composites, adhesively bonded structures and a number of aircraft engine components. With the availability of Californium-252, it has become feasible to construct mobile neutron radiography systems suitable for field use. Such systems have been used for in-situ inspection of flight line aircraft, particularly to locate and measure hidden corrosion

TESTING THE POSSIBLE INTRINSIC ORIGIN OF THE EXCESS VERY STRONG Mg II ABSORBERS ALONG GAMMA-RAY BURST LINES-OF-SIGHT

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cucchiara, A.; Jones, T.; Charlton, J. C.; Fox, D. B.; Einsig, D.; Narayanan, A.

2009-01-01

The startling discovery by Prochter et al. that the frequency of very strong (W r (2796)>1 A) Mg II absorbers along gamma-ray burst (GRB) lines of sight ([dN/dz] GRB = 0.90) is more than three times the frequency along quasar lines of sight ([dN/dz] QSO = 0.24), over similar redshift ranges, has yet to be understood. In particular, explanations appealing to dust antibias in quasar samples, partial covering of the quasar sources, and gravitational-lensing amplification of the GRBs have all been carefully examined and found wanting. We therefore reconsider the possibility that the excess of very strong Mg II absorbers toward GRBs is intrinsic either to the GRBs themselves or to their immediate environment, and associated with bulk outflows with velocities as large as v max ∼ 0.3c. In order to examine this hypothesis, we accumulate a sample of 27 W r (2796)>1 A absorption systems found toward 81 quasars, and compare their properties to those of 8 W r (2796) > 1 A absorption systems found toward six GRBs; all systems have been observed at high spectral resolution (R = 45, 000) using the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope. We make multiple comparisons of the absorber properties across the two populations, testing for differences in metallicity, ionization state, abundance patterns, dust abundance, kinematics, and phase structure. We find no significant differences between the two absorber populations using any of these metrics, implying that, if the excess of absorbers along GRB lines of sight are indeed intrinsic, they must be produced by a process which has strong similarities to the processes yielding strong Mg II systems associated with intervening galaxies. Although this may seem a priori unlikely, given the high outflow velocities required for any intrinsic model, we note that the same conclusion was reached, recently, with respect to the narrow absorption line systems seen in some quasars.

The influence on biotissue laser resection of a strongly absorbing layer at the optical fiber tip

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Daria Kuznetsova

2016-09-01

Full Text Available In this paper, we consider a method of laser resection using the silica glass core from which the cladding layer has been removed as the cutting part of a laser scalpel. An absorbing layer coating the silica fiber tip markedly alters its biotissue cutting characteristics. The results of histological studies of skin after exposure to a laser scalpel with and without a strongly absorbing coating (SAC at a wavelength of 0.97μm show that resection using a coated scalpel is more sparing. When an uncoated scalpel was used, skin injury was more apparent in both its surface spread and the depth of structural damage, resulting in poorer tissue regeneration.

Neutronic density perturbation by probes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vigon, M. A.; Diez, L.

1956-01-01

The introduction of absorbent materials of neutrons in diffuser media, produces local disturbances of neutronic density. The disturbance depends especially on the nature and size of the absorbent. Approximated equations which relates te disturbance and the distance to the absorbent in the case of thin disks have been drawn. The experimental comprobation has been carried out in two especial cases. In both cases the experimental results are in agreement with the calculated values from these equations. (Author)

Preliminary neutron shielding calculations of the electronics in the EAST BES systems focusing on neutron induced displacement damage

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Náfrádi, Gábor, E-mail: nafradi@reak.bme.hu [Institute of Nuclear Techniques (NTI), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), H-1111 Budapest (Hungary); Kovácsik, Ákos, E-mail: kovacsik.akos@reak.bme.hu [Institute of Nuclear Techniques (NTI), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), H-1111 Budapest (Hungary); Németh, József, E-mail: nemeth.jozsef@wigner.mta.hu [Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics (Wigner RCP), Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), POB 49, 1525 Budapest (Hungary); Pór, Gábor, E-mail: por@reak.bme.hu [Institute of Nuclear Techniques (NTI), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), H-1111 Budapest (Hungary); Zoletnik, Sándor, E-mail: zoletnik.sandor@wigner.mta.hu [Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, Wigner Research Centre for Physics (Wigner RCP), Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), POB 49, 1525 Budapest (Hungary)

2016-11-15

Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) calculations were carried out to compare neutron shielding capabilities of three frequently used neutron shielding materials: polyethylene without neutron absorbers, polyethylene with boron absorbers and polyethylene with lithium absorbers, according to Non Ionizing Energy Loss (NIEL). The results of 1D shielding calculations showed that simple neutron moderating materials can provide sufficient and cheap shielding against 2.45 MeV and 14.1 MeV fusion neutrons, in terms of 1 MeV neutron equivalent flux, in silicon targets, which is the most commonly used material of electronic components. Based on these results a new shielding concept is proposed which can be taken into consideration where the reduction of displacement damage is the main goal and the free space available for shielding is limited. Based on this shielding concept detailed 3D calculations were carried out to describe the properties of the neutron shielding of the Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) system installed at the EAST tokamak.

Effect of absorption discontinuity on neutron spectra of water assemblies poisoned with non-1/V absorbers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gupta, I.J.; Trikha, S.K.

1977-01-01

Calculations are presented of the diffusion of thermal neutrons (2.5 x 10 -4 to 7 x 10 -1 eV) across an absorption discontinuity in a water assembly, consisting of pure water on one side and aqueous solutions of three different non-1/V absorbers on the other, which were obtained by solving the Boltzmann transport equation in the diffusion approximation using the multigroup formalism. The gradual appearance and disappearance of the depletion region in the neutron spectra (caused by the resonance absorption peaks at energies 0.096 and 0.179 eV for samarium and cadmium respectively), as one moves from the pure water assembly to the poisoned water assembly and vice versa, have also been studied. The minimum concentrations of Sm and Cd atoms in water for which the depletion region in the spectra just starts building up are found to be 60 x 10 18 Sm atom cm -3 and 125 x 10 18 Cd atom cm -3 respectively. However no such depletion region is observed in gadolinium-poisoned water assembly. At the boundary, the equilibrium neutron distribution gets disturbed and is re-established to the equilibrium distribution of the second medium at some distance from the interface. The diffusion lengths so calculated from the total neutron density curves are in good agreement with the experimental results of Goddard and Johnson (Nucl. Sci. Eng.; 37:127 (1969)) at various concentrations of Gd and Cd atoms in water. (author)

Strongly coupled chameleon fields: Possible test with a neutron Lloyd's mirror interferometer

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pokotilovski, Yu.N., E-mail: pokot@nf.jinr.ru [Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region (Russian Federation)

2013-02-26

The consideration of possible neutron Lloyd's mirror interferometer experiment to search for strongly coupled chameleon fields is presented. The chameleon scalar fields were proposed to explain the acceleration of expansion of the Universe. The presence of a chameleon field results in a change of a particle's potential energy in vicinity of a massive body. This interaction causes a phase shift of neutron waves in the interferometer. The sensitivity of the method is estimated.

Basic research for developing the quantitative neutron radiography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tamaki, Masayoshi; Ikeda, Yasushi; Ohkubo, Kohei; Tasaka, Kanji; Yoneda, Kenji; Fujine, Shigenori.

1992-01-01

This investigation concerns the basic research and development on quantitative neutron radiography by using a honeycomb collimator which reduces the effect due to scattered neutrons in objective matter. On the observation of the hydrogenate materials such as metal hydrides, water and hydrocarbons by neutron radiography, scattered neutrons from these objectives make the quantitativeness of the neutron radiographic image lower grade. In order to improve the quantitativeness of the image, a honeycomb collimator, which is a honeycomb structure of neutron absorbing material, was introduced to the conventional neutron radiography system. By setting the neutron-absorbing honeycomb collimator between objective and imaging system, neutrons scattered in the objective were absorbed by the honeycomb material and attenuated before coming to the imaging system, but neutrons which were transmitted the objective sample without any interaction reached the imaging system and formed the image of the sample. As the image by purely transmitted neutrons is intrinsic due to the neutronic character of the sample, the image data give the quantitative information. In the present experiment, aluminum honeycomb which was coated with boron nitride was prepared and used in order to image the standard stepwise samples for the evaluation of the quantitative grade of the newly proposed neutron radiography method. From the comparison between macroscopic total cross section and the attenuation coefficient of the thermal neutron for aluminum, copper and hydrocarbons, it was confirmed that they were fairly consistent each other. It can be concluded that the newly proposed neutron radiography method using the neutron-absorbing honeycomb collimator for the elimination of the scattered neutrons improves remarkably the quantitativeness of the neutron radiography technique. (author)

"m=1" coatings for neutron guides

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Cooper-Jensen, C.P.; Vorobiev, A.; Klinkby, Esben Bryndt

2014-01-01

A substantial part of the price for a neutron guide is the shielding needed because of the gamma ray produced when neutrons are absorbed. This absorption occurs in the coating and the substrate of the neutron guides. Traditional m=1 coatings have been made of Ni and if reflectivity over...... the critical angle of Ni is needed one has used Ni58 or Ni/Ti multilayer coatings. Ni has one of the highest neutron scattering density but it also has a fairly high absorption cross section for cold and thermal neutrons and when a neutron is absorbed it emits a lot of gamma rays, some with energies above 9 Me...... of diamond coatings to show the potential for using these coatings in neutron guides....

Processing requirements for property optimization of Eu2O3-W cermets for fast reactor neutron absorber applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pasto, A.E.; Tennery, V.J.

1977-01-01

Europium sesquioxide is a candidate fast reactor neutron absorber material. It possesses several desirable characteristics for this application, but has a low thermal conductivity. This gives rise to pellet cracking during reactor operation. To increase the thermal conductivity without great sacrifice in nuclear worth, addition of tungsten to Eu 2 O 3 has been evaluated. Synthesis and fabrication techniques described allow preparation of high density compacts of Eu 2 O 3 -15 vol. percent tungsten, possessing favorable thermal conductivity and thermal expansion characteristics

A 'hybrid' neutron area survey instrument for the determination of neutron dose quantities in the workplace

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tanner, R.J.; Jenkins, R.; Lowe, T.; Silvie, J.; Joyce, M.J.; Winsby, A.; Molinos, C.

2005-01-01

Full text: Neutron survey instruments are used routinely to determine the dose rates in areas where persons may be occupationally exposed. With a few exceptions, these instruments generally use a proportional counter with a high thermal neutron response located in a moderating sphere of CH 2 . The moderating sphere in such designs contains a thermal neutron absorber to reduce the over-response to thermal and intermediate energy neutrons. However, the commercially available examples of such instruments tend to have strongly energy dependent ambient dose equivalent response characteristics. In particular, they often over-respond in the energy range between 1 eV and 10 keV. A prototype of a novel design has been produced that uses seven detectors located in a moderating sphere of CH 2 , six near the surface to detect thermal and epithermal neutrons, and one in the centre to detect fast neutrons. This has been characterized using a combination of MCNP modelling and measurements to produce an instrument that has improved energy dependence of response characteristics. Additionally, the use of seven detectors offers direction and field hardness information. The design and calibration of the instrument are described and its response in workplaces calculated. (author)

Absorbed dose to water determination with ionization chamber dosimetry and calorimetry in restricted neutron, photon, proton and heavy-ion radiation fields.

Science.gov (United States)

Brede, H J; Greif, K-D; Hecker, O; Heeg, P; Heese, J; Jones, D T L; Kluge, H; Schardt, D

2006-08-07

Absolute dose measurements with a transportable water calorimeter and ionization chambers were performed at a water depth of 20 mm in four different types of radiation fields, for a collimated (60)Co photon beam, for a collimated neutron beam with a fluence-averaged mean energy of 5.25 MeV, for collimated proton beams with mean energies of 36 MeV and 182 MeV at the measuring position, and for a (12)C ion beam in a scanned mode with an energy per atomic mass of 430 MeV u(-1). The ionization chambers actually used were calibrated in units of air kerma in the photon reference field of the PTB and in units of absorbed dose to water for a Farmer-type chamber at GSI. The absorbed dose to water inferred from calorimetry was compared with the dose derived from ionometry by applying the radiation-field-dependent parameters. For neutrons, the quantities of the ICRU Report 45, for protons the quantities of the ICRU Report 59 and for the (12)C ion beam, the recommended values of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocol (TRS 398) were applied. The mean values of the absolute absorbed dose to water obtained with these two independent methods agreed within the standard uncertainty (k = 1) of 1.8% for calorimetry and of 3.0% for ionometry for all types and energies of the radiation beams used in this comparison.

Neutron diffusion in spheroidal, bispherical, and toroidal systems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Williams, M.M.R.

1986-01-01

The neutron flux has been studied around absorbing bodies of spheroidal, bispherical, and toroidal shapes in an infinite nonabsorbing medium. Exact solutions have been obtained by using effective boundary conditions at the surfaces of the absorbing bodies. The problems considered are as follows: 1. Neutron flux and current distributions around prolate and oblate spheroids. It is shown that an equivalent sphere approximation can lead to accurate values for the rate of absorption. 2. Neutron flux and current in a bispherical system of unequal spheres. Three separate situations arise here: (a) two absorbing spheres, (b) two spherical sources, and (c) one spherical source and one absorbing sphere. It is shown how the absorption rate in the two spheres depends on their separation. 3. Neutron flux and current in a toroidal system: (a) an absorbing toroid and (b) a toroidal source. The latter case simulates the flux distribution from a thermonuclear reactor vessel. Finally, a brief description of how these techniques can be extended to multiregion problems is given

Effective neutron temperature measurements in well moderated reactor by the reactivity coefficient method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Raisic, N.; Klinc, T.

1968-11-01

The ratio of the reactivity changes of a nuclear reactor produced by successive introduction of two different neutron absorbers in the reactor core, has been measured and information on effective neutron temperature at a particular point obtained. Boron was used as a l/v absorber and cadmium as an absorber sensiti ve to neutron temperature. Effective neutron temperature distribution has been deduced by moving absorbers across the reactor core and observing the corresponding reactivity changes. (author)

The Equation of State of Neutron Star Matter in Strong Magnetic Fields

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Broderick, A.; Prakash, M.; Lattimer, J. M.

2000-01-01

We study the effects of very strong magnetic fields on the equation of state (EOS) in multicomponent, interacting matter by developing a covariant description for the inclusion of the anomalous magnetic moments of nucleons. For the description of neutron star matter, we employ a field-theoretical approach, which permits the study of several models that differ in their behavior at high density. Effects of Landau quantization in ultrastrong magnetic fields (B>10 14 G) lead to a reduction in the electron chemical potential and a substantial increase in the proton fraction. We find the generic result for B>10 18 G that the softening of the EOS caused by Landau quantization is overwhelmed by stiffening due to the incorporation of the anomalous magnetic moments of the nucleons. In addition, the neutrons become completely spin polarized. The inclusion of ultrastrong magnetic fields leads to a dramatic increase in the proton fraction, with consequences for the direct Urca process and neutron star cooling. The magnetization of the matter never appears to become very large, as the value of |H/B| never deviates from unity by more than a few percent. Our findings have implications for the structure of neutron stars in the presence of large frozen-in magnetic fields. (c) 2000 The American Astronomical Society

The Equation of State of Neutron Star Matter in Strong Magnetic Fields

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Broderick, A; Prakash, M; Lattimer, J M

2000-07-01

We study the effects of very strong magnetic fields on the equation of state (EOS) in multicomponent, interacting matter by developing a covariant description for the inclusion of the anomalous magnetic moments of nucleons. For the description of neutron star matter, we employ a field-theoretical approach, which permits the study of several models that differ in their behavior at high density. Effects of Landau quantization in ultrastrong magnetic fields (B>10{sup 14} G) lead to a reduction in the electron chemical potential and a substantial increase in the proton fraction. We find the generic result for B>10{sup 18} G that the softening of the EOS caused by Landau quantization is overwhelmed by stiffening due to the incorporation of the anomalous magnetic moments of the nucleons. In addition, the neutrons become completely spin polarized. The inclusion of ultrastrong magnetic fields leads to a dramatic increase in the proton fraction, with consequences for the direct Urca process and neutron star cooling. The magnetization of the matter never appears to become very large, as the value of |H/B| never deviates from unity by more than a few percent. Our findings have implications for the structure of neutron stars in the presence of large frozen-in magnetic fields. (c) 2000 The American Astronomical Society.

Process and device for exchanging neutron absorber rods

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Baero, G.; Kraus, W.; Stindt, W.

1987-01-01

The control element repair device contains lifting equipment for inserting the control element in the accommodation device. Due to the case position assigned to each absorber rod of a control element, after removing the carrier with the absorber rods fixed to it, the defective rods can be replaced by new ones. The accommodation device has a support to support the carrier. Turning the control element for the PWR through 180 0 is prevented. (DG) [de

Zero Sound in Neutron Stars with Dense Quark Matter under Strong Magnetic Fields

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Kouvaris, Christoforos

2009-01-01

We study a neutron star with a quark matter core under extremely strong magnetic fields. We investigate the possibility of an Urca process as a mechanism for the cooling of such a star. We found that apart from very particular cases, the Urca process cannot occur. We also study the stability...

Improvements in or relating to neutron beam collimators

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lundberg, D.A.

1975-01-01

Reference is made to collimators suitable for use in neutron therapy equipment. The design of such collimators presents considerable difficulties, since neutrons are very penetrating. Scattering processes are also much more significant with neutrons than with x-rays or γ-rays. A further difficulty is that neutron activation causes some materials to become radioactive, which may present a hazard to users of the equipment. A novel form of collimator is described that overcomes these disadvantages to some extent. It comprises a body containing W for moderating the neutrons by inelastic collision processes, a slow neutron absorbing material intimately mixed with the W for reducing collisions between slow neutrons and the W atoms, a hydrogenous material for further moderating the neutrons to thermal energies by elastic collision processes with H atoms and for absorbing the thermal neutrons by capture processes, and a material having a density of at least 10g/cm 3 for attenuating γ-radiation produced in the hydrogenous material during neutron capture processes. The collimator is of sufficient thickness to be substantially opaque to neutrons of predetermined energy. The slow neutron absorbing material may be B, the hydrogenous material may be polyethylene, and the high density material may be Pb. Alternative methods of using and packing the various materials are described. (U.K.)

Neutron personal dosimetry in criticality accidents

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fonseca, E.S. da; Mauricio, C.L.P.

1996-01-01

In the present work an innovating method is proposed to estimate the absorbed dose received by individuals irradiated with neutrons in an accident, even in the case that the victim is not using any kind of neutron dosemeter. The method combines direct measurements of 24 Na and 32 P activated in the human body. The calculation method was developed using data taken from previously published papers and experimental measurements. Other irradiations results in different neutron spectra prove the validity of the method here proposed. Using a whole body counter to measure 24 Na activity, it is possible to evaluate neutron absorbed doses in the order of 140 μ Gy of very soft (thermal) spectra. For fast neutron fields, the lower limit for neutron dose detection increases, but the present method continues to be very useful in accidents, with higher neutron doses. (author)

Neutron protection material and neutron protection devices made of such material

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ries, W.

1984-01-01

This is concerned with a neutron protection material made of thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic from high molecule hydrocarbon compounds with particularly high hydrogen and carbon contents as braking or shielding material (moderator) for fast neutrons. The plastic can contain boron for absorbing low energy neutrons. The material is used to manufacture foil, plates, pipes, shielding walls, components, bodies for radiation protection equipment, devices and plant and for neutron protection clothes. (orig./HP) [de

Heterogeneous neutron absorbers development

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Boccaccini, Aldo; Agueda, Horacio; Russo, Diego; Perez, Edmundo

1987-01-01

The use of solid burnable absorber materials in power light water reactors has increased in the last years, specially due to improvements attained in costs of generated electricity. The present work summarizes the basic studies made on an alumina-gadolinia system, where alumina is the inert matrix and gadolinia acts as burnable poison, and describes the fabrication method of pellets with that material. High density compacts were obtained in the range of concentrations used by cold pressing and sintering at 1600 deg C in inert (Ar) atmosphere. Finally, the results of the irradiation experiences made at RA-6 reactor, located at the Bariloche Atomic Center, are given where variations on negative reactivity caused by introduction of burnable poison rods were measured. The results obtained from these experiences are in good agreement with those coming from calculation codes. (Author)

Absorber materials in CANDU PHWR's

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Price, E.G.; Boss, C.R.; Novak, W.Z.; Fong, R.W.L.

1995-03-01

In a CANDU reactor the fuel channels are arranged on a square lattice in a calandria filled with heavy water moderator. This arrangement allows five types of tubular neutron absorber devices to be located in a relatively benign environment of low pressure, low temperature heavy water between neighbouring rows of columns of fuel channels. This paper will describe the roles of the devices and outline the design requirements of the absorber component from a reactor physics viewpoint. Nuclear heating and activation problems associated with the different absorbers will be briefly discussed. The design and manufacture of the devices will be also discussed. The control rod absorbers and shut off materials are cadmium and stainless steel. In the tubular arrangement, the cadmium is sandwiched between stainless steel tubes. This type of device has functioned well, but there is now concern over the availability and expense of cadmium which is used in two types of CANDU control devices. There are also concerns about the toxicity of cadmium during the fabrication of the absorbers. These concerns are prompting AECL to study alternatives. To minimize design changes, pure boron-10 alloyed in stainless steel is a favoured option. Work is underway to confirm the suitability of the boron-loaded steel and identify other encapsulated absorber materials for practical application. Because the reactivity devices or their guide tubes span the calandria vessel, the long slender components must be sufficiently rigid to resist operational vibration and also be seismically stable. Some of these components are made of Zircaloy to minimize neutron absorption. Slow irradiation growth and creep can reduce the spring tension, and periodic adjustments to the springs are required. Experience with the control absorber devices has generally been good. In one instance liquid zone controllers had a problem of vibration induced fretting but a designed back-fit resolved the problem. (author). 3 refs., 1

Precious metals in SDSS quasar spectra. II. Tracking the evolution of strong, 0.4 < z < 2.3 Mg II absorbers with thousands of systems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Seyffert, Eduardo N.; Simcoe, Robert A.; Cooksey, Kathy L.; O'Meara, John M.; Kao, Melodie M.; Prochaska, J. Xavier

2013-01-01

We have performed an analysis of over 34,000 Mg II doublets at 0.36 < z < 2.29 in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 quasar spectra; the catalog, advanced data products, and tools for analysis are publicly available. The catalog was divided into 14 small redshift bins with roughly 2500 doublets in each and from Monte Carlo simulations, we estimate 50% completeness at rest equivalent width W r ≈ 0.8 Å. The equivalent width frequency distribution is described well by an exponential model at all redshifts, and the distribution becomes flatter with increasing redshift, i.e., there are more strong systems relative to weak ones. Direct comparison with previous SDSS Mg II surveys reveals that we recover at least 70% of the doublets in these other catalogs, in addition to detecting thousands of new systems. We discuss how these surveys came by their different results, which qualitatively agree but because of the very small uncertainties, differ by a statistically significant amount. The estimated physical cross section of Mg II-absorbing galaxy halos increased approximately threefold from z = 0.4 to z = 2.3, while the W r ≥ 1 Å absorber line density, dN MgII /dX, grew by roughly 45%. Finally, we explore the different evolution of various absorber populations—damped Lyα absorbers, Lyman limit systems, strong C IV absorbers, and strong and weaker Mg II systems—across cosmic time (0 < z < 6).

Spectral distribution measurements of neutrons in paraffin borax mixtures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

El-Khatib, A.M.; Gaber, M.; Abou El-Khier, M.A.

1987-01-01

Neutron fluxes from a compact D-T neutron source has been measured in paraffin-borax mixtures by using activation foil detectors with successive threshold energies. The absorbed doses, backscattering coefficients and build-up factors were determined as well. The contribution of thermal and intermediate neutron dose is much lower, compared to that of fast neutrons. Among the used mediums, paraffin loaded with 4% borax concentration was found to be the best absorbing medium against neutrons at near depths within the blocks, while at a depth around 12 cm the neutron absorption (or scattering) is independent on the type of the used medium. (author)

Understanding and predicting the behaviour of silver base neutron absorbers under irradiations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Desgranges, C.

1998-01-01

The effect of neutron irradiation induced transmutations on the swelling of AgInCd (AIC) alloys used as neutron absorber in the control rods of Pressurized Water Reactors has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Effective atomic volumes have been determined in synthetic AgCdInSn alloys with various compositions and containing fcc and hc phases, representative of irradiated AIC (Sn is a transmutation product). Swelling is shown to result first from the transmutation of Ag into Cd and of In into Sn, both with larger effective volume than the mother atom, and second from grain boundaries precipitation of s still less dense hc phase when solid solubility of transmuted products is exceeded. For both fcc and hc phases, we have determined profiles at the temperatures in the vicinity of the operating temperature. Unusual characteristics of second phase growth at grain boundaries induced by transmutations are identified on a simple binary alloy model: kinetics is controlled by irradiation temperature which scales diffusivities and flux which scales transmutation rates, as well as by the grain size in the underlying matrix. To address the AgInCdSn alloys, a novel technique is proposed to model diffusion in multicomponent alloys. It is based on a linearization of a simple atomistic model. With a single set of parameters, for each phase, our model well reproduces our interdiffusion measurements in quaternary alloys as well as existing interdiffusion experiments in binary alloys. Finally this diffusion model implemented with a moving interface algorithm is used to model the growth of the second phase induced by transmutation in the AIC under irradiation. (authors)

ESR-dosimetry in thermal and epithermal neutron fields for application in boron neutron capture therapy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Schmitz, Tobias

2016-01-22

Dosimetry is essential for every form of radiotherapy. In Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) mixed neutron and gamma fields have to be considered. Dose is deposited in different neutron interactions with elements in the penetrated tissue and by gamma particles, which are always part of a neutron field. The therapeutic dose in BNCT is deposited by densely ionising particles, originating from the fragmentation of the isotope boron-10 after capture of a thermal neutron. Despite being investigated for decades, dosimetry in neutron beams or fields for BNCT remains complex, due to the variety in type and energy of the secondary particles. Today usually ionisation chambers combined with metal foils are used. The applied techniques require extensive effort and are time consuming, while the resulting uncertainties remain high. Consequently, the investigation of more effective techniques or alternative dosimeters is an important field of research. In this work the possibilities of ESR-dosimeters in those fields have been investigated. Certain materials, such as alanine, generate stable radicals upon irradiation. Using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectrometry the amount of radicals, which is proportional to absorbed dose, can be quantified. Different ESR detector materials have been irradiated in the thermal neutron field of the research reactor TRIGA research reactor in Mainz, Germany, with five setups, generating different secondary particle spectra. Further irradiations have been conducted in two epithermal neutron beams. The detector response, however, strongly depends on the dose depositing particle type and energy. It is hence necessary to accompany measurements by computational modelling and simulation. In this work the Monte Carlo code FLUKA was used to calculate absorbed doses and dose components. The relative effectiveness (RE), linking absorbed dose and detector response, has been calculated using amorphous track models. For the simulation, detailed models of

Direct URCA-processes in neutron star quark core with strong magnetic field.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Belyaev Vasily

2017-01-01

In evaluations, the strength of magnetic field corresponds to the case, where the quarks of medium occupy a lot of Landau levels, while the electrons are in ground Landau level. The analytical dependence of neutrino emissivity on chemical potentials of quarks and electrons, temperature and magnetic field strength is obtained and briefly discussed. The result could be important in application to a massive strongly magnetized neutron star with quark core.

Determination of absorbed dose in reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1971-01-01

There are many areas in the use and operation of research reactors where the absorbed dose and the neutron fluence are required. These include work on the determination of the radiolytic stability of the coolant and moderator and on the determination of radiation damage in structural materials, and reactor experiments involving radiation chemistry and radiation biology. The requirements range from rough estimates of the total heating due to radiation to precise values specifying the contributions of gamma rays, thermal neutrons and fast neutrons. To meet all these requirements a variety of experimental measurements and calculations as well as a knowledge of reactor radiations and their interactions is necessary. Realizing the complexity and importance of this field, its development at widely separated laboratories and the need to bring the experts in this work together, the IAEA has convened three panel meetings. These were: 'In-pile dosimetry', held in July 1964 (published by the Agency as Technical Reports Series No. 46); 'Neutron fluence measurements', in October 1965; and 'In-pile dosimetry', in November 1966. The recommendations of these three panels led the Agency to form a Working Group on Reactor Radiation Measurements and to commission the writing of this book and a book on Neutron Fluence Measurements. The latter was published in May 1970 (Technical Reports Series No. 107). The material on neutron fluence and absorbed dose measurements is widely scattered in reports and reviews. It was considered that it was time for all relevant information to be evaluated and put together in the form of a practical guide that would be valuable both to experienced workers and beginners in the field

Spin ordered phase transitions in neutron matter under the presence of a strong magnetic field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Isayev, A.A.; Yang, J.

2011-01-01

In dense neutron matter under the presence of a strong magnetic field, considered in the model with the Skyrme effective interaction, there are possible two types of spin ordered states. In one of them the majority of neutron spins are aligned opposite to magnetic field (thermodynamically preferable state), and in other one the majority of spins are aligned along the field (metastable state). The equation of state, incompressibility modulus and velocity of sound are determined in each case with the aim to find the peculiarities allowing to distinguish between two spin ordered phases.

Enriched boric acid as an optimized neutron absorber in the EPR primary coolant

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cosse, Christelle; Jolivel, Fabienne; Berger, Martial

2012-09-01

This paper focuses on one of the most important EPR PWR reactor design optimizations, through primary coolant conditioning by enriched boric acid (EBA). On PWRs throughout the world, boric acid has already been implemented in primary coolant and associated auxiliary systems for criticality control, due to its high Boron 10 neutron absorption cross section. Boric acid also allows primary coolant pH 300C control in combination with lithium hydroxide in many PWRs. The boric acid employed in the majority of existing PWRs is the 'natural' one, with a typical isotopic atomic abundance in Boron 10 about 19.8 at.%. However, EPR requirements for neutron management are more important, due to its fully optimized design compared to older PWRs. From the boron point of view, it means that criticality could be controlled either by increased 'natural' Boron concentrations or by using EBA. Comparatively to 'natural' boric acid, EBA allows for: - the use of smaller storage volumes for an identical total Boron concentration, or lower total Boron concentration if the tank volumes are kept identical. The latter also reduces the risks of boric acid crystallization, in spite of increased neutron-absorbing properties - the application of an evolutionary chemistry operating regime called Advanced pH Control, making it possible to maintain a constant pH 300C value at 7.2 in the primary coolant at nominal conditions throughout entire cycles. This optimized stability of pH 300C will contribute to reduce the consequences of contamination of the reactor coolant system by corrosion products, and consequently, all related issues - the reduction of borated liquid wastes, thanks to maximal recycling resulting from EPR design. The increased design costs associated with EBA are consequently compensated by a reduced total consumption of this chemical. Therefore, the basic design choice for the EPR is the use of EBA. For the Flamanville 3 EPR, according to the above

Strongly correlated electron systems and neutron scattering. Magnetism, superconductivity, structural phase transition

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Katano, Susumu [Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan). Tokai Research Establishment

1998-03-01

Neutron scattering experiments in our group on strongly correlated electron systems are reviewed Metal-insulator transitions caused by structural phase transitions in (La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}) MnO{sub 3}, a novel magnetic transition in the CeP compound, correlations between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity in UPd{sub 2}Al{sub 3} and so forth are discussed. Here, in this note, the phase transition of Mn-oxides was mainly described. (author)

The single-collision thermalization approximation for application to cold neutron moderation problems

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ritenour, R.L.

1989-01-01

The single collision thermalization (SCT) approximation models the thermalization process by assuming that neutrons attain a thermalized distribution with only a single collision within the moderating material, independent of the neutron's incident energy. The physical intuition on which this approximation is based is that the salient properties of neutron thermalization are accounted for in the first collision, and the effects of subsequent collisions tend to average out statistically. The independence of the neutron incident and outscattering energy leads to variable separability in the scattering kernel and, thus, significant simplification of the neutron thermalization problem. The approximation also addresses detailed balance and neutron conservation concerns. All of the tests performed on the SCT approximation yielded excellent results. The significance of the SCT approximation is that it greatly simplifies thermalization calculations for CNS design. Preliminary investigations with cases involving strong absorbers also indicates that this approximation may have broader applicability, as in the upgrading of the thermalization codes

Calculation of thermal neutron self-shielding correction factors for aqueous bulk sample prompt gamma neutron activation analysis using the MCNP code

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nasrabadi, M.N.; Jalali, M.; Mohammadi, A.

2007-01-01

In this work thermal neutron self-shielding in aqueous bulk samples containing neutron absorbing materials is studied using bulk sample prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (BSPGNAA) with the MCNP code. The code was used to perform three dimensional simulations of a neutron source, neutron detector and sample of various material compositions. The MCNP model was validated against experimental measurements of the neutron flux performed using a BF 3 detector. Simulations were performed to predict thermal neutron self-shielding in aqueous bulk samples containing neutron absorbing solutes. In practice, the MCNP calculations are combined with experimental measurements of the relative thermal neutron flux over the sample's surface, with respect to a reference water sample, to derive the thermal neutron self-shielding within the sample. The proposed methodology can be used for the determination of the elemental concentration of unknown aqueous samples by BSPGNAA where knowledge of the average thermal neutron flux within the sample volume is required

New thermal neutron solid-state electronic detector based on HgI2 crystals

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Melamud, M.; Burshtein, Z.

1983-07-01

We describe the development of a new solid-state electronic neutron detector, based on HgI 2 single crystals. Incident neutrons are absorbed in high neutron absorbing foils, such as cadmium or gadolinium, which are placed in front of a HgI 2 detector. Gamma rays, emitted as a result of the neutron absorbtion, are then absorbed in the HgI 2 , generating free charge carriers, which are collected by the electric field. The advantage of this system lies in it's manufacturing simplicity, low weight and small physical dimensions, compared to gas-filled conventional neutron detectors. The disadvantage is that the system does not discriminate between gamma rays and neutrons. A method to minimize this disadvantage is pointed out. It is as well possible to count neutrons by direct exposure of the HgI 2 to neutrons. The neutron-to-gamma transformation in that case takes place by the material nuclei themselves. This method, however, is impractical due to the interference of delayed radioactivity whose origin are 129 I nuclei. They are generated from 128 I by absorbing a neutron, and decay with a 25 min half lifetime involving gamma emissions. (author)

Microdosimetry for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Maughan, R.L.; Kota, C.

2000-01-01

The specific aims of the research proposal were as follows: (1) To design and construct small volume tissue equivalent proportional counters for the dosimetry and microdosimetry of high intensity thermal and epithermal neutron beams used in BNCT, and of modified fast neutron beams designed for boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy (BNCEFNT). (2) To develop analytical methods for estimating the biological effectiveness of the absorbed dose in BNCT and BNCEFNT based on the measured microdosimetric spectra. (3) To develop an analytical framework for comparing the biological effectiveness of different epithermal neutron beams used in BNCT and BNCEFNT, based on correlated sets of measured microdosimetric spectra and radiobiological data. Specific aims (1) and (2) were achieved in their entirety and are comprehensively documented in Jay Burmeister's Ph.D. dissertation entitled ''Specification of physical and biologically effective absorbed dose in radiation therapies utilizing the boron neutron capture reaction'' (Wayne State University, 1999). Specific aim (3) proved difficult to accomplish because of a lack of sufficient radiobiological data

Radiation shielding for neutron guides

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ersez, T.; Braoudakis, G.; Osborn, J.C.

2005-01-01

Full text: Models of the neutron guide shielding for the out of bunker guides on the thermal and cold neutron beam lines of the OPAL Reactor (ANSTO) were constructed using the Monte Carlo code MCNP 4B. The neutrons that were not reflected inside the guides but were absorbed by the supermirror (SM) layers were noted to be a significant source of gammas. Gammas also arise from neutrons absorbed by the B, Si, Na and K contained in the glass. The proposed shielding design has produced compact shielding assemblies. These arrangements are consistent with safety requirements, floor load limits, and cost constraints. To verify the design a prototype was assembled consisting of 120mm thick Pb(96%)Sb(4%) walls resting on a concrete block. There was good agreement between experimental measurements and calculated dose rates for bulk shield regions. (authors)

Radiation shielding for neutron guides

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ersez, T.; Braoudakis, G.; Osborn, J.C.

2006-01-01

Models of the neutron guide shielding for the out of bunker guides on the thermal and cold neutron beam lines of the OPAL Reactor (ANSTO) were constructed using the Monte Carlo code MCNP 4B. The neutrons that were not reflected inside the guides but were absorbed by the supermirror (SM) layers were noted to be a significant source of gammas. Gammas also arise from neutrons absorbed by the B, Si, Na and K contained in the glass. The proposed shielding design has produced compact shielding assemblies. These arrangements are consistent with safety requirements, floor load limits, and cost constraints. To verify the design a prototype was assembled consisting of 120 mm thick Pb(96%)Sb(4%) walls resting on a concrete block. There was good agreement between experimental measurements and calculated dose rates for bulk shield regions

Calculation of neutron albedo from laminated semiinfinite media

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dobrynin, Yu.L.; Mikaehlyan, L.A.; Skorokhvatov, M.D.

1978-01-01

A version of a laminated neutron detector with increased efficiency for recording external neutron fluxes by gamma-quanta from neutron capture is considered. The detector comprises two zones. The first zone constitutes an absorbent layer (europium oxide) 0.5 cm thick, and the second one is a moderator (water with gadolinium salt at the concentration of 0.8 g/l). Mono-energetic neutrons fall normally onto the detector surface. Neutron energy varied from 0.1 eV to MeV. The results of calculations of the integral numerical current albedo (INCA) of neutrons by the Monte Carlo method are presented. The INCA dependences on neutron energy are obtained for one moderator with different gadolinium contents; for the absorbent with the moderator containing and lacking the gadolinium. The resultant dependences are indicative of preferential capture of neutrons by the gadolinium in the moderator, this being more desirable for recording neutrons in the (n, γ) reaction

A neutron amplifier: prospects for reactor-based waste transmutation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Blanovsky, A.

2004-01-01

A design concept and characteristics for an epithermal breeder controlled by variable feedback and external neutron source intensity are presented. By replacing the control rods with neutron sources, we could maintain good power distribution and perform radioactive waste burning in high flux subcritical reactors (HFSR) that have primary system size, power density and cost comparable to a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Another approach for actinide transmutation is a molten salt subcritical reactor proposed by Russian scientists. To increase neutron source intensity the HFSR is divided into two zones: a booster and a blanket with solid and liquid fuels. A neutron gate (absorber and moderator) imposed between two zones permits fast neutrons from the booster to flow to the blanket. Neutrons moving in the reverse direction are moderated and absorbed in the absorber zone. In the HFSR, neptunium-plutonium fuel is circulated in the booster and blanket, and americium-curium in the absorber zone and outer reflector. Use of a liquid actinide fuel permits transport of the delayed-neutron emitters from the blanket to the booster, where they can provide additional neutrons (source-dominated mode) or all the necessary excitation without an external neutron source (self-amplifying mode). With a blanket neutron multiplication gain of 20 and a booster gain of 50, an external neutron source rate of at least 10 15 n/s (0.7 MW D-T or 2.5 MW electron beam power) is needed to control the HFSR that produces 300 MWt. Most of the power could be generated in the blanket that burns about 100 kg of actinides a year. The analysis takes into consideration a wide range of HFSR design aspects including the wave model of observed relativistic phenomena, plant seismic diagnostics, fission electric cells (FEC) with a multistage collector (anode) and layered cathode. (author)

Neutron self-shielding with k0-NAA irradiations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chilian, C.; Chambon, R.; Kennedy, G.

2010-01-01

A sample of SMELS Type II reference material was mixed with powdered Cd-nitrate neutron absorber and analysed by k 0 NAA for 10 elements. The thermal neutron self-shielding effect was found to be 34.8%. When flux monitors were irradiated sufficiently far from the absorbing sample, it was found that the self-shielding could be corrected accurately using an analytical formula and an iterative calculation. When the flux monitors were irradiated 2 mm from the absorbing sample, the calculations over-corrected the concentrations by as much as 30%. It is recommended to irradiate flux monitors at least 14 mm from a 10 mm diameter absorbing sample.

Prediction of in-phantom dose distribution using in-air neutron beam characteristics for BNCS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Verbeke, Jerome M.

1999-01-01

A monoenergetic neutron beam simulation study is carried out to determine the optimal neutron energy range for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using radiation synovectomy. The goal of the treatment is the ablation of diseased synovial membranes in joints, such as knees and fingers. This study focuses on human knee joints. Two figures-of-merit are used to measure the neutron beam quality, the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the skin absorbed dose, and the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the bone absorbed dose. It was found that (a) thermal neutron beams are optimal for treatment, (b) similar absorbed dose rates and therapeutic ratios are obtained with monodirectional and isotropic neutron beams. Computation of the dose distribution in a human knee requires the simulation of particle transport from the neutron source to the knee phantom through the moderator. A method was developed to predict the dose distribution in a knee phantom from any neutron and photon beam spectra incident on the knee. This method was revealed to be reasonably accurate and enabled one to reduce by a factor of 10 the particle transport simulation time by modeling the moderator only

Prediction of in-phantom dose distribution using in-air neutron beam characteristics for BNCS

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Verbeke, Jerome M.

1999-12-14

A monoenergetic neutron beam simulation study is carried out to determine the optimal neutron energy range for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis using radiation synovectomy. The goal of the treatment is the ablation of diseased synovial membranes in joints, such as knees and fingers. This study focuses on human knee joints. Two figures-of-merit are used to measure the neutron beam quality, the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the skin absorbed dose, and the ratio of the synovium absorbed dose to the bone absorbed dose. It was found that (a) thermal neutron beams are optimal for treatment, (b) similar absorbed dose rates and therapeutic ratios are obtained with monodirectional and isotropic neutron beams. Computation of the dose distribution in a human knee requires the simulation of particle transport from the neutron source to the knee phantom through the moderator. A method was developed to predict the dose distribution in a knee phantom from any neutron and photon beam spectra incident on the knee. This method was revealed to be reasonably accurate and enabled one to reduce by a factor of 10 the particle transport simulation time by modeling the moderator only.

Spectra and absorbed dose by photo-neutrons in a solid water mannequin exposed to a Linac of 15 MV

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Benites R, J.; Vega C, H. R.; Velazquez F, J.

2012-10-01

Using Monte Carlo methods was modeled a solid water mannequin; according to the ICRU 44 (1989), Tissue substitutes in radiation dosimetry and measurements, of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements; Report 44. This material Wt 1 is made of H (8.1%), C (67.2%), N (2.4%), O (19.9%), Cl (0.1%), Ca (2.3%) and its density is of 1.02 gr/cm 3 . The mannequin was put instead of the patient, inside the treatment room and the spectra and absorbed dose were determined by photo-neutrons exposed to a Linac of 15 MV. (Author)

Effects of neutrino emissivity on the cooling of neutron stars in the presence of a strong magnetic field

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Coelho, Eduardo Lenho, E-mail: eduardo.coelho@uva.br [Universidade Veiga de Almeida, 108 Ibituruna St., 20271-020, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Chiapparini, Marcelo [Instituto de Física, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 524 São Francisco Xavier St., 20271-020, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Negreiros, Rodrigo Picanço [Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Gal. Milton Tavares de Souza Ave., 24210-346, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

2015-12-17

One of the most interesting kind of neutron stars are the pulsars, which are highly magnetized neutron stars with fields up to 10{sup 14} G at the surface. The strength of magnetic field in the center of a neutron star remains unknown. According to the scalar virial theorem, magnetic field in the core could be as large as 10{sup 18} G. In this work we study the influence of strong magnetic fields on the cooling of neutron stars coming from direct Urca process. Direct Urca process is an extremely efficient mechanism for cooling a neutron star after its formation. The matter is described using a relativistic mean-field model at zero temperature with eight baryons (baryon octet), electrons and muons. We obtain the relative population of each species of particles as function of baryon density for different magnetic fields. We calculate numerically the cooling of neutron stars for a parametrized magnetic field and compare the results for the case without a magnetic field.

European protocol for neutron dosimetry for external beam therapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Broerse, J.J.; Mijnheer, B.J.; Williams, J.R.

1981-01-01

The paper attempts to serve the needs of European centres participating in the High LET Therapy Project Group set up under the sponsorship of The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer, to promote cooperation between physicists involved in fast neutron therapy and establish a common basis for neutron dosimetry. Differences in dosimetry procedures between European and American Groups are indicated if relevant. The subject is dealt with under the following main headings: principles of dosimetry of neutron fields, dosimetric methods, physical parameters, determination of absorbed dose at a reference point, determination of absorbed dose at any point, check of absorbed dose given to a patient, dosimetry intercomparisons between institutes. There is an ample bibliography. (U.K.)

Crystallographic structures of absorbates and neutron diffraction

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Marti, C.; Thorel, P.

1975-01-01

The advantage of neutron diffraction is that it is possible to work at any pressure and therefore to study an adsorbant-adsorbate couple within a wide pressure and temperature range and at thermodynamic equilibrium. Nitrogen adsorbed on graphite and CF 4 adsorbed on graphite were measured [fr

Neutron physical investigations on the shutdown effect of small boronated absorbing spheres for pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sgouridis, S.; Schurrer, F.; Muller, H.; Ninaus, W.; Oswald, K.; Neef, R.D.; Schaal, H.

1987-01-01

An emergency shutdown system for high-temperature gas-cooled pebble-bed reactors is proposed in addition to the common absorber rod shutdown system. This system is based on the strongly absorbing effect of small boronated graphite spheres (called KLAK), which trickle in case of emergency by gravity from the top reflector into the reactor core. The inner reflector of the Siemens-Argonaut reactor was substituted by an assembly of spherical Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchsreaktor fuel elements, and the shutdown effect was examined by installing well-defined KLAK nests inside this assembly. The purpose was to develop and prove a calculational procedure for determining criticality values for assemblies of large fuel spheres and small absorbing spheres

Pulsed thermal neutron source at the fast neutron generator.

Science.gov (United States)

Tracz, Grzegorz; Drozdowicz, Krzysztof; Gabańska, Barbara; Krynicka, Ewa

2009-06-01

A small pulsed thermal neutron source has been designed based on results of the MCNP simulations of the thermalization of 14 MeV neutrons in a cluster-moderator which consists of small moderating cells decoupled by an absorber. Optimum dimensions of the single cell and of the whole cluster have been selected, considering the thermal neutron intensity and the short decay time of the thermal neutron flux. The source has been built and the test experiments have been performed. To ensure the response is not due to the choice of target for the experiments, calculations have been done to demonstrate the response is valid regardless of the thermalization properties of the target.

Neutronics issues for a laboratory microfusion facility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tobin, M.T.

1987-01-01

Discussion concerning goals or design of the Laboratory Microfusion Facility (LMF) should include an understanding of the neutronics issues involved. We consider such aspects as first wall shielding requirements, safety standards as they will apply to such an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) facility, and the interior chamber environment. The selection of materials for the first wall, neutron moderator and absorber, and gamma ray shielding is discussed. We conclude that water or carbon are the choices for bulk neutron moderation and boron placed just in front of the first wall the choice for neutron absorber. Selection of the in-chamber materials and diagnostic design will greatly affect the relative hazards after a shot. Lead is the high-Z material of choice and plastic expendables for the diagnostics. Although a poor gamma ray attenuator, carbon is the choice for this function since it also compensates for the direct neutron shine effects and does not itself activate. Electronics may need to be hardened to the prompt gamma and neutron dose

Study of scattering in bi-dimensional neutron radiographic images

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Oliveira, K.A.M. de; Crispim, V.R.; Silva, F.C.

2009-01-01

The effect of neutron scattering frequently causes distortions in neutron radiographic images and, thus, reduces the quality. In this project, a type of filter, comprised of cadmium (a neutron absorber), was used in the form of a grid to correct this effect. This device generated image data in the discrete shadow bands of the absorber, components relative to neutron scattering on the test object and surroundings. Scattering image data processing, together with the original neutron radiographic image, resulted in a corrected image with improved edge delineation and, thus, greater definition in the neutron radiographic image of the test object. The objective of this study is to propose a theoretical/experimental methodology that is capable of eliminating the components relative to neutron scattering in neutron radiographic images, coming from the material that composes the test object and the materials that compose the surrounding area. (author)

The alanine detector in BNCT dosimetry: dose response in thermal and epithermal neutron fields.

Science.gov (United States)

Schmitz, T; Bassler, N; Blaickner, M; Ziegner, M; Hsiao, M C; Liu, Y H; Koivunoro, H; Auterinen, I; Serén, T; Kotiluoto, P; Palmans, H; Sharpe, P; Langguth, P; Hampel, G

2015-01-01

The response of alanine solid state dosimeters to ionizing radiation strongly depends on particle type and energy. Due to nuclear interactions, neutron fields usually also consist of secondary particles such as photons and protons of diverse energies. Various experiments have been carried out in three different neutron beams to explore the alanine dose response behavior and to validate model predictions. Additionally, application in medical neutron fields for boron neutron capture therapy is discussed. Alanine detectors have been irradiated in the thermal neutron field of the research reactor TRIGA Mainz, Germany, in five experimental conditions, generating different secondary particle spectra. Further irradiations have been made in the epithermal neutron beams at the research reactors FiR 1 in Helsinki, Finland, and Tsing Hua open pool reactor in HsinChu, Taiwan ROC. Readout has been performed with electron spin resonance spectrometry with reference to an absorbed dose standard in a (60)Co gamma ray beam. Absorbed doses and dose components have been calculated using the Monte Carlo codes fluka and mcnp. The relative effectiveness (RE), linking absorbed dose and detector response, has been calculated using the Hansen & Olsen alanine response model. The measured dose response of the alanine detector in the different experiments has been evaluated and compared to model predictions. Therefore, a relative effectiveness has been calculated for each dose component, accounting for its dependence on particle type and energy. Agreement within 5% between model and measurement has been achieved for most irradiated detectors. Significant differences have been observed in response behavior between thermal and epithermal neutron fields, especially regarding dose composition and depth dose curves. The calculated dose components could be verified with the experimental results in the different primary and secondary particle fields. The alanine detector can be used without

Application of the pulsed neutron technique on the reactors ALIZE - AQUILON (1963); Application de la methode des neutrons pulses sur les piles ALIZE et AQUILON (1963)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jacquemart, R [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires

1963-07-01

Different methods of measuring the ratio effective delayed fraction / prompt neutron lifetime, {alpha}{sub c}, are described. According to the classic pulsed neutron technique the negative reactivity due to a localized absorber is given by {rho} / {beta}{sub eff} = {alpha} / {alpha}{sub c} -1 Experiments are reported which show that in this case {alpha}{sub c} can not be considered constant for large reactivities. The absorber element distorts the flux in the system, increasing the importance of the reflector. An application of the pulsed neutron method to the measurement of critical distributed boron concentrations of various absorber elements is described. Less time is required than for the usual super-critical techniques, and the experimental analysis is simplified. It is interesting to note that the results are not influenced by the spectral sensitivity of the control element. A modified pulsed neutron method has been tried out. This procedure was used to determine by measurements at sub-critical the critical water level of uranium-heavy water lattices with a high precision. (author) [French] Differents modes operatoires pour definir la valeur du rapport pourcentage effectif de neutrons retardes / temps de vie, {alpha}{sub c}, sont exposes. La methode classique par neutrons pulses definit l'anti-reactivite d'un element absorbant a partir de la relation: {rho} / {beta}{sub eff} {alpha} / {alpha}{sub c} -1 Les manipulations effectuees montrent qu'on ne peut considerer dans ce cas {alpha}{sub c} constant pour de tres grandes anti-reactivites. L'absorbant introduit dans la pile deforme le flux et augmente l'importance du reflecteur. Une application de la methode des neutrons pulses pour mesurer le titre critique en mg de B/l de divers absorbants est signalee. Les operations sont effectuees en regime sous-critique avec un certain gain de temps et une grande facilite de depouillement. Il est interessant de noter que les resultats ne sont pas affectes par la

Application of the pulsed neutron technique on the reactors ALIZE - AQUILON (1963); Application de la methode des neutrons pulses sur les piles ALIZE et AQUILON (1963)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jacquemart, R. [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires

1963-07-01

Different methods of measuring the ratio effective delayed fraction / prompt neutron lifetime, {alpha}{sub c}, are described. According to the classic pulsed neutron technique the negative reactivity due to a localized absorber is given by {rho} / {beta}{sub eff} = {alpha} / {alpha}{sub c} -1 Experiments are reported which show that in this case {alpha}{sub c} can not be considered constant for large reactivities. The absorber element distorts the flux in the system, increasing the importance of the reflector. An application of the pulsed neutron method to the measurement of critical distributed boron concentrations of various absorber elements is described. Less time is required than for the usual super-critical techniques, and the experimental analysis is simplified. It is interesting to note that the results are not influenced by the spectral sensitivity of the control element. A modified pulsed neutron method has been tried out. This procedure was used to determine by measurements at sub-critical the critical water level of uranium-heavy water lattices with a high precision. (author) [French] Differents modes operatoires pour definir la valeur du rapport pourcentage effectif de neutrons retardes / temps de vie, {alpha}{sub c}, sont exposes. La methode classique par neutrons pulses definit l'anti-reactivite d'un element absorbant a partir de la relation: {rho} / {beta}{sub eff} {alpha} / {alpha}{sub c} -1 Les manipulations effectuees montrent qu'on ne peut considerer dans ce cas {alpha}{sub c} constant pour de tres grandes anti-reactivites. L'absorbant introduit dans la pile deforme le flux et augmente l'importance du reflecteur. Une application de la methode des neutrons pulses pour mesurer le titre critique en mg de B/l de divers absorbants est signalee. Les operations sont effectuees en regime sous-critique avec un certain gain de temps et une grande facilite de depouillement. Il est interessant de noter que les resultats ne sont pas

Gamma ray attenuation coefficient measurement for neutron-absorbent materials

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jalali, Majid; Mohammadi, Ali

2008-01-01

The compounds Na 2 B 4 O 7 , H 3 BO 3 , CdCl 2 and NaCl and their solutions attenuate gamma rays in addition to neutron absorption. These compounds are widely used in the shielding of neutron sources, reactor control and neutron converters. Mass attenuation coefficients of gamma related to the four compounds aforementioned, in energies 662, 778.9, 867.38, 964.1, 1085.9, 1173, 1212.9, 1299.1,1332 and 1408 keV, have been determined by the γ rays transmission method in a good geometry setup; also, these coefficients were calculated by MCNP code. A comparison between experiments, simulations and Xcom code has shown that the study has potential application for determining the attenuation coefficient of various compound materials. Experiment and computation show that H 3 BO 3 with the lowest average Z has the highest gamma ray attenuation coefficient among the aforementioned compounds

Characterization of 'strong-fragile' behaviour of glass-forming aqueous solutions by neutron scattering

CERN Document Server

Branca, C; Galli, G; Magazù, S; Maisano, G; Migliardo, F

2002-01-01

Neutron-scattering measurements have been performed on trehalose/H sub 2 O and sucrose/H sub 2 O mixtures by using the spectrometer MIBEMOL at the Laboratoire Leon Brillouin (LLB, Saclay) as a function of temperature and concentration. In order to characterize the different rigidities of both the disaccharide/H sub 2 O mixtures, we have evaluated the R sub 1 (T sub g) parameter connected to the 'strong-fragile' classification of the systems according to Angell's nomenclature. (orig.)

Strong CP violation and the neutron electric dipole form factor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kuckei, J.; Dib, C.; Faessler, A.; Gutsche, T.; Kovalenko, S. G.; Lyubovitskij, V. E.; Pumsa-ard, K.

2007-01-01

We calculate the neutron electric dipole form factor induced by the CP-violating θ term of QCD within a perturbative chiral quark model which includes pion and kaon clouds. On this basis, we derive the neutron electric dipole moment and the electron-neutron Schiff moment. From the existing experimental upper limits on the neutron electric dipole moment, we extract constraints on the θ parameter and compare our results with other approaches

Multidisk neutron velocity selectors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hammouda, B.

1992-01-01

Helical multidisk velocity selectors used for neutron scattering applications have been analyzed and tested experimentally. Design and performance considerations are discussed along with simple explanation of the basic concept. A simple progression is used for the inter-disk spacing in the 'Rosta' design. Ray tracing computer investigations are presented in order to assess the 'coverage' (how many absorbing layers are stacked along the path of 'wrong' wavelength neutrons) and the relative number of neutrons absorbed in each disk (and therefore the relative amount of gamma radiation emitted from each disk). We discuss whether a multidisk velocity selector can be operated in the 'reverse' configuration (i.e. the selector is turned by 180 0 around a vertical axis with the rotor spun in the reverse direction). Experimental tests and calibration of a multidisk selector are reported together with evidence that a multidisk selector can be operated in the 'reverse' configuration. (orig.)

Three dimensional measurements of absorbed dose in BNCT by Fricke-gel imaging

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gambarini, G.; Agosteo, S.; Marchesi, P.; Nava, E.; Palazzi, P.; Pecci, A.; Rosa, R.; Rosi, G.; Tinti, R.

2001-01-01

A method has been studied for absorbed dose imaging and profiling in a phantom exposed to thermal or epithermal neutron fields, also discriminating between various contributions to the absorbed dose. The proposed technique is based on optical imaging of FriXy-gel phantoms, which are proper tissue-equivalent phantoms acting as continuous dosimeters. Convenient modifications in phantom composition allow, from differential measurements, the discrimination of various contributions to the absorbed dose. The dosimetry technique is based on a chemical dosimeter incorporated in a tissue-equivalent gel (Agarose). The chemical dosimeter is a ferrous sulphate solution (which is the main component of the standard Fricke dosimeter) added with a metal ion indicator (Xylenol Orange). The absorbed dose is measured by analysing the variation of gel optical absorption in the visible spectrum, imaged by means of a CCD camera provided with a suitable filter. The technique validity has been tested by irradiating and analysing phantoms in the thermal facility of the fast research reactor TAPIRO (ENEA, Casaccia, Italy). In a cylindrical phantom simulating a head, we have imaged the therapy dose from thermal neutron reactions with 10 B and the dose in healthy tissue not containing boron. In tissue without boron, we have discriminated between the two main contributions to the absorbed dose, which comes from the 1 H(n,γ) 2 H and 14 N(n,p) 14 C reactions. The comparison with the results of other experimental techniques and of simulations reveals that the technique is very promising. A method for the discrimination of fast neutron contribution to the absorbed dose, still in an experimental stage, is proposed too. (author)

Neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for embryo and fetus

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chen, J.; Meyerhof, D.; Vlahovich, S.

2004-01-01

A problem of concern in radiation protection is the exposure of pregnant women to ionising radiation, because of the high radiosensitivity of the embryo and fetus. External neutron exposure is of concern when pregnant women travel by aeroplane. Dose assessments for neutrons frequently rely on fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients. While neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for adults are recommended in International Commission on Radiological Protection publications and International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements reports, conversion coefficients for embryos and fetuses are not given in the publications. This study undertakes Monte Carlo calculations to determine the mean absorbed doses to the embryo and fetus when the mother is exposed to neutron fields. A new set of mathematical models for the embryo and fetus has been developed at Health Canada and is used together with mathematical phantoms of a pregnant female developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Monoenergetic neutrons from 1 eV to 10 MeV are considered in this study. The irradiation geometries include antero-posterior (AP), postero-anterior (PA), lateral (LAT), rotational (ROT) and isotropic (ISO) geometries. At each of these standard irradiation geometries, absorbed doses to the fetal brain and body are calculated; for the embryo at 8 weeks and the fetus at 3, 6 or 9 months. Neutron fluence-to-absorbed dose conversion coefficients are derived for the four age groups. Neutron fluence-to-equivalent dose conversion coefficients are given for the AP irradiations which yield the highest radiation dose to the fetal body in the neutron energy range considered here. The results indicate that for neutrons <10 MeV more protection should be given to pregnant women in the first trimester due to the higher absorbed dose per unit neutron fluence to the fetus. (authors)

Neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for embryo and fetus.

Science.gov (United States)

Chen, Jing; Meyerhof, Dorothy; Vlahovich, Slavica

2004-01-01

A problem of concern in radiation protection is the exposure of pregnant women to ionising radiation, because of the high radiosensitivity of the embryo and fetus. External neutron exposure is of concern when pregnant women travel by aeroplane. Dose assessments for neutrons frequently rely on fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients. While neutron fluence-to-dose conversion coefficients for adults are recommended in International Commission on Radiological Protection publications and International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements reports, conversion coefficients for embryos and fetuses are not given in the publications. This study undertakes Monte Carlo calculations to determine the mean absorbed doses to the embryo and fetus when the mother is exposed to neutron fields. A new set of mathematical models for the embryo and fetus has been developed at Health Canada and is used together with mathematical phantoms of a pregnant female developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Monoenergetic neutrons from 1 eV to 10 MeV are considered in this study. The irradiation geometries include antero-posterior (AP), postero-anterior (PA), lateral (LAT), rotational (ROT) and isotropic (ISO) geometries. At each of these standard irradiation geometries, absorbed doses to the fetal brain and body are calculated; for the embryo at 8 weeks and the fetus at 3, 6 or 9 months. Neutron fluence-to-absorbed dose conversion coefficients are derived for the four age groups. Neutron fluence-to-equivalent dose conversion coefficients are given for the AP irradiations which yield the highest radiation dose to the fetal body in the neutron energy range considered here. The results indicate that for neutrons <10 MeV more protection should be given to pregnant women in the first trimester due to the higher absorbed dose per unit neutron fluence to the fetus.

Neutron sources and their characteristics

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McCall, R.C.; Swanson, W.P.

1979-03-01

The significant sources of photoneutrons within a linear-accelerator treatment head are identified and absolute estimates of neutron production per treatment dose are given for typical components. It is found that the high-Z materials within the treatment head do not significantly alter the neutron fluence but do substantially reduce the average energy of the transmitted spectrum. Reflection of neutrons from the concrete treatment room contribute to the neutron fluence, but not substantially to the patient integral dose, because of a further reduction in average energy. The ratio of maximum fluence to the treatment dose at the same distance is given as a function of electron energy. This ratio rises with energy to an almost constant value of 2.1 x 10 5 neutrons cm -2 rad -1 at electron energies above about 25 MeV. Measured data obtained at a variety of accelerator installations are presented and compared with these calculations. Reasons for apparent deviations are suggested. Absolute depth-dose and depth-dose-equivalent distributions for realistic neutron spectra that occur at therapy installations are calculated, and a rapid falloff with depth is found. The ratio of neutron integral absorbed dose to leakage photon absorbed dose is estimated to be 0.04 and 0.2 for 14 to 25 MeV incident electron energy, respectively. Possible reasons are given for lesser neutron production from betatrons than from linear accelerators. Possible ways in which neutron production can be reduced are discussed

Gamma ray attenuation coefficient measurement for neutron-absorbent materials

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jalali, Majid [Isfahan Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRT), Reactor and Accelerators Research and Development School, Atomic Energy Organization (Iran, Islamic Republic of)], E-mail: m_jalali@entc.org.ir; Mohammadi, Ali [Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, University of Kashan, Km. 6, Ravand Road, Kashan (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

2008-05-15

The compounds Na{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}, H{sub 3}BO{sub 3}, CdCl{sub 2} and NaCl and their solutions attenuate gamma rays in addition to neutron absorption. These compounds are widely used in the shielding of neutron sources, reactor control and neutron converters. Mass attenuation coefficients of gamma related to the four compounds aforementioned, in energies 662, 778.9, 867.38, 964.1, 1085.9, 1173, 1212.9, 1299.1,1332 and 1408 keV, have been determined by the {gamma} rays transmission method in a good geometry setup; also, these coefficients were calculated by MCNP code. A comparison between experiments, simulations and Xcom code has shown that the study has potential application for determining the attenuation coefficient of various compound materials. Experiment and computation show that H{sub 3}BO{sub 3} with the lowest average Z has the highest gamma ray attenuation coefficient among the aforementioned compounds.

A calibration method for realistic neutron dosimetry in radiobiological experiments assisted by MCNP simulation.

Science.gov (United States)

Shahmohammadi Beni, Mehrdad; Krstic, Dragana; Nikezic, Dragoslav; Yu, Kwan Ngok

2016-09-01

Many studies on biological effects of neutrons involve dose responses of neutrons, which rely on accurately determined absorbed doses in the irradiated cells or living organisms. Absorbed doses are difficult to measure, and are commonly surrogated with doses measured using separate detectors. The present work describes the determination of doses absorbed in the cell layer underneath a medium column (D A ) and the doses absorbed in an ionization chamber (D E ) from neutrons through computer simulations using the MCNP-5 code, and the subsequent determination of the conversion coefficients R (= D A /D E ). It was found that R in general decreased with increase in the medium thickness, which was due to elastic and inelastic scattering. For 2-MeV neutrons, conspicuous bulges in R values were observed at medium thicknesses of about 500, 1500, 2500 and 4000 μm, and these were attributed to carbon, oxygen and nitrogen nuclei, and were reflections of spikes in neutron interaction cross sections with these nuclei. For 0.1-MeV neutrons, no conspicuous bulges in R were observed (except one at ~2000 μm that was due to photon interactions), which was explained by the absence of prominent spikes in the interaction cross-sections with these nuclei for neutron energies <0.1 MeV. The ratio R could be increased by ~50% for small medium thickness if the incident neutron energy was reduced from 2 MeV to 0.1 MeV. As such, the absorbed doses in cells (D A ) would vary with the incident neutron energies, even when the absorbed doses shown on the detector were the same. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japan Radiation Research Society and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Understanding the strong intervening O VI absorber at zabs ˜ 0.93 towards PG1206+459

Science.gov (United States)

Rosenwasser, B.; Muzahid, S.; Charlton, J. C.; Kacprzak, G. G.; Wakker, B. P.; Churchill, C. W.

2018-05-01

We have obtained new observations of the partial Lyman limit absorber at zabs=0.93 towards quasar PG 1206+459, and revisit its chemical and physical conditions. The absorber, with N({H I})˜ 10^{17.0} cm-2 and absorption lines spread over ≳1000 km s-1 in velocity, is one of the strongest known O VI absorbers at \\log N({{O VI}})= 15.54 ± 0.17. Our analysis makes use of the previously known low- (e.g. Mg II), intermediate- (e.g. Si IV), and high-ionization (e.g. C IV, N V, Ne VIII) metal lines along with new Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) observations that cover O VI and an HST/ACS image of the quasar field. Consistent with previous studies, we find that the absorber has a multiphase structure. The low-ionization phase arises from gas with a density of \\log (n_H/cm^{-3})˜ -2.5 and a solar to supersolar metallicity. The high-ionization phase stems from gas with a significantly lower density, i.e. \\log (n_H/cm^{-3}) ˜ -3.8, and a near-solar to solar metallicity. The high-ionization phase accounts for all of the absorption seen in C IV, N V, and O VI. We find the the detected Ne VIII, reported by Tripp et al. (2011), is best explained as originating in a stand-alone collisionally ionized phase at T˜ 10^{5.85} K, except in one component in which both O VI and Ne VIII can be produced via photoionization. We demonstrate that such strong O VI absorption can easily arise from photoionization at z ≳ 1, but that, due to the decreasing extragalactic UV background radiation, only collisional ionization can produce large O VI features at z ˜ 0. The azimuthal angle of ˜88° of the disc of the nearest (68 kpc) luminous (1.3L*) galaxy at zgal = 0.9289, which shows signatures of recent merger, suggests that the bulk of the absorption arises from metal enriched outflows.

Neutronic density perturbation by probes; Pertubacion de densidades neutronicas por sondas

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Vigon, M A; Diez, L

1956-07-01

The introduction of absorbent materials of neutrons in diffuser media, produces local disturbances of neutronic density. The disturbance depends especially on the nature and size of the absorbent. Approximated equations which relates te disturbance and the distance to the absorbent in the case of thin disks have been drawn. The experimental comprobation has been carried out in two especial cases. In both cases the experimental results are in agreement with the calculated values from these equations. (Author)

Neutron activation studies on JET

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Loughlin, M.J.; Forrest, R.A.; Edwards, J.E.G.

2001-01-01

Extensive neutron transport calculations have been performed to determine the neutron spectrum at a number of points throughout the JET torus hall. The model has been bench-marked against a set of foil activation measurements which were activated during an experimental campaign with deuterium/tritium plasmas. The model can predict the neutron activation of the foils on the torus hall walls to within a factor of three for reactions with little sensitivity to thermal neutrons. The use of scandium foils with and without a cadmium thermal neutron absorber was a useful monitor of the thermal neutron flux. Conclusions regarding the usefulness of other foils for benchmarking the calculations are also given

Self-shielding coefficient and thermal flux depression factor of voluminous sample in neutron activation analysis

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Noorddin Ibrahim; Rosnie Akang

2009-01-01

Full text: One of the major problems encountered during the irradiation of large inhomogeneous samples in performing activation analysis using neutron is the perturbation of the neutron field due to absorption and scattering of neutron within the sample as well as along the neutron guide in the case of prompt gamma activation analysis. The magnitude of this perturbation shown by self-shielding coefficient and flux depression depend on several factors including the average neutron energy, the size and shape of the sample, as well as the macroscopic absorption cross section of the sample. In this study, we use Monte Carlo N-Particle codes to simulate the variation of neutron self-shielding coefficient and thermal flux depression factor as a function of the macroscopic thermal absorption cross section. The simulation works was carried out using the high performance computing facility available at UTM while the experimental work was performed at the tangential beam port of Reactor TRIGA PUSPATI, Malaysia Nuclear Agency. The neutron flux measured along the beam port is found to be in good agreement with the simulated data. Our simulation results also reveal that total flux perturbation factor decreases as the value of absorption increases. This factor is close to unity for low absorbing sample and tends towards zero for strong absorber. In addition, sample with long mean chord length produces smaller flux perturbation than the shorter mean chord length. When comparing both the graphs of self-shielding factor and total disturbance, we can conclude that the total disturbance of the thermal neutron flux on the large samples is dominated by the self-shielding effect. (Author)

Preparation of rock samples for measurement of the thermal neutron macroscopic absorption cross-section

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Czubek, J.A.; Burda, J.; Drozdowicz, K.; Igielski, A.; Kowalik, W.; Krynicka-Drozdowicz, E.; Woznicka, U.

1986-03-01

Preparation of rock samples for the measurement of the thermal neutron macroscopic absorption cross-section in small cylindrical two-region systems by a pulsed technique is presented. Requirements which should be fulfilled during the preparation of the samples due to physical assumptions of the method are given. A cylindrical vessel is filled with crushed rock and saturated with a medium strongly absorbing thermal neutrons. Water solutions of boric acid of well-known macroscopic absorption cross-section are used. Mass contributions of the components in the sample are specified. This is necessary for the calculation of the thermal neutron macroscopic absorption cross-section of the rock matrix. The conditions necessary for assuring the required accuracy of the measurement are given and the detailed procedure of preparation of the rock sample is described. (author)

Microdosimetric investigations at the fast neutron therapy facility at Fermilab

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Langen, K.M.

1997-01-01

Microdosimetry was used to investigate three issues at the neutron therapy facility (NTF) at Fermilab. Firstly, the conversion factor from absorbed dose in A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to absorbed dose in ICRU tissue was determined. For this, the effective neutron kerma factor ratios, i.e., oxygen tissue equivalent plastic and carbon to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic, were measured in the neutron beam. An A-150 tissue equivalent plastic to ICRU tissue absorbed dose conversion factor of 0.92 ± 0.04 was determined. Secondly, variations in the radiobiological effectiveness (RBE) in the beam were mapped by determining variations in two related quantities, e * and R, with field size and depth in tissue. Maximal variation in e * and R of 9% and 15% respectively were determined. Lastly, the feasibility of utilizing the boron neutron capture reaction on boron-10 to selectively enhance the tumor dose in the NTF beam was investigated

Microscopic analysis of saturable absorbers: Semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors versus graphene

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hader, J.; Moloney, J. V. [Nonlinear Control Strategies, Inc., 3542 N. Geronimo Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85705 (United States); College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States); Yang, H.-J.; Scheller, M. [College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States); Koch, S. W. [Department of Physics and Materials Sciences Center, Philipps Universität Marburg, Renthof 5, 35032 Marburg (Germany)

2016-02-07

Fully microscopic many-body calculations are used to study the influence of strong sub-picosecond pulses on the carrier distributions and corresponding optical response in saturable absorbers used for mode-locking—semiconductor (quantum well) saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) and single layer graphene based saturable absorber mirrors (GSAMs). Unlike in GSAMs, the saturation fluence and recovery time in SESAMs show a strong spectral dependence. While the saturation fluence in the SESAM is minimal at the excitonic bandgap, the optimal recovery time and least pulse distortion due to group delay dispersion are found for excitation higher in the first subband. For excitation near the SESAM bandgap, the saturation fluence is about one tenth of that in the GSAM. At energies above the bandgap, the fluences in both systems become similar. A strong dependence of the saturation fluence on the pulse width in both systems is caused by carrier relaxation during the pulse. The recovery time in graphene is found to be about two to four times faster than that in the SESAMs. The occurrence of negative differential transmission in graphene is shown to be caused by dopant related carriers. In SESAMs, a negative differential transmission is found when exciting below the excitonic resonance where excitation induced dephasing leads to an enhancement of the absorption. Comparisons of the simulation data to the experiment show a very good quantitative agreement.

Bound-state β decay of a neutron in a strong magnetic field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kouzakov, Konstantin A.; Studenikin, Alexander I.

2005-01-01

The β decay of a neutron into a bound (pe - ) state and an antineutrino in the presence of a strong uniform magnetic field (B > or approx. 10 13 G) is considered. The β decay process is treated within the framework of the standard model of weak interactions. A Bethe-Salpeter formalism is employed for description of the bound (pe - ) system in a strong magnetic field. For the field strengths 10 13 18 G the estimate for the ratio of the bound-state decay rate w b and the usual (continuum-state) decay rate w c is derived. It is found that in such strong magnetic fields w b /w c ∼0.1-0.4. This is in contrast to the field-free case, where w b /w c ≅4.2x10 -6 [J. N. Bahcall, Phys. Rev. 124, 495 (1961); L. L. Nemenov, Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. 15, 582 (1972); X. Song, J. Phys. G: Nucl. Phys. 13, 1023 (1987)]. The dependence of the ratio w b /w c on the magnetic field strength B exhibits a logarithmiclike behavior. The obtained results can be important for applications in astrophysics and cosmology

Wide-range neutron dose determination with CR-39

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Arneja, A.R.; Waker, A.J.

1995-01-01

Optical density measurements of CR-30 irradiated with 252 Cf neutrons and chemically etched with 6.5 N KOH solution have been used to determine neutron absorbed doses between 0.1 and 10 Gy. Optimum etching conditions will depend upon the absorbed dose. Since it is not always possible to know the range of absorbed dose on a CR-39 dosemeter collected from personnel and area monitor stations in a criticality accident situation, a three-step two-hour chemical etch at 60 o C has been found to be appropriate. If after a total of six hours of chemical etching the optical density is found to be below 0.04 for 500 nm light (transmission > 90%) then further treatment in the form of electrochemical etching can be carried out to determine the lower absorbed dose. In this manner, absorbed doses below 0.1 Gy can be determined by counting tracks over a unit area. (author)

Neutron beams. Tracks analysis, imaging and medicine

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pepy, G.

2006-01-01

Thermal neutron beams can supply informations about the arrangement of atoms and molecules and about their movement inside the matter. This article treats of the preparation of thermal neutron beams and of the applications that use their penetration and matter activation properties: 1 - thermal neutrons production; 2 - basic properties of thermal neutrons: neutrons scattering, absorbing materials, activating materials, transparent materials, preparation of a neutron beam; 3 - tracks measurement by activation: activation method, measurement of marine pollution by heavy elements, historical evolution of glass composition; 4 - neutron radiography: neutronography, neutronoscopy: viscosity measurement; 5 - cancer treatment. (J.S.)

Characterization of the secondary neutron field produced during treatment of an anthropomorphic phantom with x-rays, protons and carbon ions

Science.gov (United States)

La Tessa, C.; Berger, T.; Kaderka, R.; Schardt, D.; Burmeister, S.; Labrenz, J.; Reitz, G.; Durante, M.

2014-04-01

Short- and long-term side effects following the treatment of cancer with radiation are strongly related to the amount of dose deposited to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. The characterization of the radiation field outside the planned target volume is the first step for estimating health risks, such as developing a secondary radioinduced malignancy. In ion and high-energy photon treatments, the major contribution to the dose deposited in the far-out-of-field region is given by neutrons, which are produced by nuclear interaction of the primary radiation with the beam line components and the patient’s body. Measurements of the secondary neutron field and its contribution to the absorbed dose and equivalent dose for different radiotherapy technologies are presented in this work. An anthropomorphic RANDO phantom was irradiated with a treatment plan designed for a simulated 5 × 2 × 5 cm3 cancer volume located in the center of the head. The experiment was repeated with 25 MV IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) photons and charged particles (protons and carbon ions) delivered with both passive modulation and spot scanning in different facilities. The measurements were performed with active (silicon-scintillation) and passive (bubble, thermoluminescence 6LiF:Mg, Ti (TLD-600) and 7LiF:Mg, Ti (TLD-700)) detectors to investigate the production of neutral particles both inside and outside the phantom. These techniques provided the whole energy spectrum (E ⩽ 20 MeV) and corresponding absorbed dose and dose equivalent of photo neutrons produced by x-rays, the fluence of thermal neutrons for all irradiation types and the absorbed dose deposited by neutrons with 0.8 energy x-rays, the contribution of secondary neutrons to the dose equivalent is of the same order of magnitude as the primary radiation. In carbon therapy delivered with raster scanning, the absorbed dose deposited by neutrons in the energy region between 0.8 and 10 MeV is almost two orders of

Studying the effect of xenon poisoning on the power of the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Khamis, I.; Khattab, K.

1999-07-01

The uranium 235 is often used as a fuel to produce the energy in nuclear reactors. Uranium nuclei are fissioned with thermal neutrons and produce energy plus a number of neutrons. A fraction of such fission neutrons is involved in other fission with new nuclei to sustain the fission reactions. The remain fraction of the neutrons is lost from the reactor in two ways: escaped from the reactor, or absorbed with other nuclei that exist in the reactor before or produced from fission. Fission nuclei which absorb neutrons heavily are called p oison , such as Xe 135. Because Xe 135 absorbs neutrons heavily, it reduces the number of neutrons in the reactor. Hence, Xe 135 is studied explicitly in the MNSR reactor, and calculation of its negative reactivity is presented in this research during the operation, equilibrium, and after the shutting down of the reactor. (author)

3M"T"M neutron quench. Compounds with substantial water solubility and boron content

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cook, Kevin S.; Blake, Alex B.; Neef, C. Jody

2014-01-01

Of the two naturally occurring isotopes of boron ("1"1B 80%, "1"0B 20%), "1"0B is a good neutron absorber with a thermal neutron absorption cross section of ∼3800 barns. The ability to absorb thermal neutrons while producing benign reaction products makes boron an ideal atom to aid in the control and arrest of the fission reaction in nuclear power reactors. In current practice, boric acid and sodium pentaborate are commonly used as neutron absorbers in the water regime of active and passive safety systems. 3M"T"M Neutron Quench compounds have been developed to be applied in situations where criticality control needs exceed normal control methods. In this type of situation these compounds have several advantages over commonly used neutron absorbers like boric acid: Boron Content; compounds contain up to 80 wt% boron compared to 16 wt% for boric acid and sodium pentaborate. Solubility; >16 g B/100 g solution compared to 0.6 g B/100 g solution for boric acid at 25°C. pH neutrality; compounds demonstrate pH neutrality even in concentrated solutions. Thermal Stability; Compounds are stable as solids at temperatures greater than 500°C. Corrosiveness; Electrochemical corrosion rate studies have indicated that these compounds are significantly less corrosive than boric acid. Use of 3M"T"M Neutron Quench can lead to reduction in emergency shutdown pool size, reduce or remove the necessity for pool heating and heat tracing of lines, allow for more rapid introduction of the absorber in emergency situations or be used in other applications where significant neutron control is necessary. (author)

Influence of materials and counting-rate effects on 3He neutron spectrometry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Evans, A.E.

1984-01-01

The high energy resolution of the Cuttler-Shalev 3 He neutron spectrometer causes spectral measurements with this instrument to be strongly susceptible to artifacts caused by the presence of scattering or absorbing materials in or near the detector or the source, and to false peaks generated by pileup coincidences of the rather long-risetime pulses from the detector. These effects are particularly important when pulse-height distributions vary over several orders of magnitude in count rate versus channel. A commercial pile-up elimination circuit greatly improves but does not eliminate the pileup problem. Previously reported spurious peaks in the pulse-height distributions from monoenergetic neutron sources have been determined to be due to the influence of the iron in the detector wall. 6 references, 9 figures

Prototype Stilbene Neutron Collar

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Prasad, M. K. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Shumaker, D. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Snyderman, N. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Verbeke, J. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Wong, J. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

2016-10-26

A neutron collar using stilbene organic scintillator cells for fast neutron counting is described for the assay of fresh low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel assemblies. The prototype stilbene collar has a form factor similar to standard He-3 based collars and uses an AmLi interrogation neutron source. This report describes the simulation of list mode neutron correlation data on various fuel assemblies including some with neutron absorbers (burnable Gd poisons). Calibration curves (doubles vs ²³⁵U linear mass density) are presented for both thermal and fast (with Cd lining) modes of operation. It is shown that the stilbene collar meets or exceeds the current capabilities of He-3 based neutron collars. A self-consistent assay methodology, uniquely suited to the stilbene collar, using triples is described which complements traditional assay based on doubles calibration curves.

Neutron shielding characteristics of nano-B2O3 dispersed Poly Vinyl Alcohol

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kim, Jae Woo; Uhm, Young Rang; Lee, Min Ku; Lee, Hee Min; Rhee, Chang Kyu

2008-01-01

Neutron is sometimes beneficiary to human beings while they are unwanted for most cases same as the other radiations such as gamma, beta, and alpha, etc. do. Shielding for neutrons therefore is extremely important to keep the radiation environment safe. Especially, it is critical to absorb (or shield) neutrons generated from the spent fuel in a container/storage, nuclear reactor, and cyclotron, etc. In this regard, light materials containing neutron absorbers such as borated-polymers are very useful to shield neutrons in those radiation environments. This investigation is focused on the development of borated polymer-based materials whose neutron shielding efficiency is greatly enhanced by using nano sized boron compounds. Boron is well known as a thermal neutron absorber due to its large thermal neutron absorption cross-section (σ th = 760 b, b = 10 -2 - 4 cm 2 ). Although absorption of neutrons in the medium is mainly dependent on the boron atomic weight concentration, we firstly observed the size of boron particles also has an important role in neutron shielding. Mean free path of neutrons colliding with the smaller particles dispersed in the medium might be decreased when it is compared to the larger particles at the same atomic weight concentration. This means that the neutron shielding efficiency of a polymer mixed with the smaller boron compounds is higher than that of a polymer mixed with the larger boron compounds at the same atomic weight boron concentration

Neutronic performance issues for the Spallation Neutron Source moderators

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Iverson, E.B.; Murphy, B.D.

2001-01-01

We continue to develop the neutronic models of the Spallation Neutron Source target station and moderators in order to better predict the neutronic performance of the system as a whole and in order to better optimize that performance. While we are not able to say that every model change leads to more intense neutron beams being predicted, we do feel that such changes are advantageous in either performance or in the accuracy of the prediction of performance. We have computationally and experimentally studied the neutronics of hydrogen-water composite moderators such as are proposed for the SNS Project. In performing these studies, we find that the composite moderator, at least in the configuration we have examined, does not provide performance characteristics desirable for the instruments proposed and being designed for this neutron scattering facility. The pulse width as a function of energy is significantly broader than for other moderators, limiting attainable resolution-bandwidth combinations. Furthermore, there is reason to expect that higher-energy (0.1-1 eV) applications will be significantly impacted by bimodal pulse shapes requiring enormous effort to parameterize. As a result of these studies, we have changed the SNS design, and will not use a composite moderator at this time. We have analyzed the depletion of a gadolinium poison plate in a hydrogen moderator at the Spallation Neutron Source, and found that conventional poison thicknesses will be completely unable to last the desired component lifetime of three operational years. A poison plate 300-600 μm thick will survive for the required length of time, but will somewhat degrade the intensity (by as much as 15% depending on neutron energy) and the consistency of the neutron source performance. Our results should scale fairly easily to other moderators on this or any other spallation source. While depletion will be important for all highly-absorbing materials in high-flux regions, we feel it likely that

Evaluation of Neutron Response of Criticality Accident Alarm System Detector to Quasi-Monoenergetic 24 keV Neutrons

Science.gov (United States)

Tsujimura, Norio; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Yashima, Hiroshi

The criticality accident alarm system (CAAS), which was recently developed and installed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's Tokai Reprocessing Plant, consists of a plastic scintillator combined with a cadmium-lined polyethylene moderator and thereby responds to both neutrons and gamma rays. To evaluate the neutron absorbed dose rate response of the CAAS detector, a 24 keV quasi-monoenergetic neutron irradiation experiment was performed at the B-1 facility of the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The detector's evaluated neutron response was confirmed to agree reasonably well with prior computer-predicted responses.

Evaluation of neutron response of criticality accident alarm system detector to quasi-monoenergetic 24 keV neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tsujimura, Norio; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Yashima, Hiroshi

2016-01-01

The criticality accident alarm system (CAAS), which was recently developed and installed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's Tokai Reprocessing Plant, consists of a plastic scintillator combined with a cadmium-lined polyethylene moderator and thereby responds to both neutrons and gamma rays. To evaluate the neutron absorbed dose rate response of the CAAS detector, a 24 keV quasi-monoenergetic neutron irradiation experiment was performed at the B-1 facility of the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The detector's evaluated neutron response was confirmed to agree reasonably well with prior computer-predicted responses. (author)

Neutron radiography for the characterization of porous structure in degraded building stones

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Barone, G; Mazzoleni, P; Raneri, S; Crupi, V; Longo, F; Majolino, D; Venuti, V; Teixeira, J

2014-01-01

As it is well known, the porous structure of stones can change due to different degradation processes that modify the characteristics of freshly quarried blocks. Their knowledge is fundamental for predicting the behavior of stones and the efficacy of conservative treatments. In this context, neutron radiography is a useful tool not only to visualize the structure of porous materials, but also to evaluate the degree of degradation and surface modifications resulting from weathering processes. Furthermore, since thermal neutrons suffer a strong attenuation by hydrogen, this technique is effective in order to investigate the amount of absorbed water in building materials. In the present work, we report a neutron radiography investigation of limestones cropping out in the South-Eastern Sicily and widely used as building stones in Baroque monuments of the Noto Valley. The analyzed samples have been submitted to cyclic salt crystallization that simulate degradation processes acting in exposed stones of buildings. The obtained results demonstrate the interest of neutron radiography to better understand deterioration processes in limestones and to acquire information useful for restoration projects

Pulsed Neutron Scattering Studies of Strongly Fluctuating solids, Final Report

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Collin Broholm

2006-06-22

The conventional description of a solid is based on a static atomic structure with small amplitude so-called harmonic fluctuations about it. This is a final technical report for a project that has explored materials where fluctuations are sufficiently strong to severely challenge this approach and lead to unexpected and potentially useful materials properties. Fluctuations are enhanced when a large number of configurations share the same energy. We used pulsed spallation source neutron scattering to obtain detailed microscopic information about structure and fluctuations in such materials. The results enhance our understanding of strongly fluctuating solids and their potential for technical applications. Because new materials require new experimental techniques, the project has also developed new techniques for probing strongly fluctuating solids. Examples of material that were studied are ZrW2O8 with large amplitude molecular motion that leads to negative thermal expansion, NiGa2S4 where competing interactions lead to an anomalous short range ordered magnet, Pr1- xBixRu2O7 where a partially filled electron shell (Pr) in a weakly disordered environment produces anomalous metallic properties, and TbMnO3 where competing interactions lead to a magneto-electric phase. The experiments on TbMnO3 exemplify the relationship between research funded by this project and future applications. Magneto-electric materials may produce a magnetic field when an electric field is applied or vise versa. Our experiments have clarified the reason why electric and magnetic polarization is coupled in TbMnO3. While this knowledge does not render TbMnO3 useful for applications it will focus the search for a practical room temperature magneto-electric for applications.

System and apparatus for neutron radiography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Whittemore, W.L.

1991-01-01

This patent describes a neutron radiography apparatus. It comprises an imaging plane; a neutron moderator having a cavity defining a convergent collimator, the cavity having a base and converging walls of neutron moderating material terminating at an aperture; a divergent collimator coaxially joined to the cavity at the aperture, the divergent collimator having diverging walls of radiation- absorbing material extending from the aperture to an expanded distal opening for irradiating the imaging plane; sources of neutrons disposed symmetrically about the base of the cavity; a neutron moderating material disposed for maximum neutron thermalization between the sources and the base of the cavity; and means for substantially shielding the plane from electromagnetic energy

Reactor-moderated intermediate-energy neutron beams for neutron-capture therapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Less, T.J.

1987-01-01

One approach to producing an intermediate energy beam is moderating fission neutrons escaping from a reactor core. The objective of this research is to evaluate materials that might produce an intermediate beam for NCT via moderation of fission neutrons. A second objective is to use the more promising moderator material in a preliminary design of an NCT facility at a research reactor. The evaluations showed that several materials or combinations of materials could produce a moderator source for an intermediate beam for NCT. The best neutron spectrum for use in NCT is produced by Al 2 O 3 , but mixtures of Al metal and D 2 O are also attractive. Using the best moderator materials, results were applied to the design of an NCT moderator at the Georgia Institute of Technology Research Reactor's bio-medical facility. The amount of photon shielding and thermal neutron absorber were optimized with respect to the desired photon dose rate and intermediate neutron flux at the patient position

Tissue equivalence in neutron dosimetry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nutton, D.H.; Harris, S.J.

1980-01-01

A brief review is presented of the essential features of neutron tissue equivalence for radiotherapy and gives the results of a computation of relative absorbed dose for 14 MeV neutrons, using various tissue models. It is concluded that for the Bragg-Gray equation for ionometric dosimetry it is not sufficient to define the value of W to high accuracy and that it is essential that, for dosimetric measurements to be applicable to real body tissue to an accuracy of better than several per cent, a correction to the total absorbed dose must be made according to the test and tissue atomic composition, although variations in patient anatomy and other radiotherapy parameters will often limit the benefits of such detailed dosimetry. (U.K.)

Feasibility study of chabazite absorber tube utilization in online absorption of released gaseous fission products and substitution of burnable absorber rods with chabazite absorber tubes in VVER-1000 reactor series

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rahmani, Yashar

2017-01-01

Highlights: • Chabazite tubes are used for online removal of the released gaseous fission products. • The feasibility of using chabazite tubes instead of burnable absorber rods was studied. • A computational cycle was designed using the WIMSD5-B, CITATION-LDI2 and WERL codes. • In modeling fission gas release, the Weisman, Booth, Mason and T.S. models were used. • By this method, it is possible to increase cycle length and enhance heat transfer. - Abstract: As gaseous fission products, e.g. xenon and krypton have adverse effects such as reducing the rate of heat transfer in fuel rods and adding negative reactivity to the reactor core, the present manuscript was dedicated to development of a novel method for improving these defects. In the proposed method, chabazite absorber tubes were used for online removal of the released gaseous fission products from gaseous gap spaces. Moreover, in this research, feasibility of using chabazite absorber tubes instead of burnable absorber rods was examined. To perform the required modeling and calculations to successfully meet the mentioned objectives, a thermo-neutronic computational cycle was designed using the coupling of WIMSD5-B and CITATION-LDI2 codes in the neutronic section and the WERL code in the thermo-hydraulic calculations. In addition, in modeling the release process of gaseous fission products, the Weisman, Booth, Mason, and T.S. models were examined. It is worth mentioning that in this research, calculations and modeling procedures were based on the first cycle of Bushehr’s VVER-1000 reactor to study the feasibility of the proposed solution. The obtained results revealed that with application of the proposed method in this research, it is possible to increase cycle length, improve safety thresholds, and enhance heat transfer in the core of nuclear reactors.

Neutron scattering. Lectures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brueckel, Thomas; Heger, Gernot; Richter, Dieter; Roth, Georg; Zorn, Reiner

2013-01-01

The following topics are dealt with: Neutron sources, symmetry of crystals, nanostructures investigated by small-angle neutron scattering, structure of macromolecules, spin dependent and magnetic scattering, structural analysis, neutron reflectometry, magnetic nanostructures, inelastic neutron scattering, strongly correlated electrons, polymer dynamics, applications of neutron scattering. (HSI)

Lethal Effect of Thermal Neutrons on Hypoxic Elirlich Ascites Tumour Cells in vitro

OpenAIRE

MITSUHIKO, AKABOSHI; KENICHI, KAWAI; HIROTOSHI, MAKI; Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University; Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University; Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University

1985-01-01

Ehrlich ascites tumour cells were irradiated in vitro with thermal neutrons under aerobic and hypoxic conditions, and the survival of their reproductive capacity was assayed in vivo. Only a slight hypoxic protection was observed for thermal neutron irradiation with an oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) of 1.2, as compared with OER of 3.3 for ^Co-γ-rays. Absorbed dose of thermal neutrons was calculated by assuming that the energies of recoiled nuclei were completely absorbed within a cell nucleus....

Study of neutron absorbing microspheres in research reactors - Neutronic analyse

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gana Watkins, Ignacio A.; Prado, Miguel O.; Mazufri, Claudio; Tunon, Juan M

2012-01-01

Now-a-days, it is increasingly common for nuclear power plants, as well as research reactors, to be designed and built with an alternative safety system aside from control rods. The acids and/or salts in solution injection systems is most frequently used. However, these systems present several implementation and operation problems due to the physical and chemical properties of the used compounds. After analyzing these drawbacks, we developed a new alternative safety system that contains the absorbing element isolated from the aqueous medium. In this context, it's proposed the use of aluminum borosilicate microspheres. The current paper presents erosion wear experiments to determine under which conditions microspheres can be considered as a potential component of a secondary shut down system in a nuclear facility (author)

Nuclear reactor with a fixed system of neutron poison, which can be burnt up, introduced into the reactor core

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mueller, E.; Roegler, H.J.; Wickert, M.

1985-01-01

The fixed system consists of neutron poison which can be burnt up, in an uneven distribution, and with adjustable absorber rods for output control, which are driven into the reactor core from the side along the fuel elements. There is an excess of neutron poison which can be burnt up, overall, on the side of the reactor core away from the absorber rods. The reactor core is free of neutron poison which can be burnt up on the side where the absorber rods are driven in, so that the ratio of maximum to mean power density with reference to a possible absorber rod positions is less than for homogeneous distribution of the neutron poison which can be burnt up. (orig./HP) [de

Theory of Pulsed Neutron Experiments in Highly Heterogeneous Multiplying Media

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Corno, S.E.

1965-01-01

In this work we investigate the time and space dependence of the neutron flux within a highly heterogeneous assembly, in which pulsed or sinusoidally modulated neutrons are injected. We consider, for the sake of simplicity, a device consisting of a cylindrical block of heavy moderator, along the axis of which a line-shaped region of fissionable material is located. The driving neutron source is assumed to be located on one of the end faces of the cylinder. The extent of the fissionable region allows us to deal with it as with an absorbing and multiplying singularity of the neutron field. As our attention is mostly concentrated on space and time variation of the neutron flux, rather crude approximations are assumed as far as the energy dependence of the neutron population is concerned. Within the limits of the age-diffusion theory, the response of the device to any neutron excitation may be found in closed form. For a sinusoidally modulated source of given frequency, it may easily be shown that, if the axial singularity were a purely absorbing one, the neutron waves being propagated along the device would possess a phase shift; a wavelength and an attenuation constant depending on the absorbing properties of the singularity. This picture becomes more and more complicated when neutron multiplication occurs. For this general case the solution derived in our paper obviously turns out to be dependent on both absorption and multiplication properties of the singularity. This circumstance suggests, among others, the idea of using a device of the type described above for testing fuel elements of heterogeneous reactors. (author) [fr

Effects of high neutron doses and duration of the chemical etching on the optical properties of CR-39

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sahoo, G.S.; Tripathy, S.P.; Paul, S.; Sharma, S.C.; Joshi, D.S.; Gupta, A.K.; Bandyopadhyay, T.

2015-01-01

Effects of the duration of chemical etching on the transmittance, absorbance and optical band gap width of the CR-39 (Polyallyl diglycol carbonate) detectors irradiated to high neutron doses (12.7, 22.1, 36.0 and 43.5 Sv) were studied. The neutrons were produced by bombardment of a thick Be target with 12 MeV protons of different fluences. The unirradiated and neutron-irradiated CR-39 detectors were subjected to a stepwise chemical etching at 1 h intervals. After each step, the transmission spectra of the detectors were recorded in the range from 200 to 900 nm, and the absorbances and optical band gap widths were determined. The effect of the etching on the light transmittance of unirradiated detectors was insignificant, whereas it was very significant in the case of the irradiated detectors. The dependence of the optical absorbance on the neutron dose is linear at short etching periods, but exponential at longer ones. The optical band gap narrows with increasing etching time. It is more significant for the irradiated dosimeters than for the unirradiated ones. The rate of the narrowing of the optical band gap with increasing neutron dose increases with increasing duration of the etching. - Highlights: • The variation of optical properties of CR-39 at very high neutron dose is analyzed. Etching process is found to play a crucial role for change in optical properties of neutron-irradiated CR-39. • The optical absorbance varies linearly at lower dose, at very high dose absorbance saturation occurs. The dose at which saturation absorbance is observed shifts towards lower neutron dose with increase in etching time. • The rate of decrease in optical band gap with respect to neutron dose is found to be more at higher etching durations

Utilizing strongly absorbing materials for low-loss surface-wave nonlinear optics

Science.gov (United States)

Grosse, Nicolai B.; Franz, Philipp; Heckmann, Jan; Pufahl, Karsten; Woggon, Ulrike

2018-04-01

Optical media endowed with large nonlinear susceptibilities are highly prized for their employment in frequency conversion and the generation of nonclassical states of light. Although the presence of an optical resonance can greatly increase the nonlinear response (e.g., in epsilon-near-zero materials), the non-negligible increase in linear absorption often precludes the application of such materials in nonlinear optics. Absorbing materials prepared as thin films, however, can support a low-loss surface wave: the long-range surface exciton polariton (LRSEP). Its propagation lifetime increases with greater intrinsic absorption and reduced film thickness, provided that the film is embedded in a transparent medium (symmetric cladding). We explore LRSEP propagation in a molybdenum film by way of a prism-coupling configuration. Our observations show that excitation of the LRSEP mode leads to a dramatic increase in the yield of second-harmonic generation. This implies that the LRSEP mode is an effective vehicle for utilizing the nonlinear response of absorbing materials.

Cell death following thermal neutron exposure

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Paterson, L.C. [Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario (Canada); Atanackovic, J. [Ontario Power Generation, Toronto, Ontario (Canada); Boyer, C. [Canadian Neutron Beam Centre, Chalk River, Ontario (Canada); El-Jaby, S.; Priest, N.D. [Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario (Canada); Seymour, C.B.; Boreham, D.R. [McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada); Richardson, R.B. [Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario (Canada)

2014-07-01

When individuals are exposed to unknown external ionizing radiation, it is desirable to have the means to assess both the absorbed dose received (Gy) and the radiation quality. Yet, conventional biodosimetry techniques, specifically the dicentric chromosome assay, cannot differentiate between the damage caused by high- and low-linear energy transfer (LET) exposures. Frequencies of apoptosis and necrosis, may provide an alternative method that assesses both the absorbed dose and radiation quality after unknown exposures. For this preliminary study, human lymphocytes were irradiated with {sup 60}Co gamma rays and thermal neutrons. Both apoptosis and necrosis increased with increasing gamma dose. In contrast, no dose-response was observed following thermal neutron exposure at doses up to 2.61 Gy. (author)

Nuclear data for neutron therapy: Status and future needs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1997-12-01

This report discusses the status and success of neutron therapy and some of the problems in clinical neutron dosimetry. Existing neutron interaction data, in particular results of kerma factor measurements and data evaluations, are reviewed. Nuclear data relevant for neutron source reactions, collimation, and shielding are also discussed. Finally, physical aspects of the variation of biological effectiveness of neutrons with neutron energy (radiation quality) are set out. Exchange of information between neutron therapy centers is essential, since only clinical experience can determine the optimal absorbed dose, fractionation, target volume, and clinical indications/contra-indications for neutron therapy

Nuclear data for neutron therapy: Status and future needs

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1997-12-01

This report discusses the status and success of neutron therapy and some of the problems in clinical neutron dosimetry. Existing neutron interaction data, in particular results of kerma factor measurements and data evaluations, are reviewed. Nuclear data relevant for neutron source reactions, collimation, and shielding are also discussed. Finally, physical aspects of the variation of biological effectiveness of neutrons with neutron energy (radiation quality) are set out. Exchange of information between neutron therapy centers is essential, since only clinical experience can determine the optimal absorbed dose, fractionation, target volume, and clinical indications/contra-indications for neutron therapy. Refs, 44 figs, 19 tabs.

Discrimination of various contributions to the absorbed dose in BNCT: Fricke-gel imaging and intercomparison with other experimental results

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gambarini, G. E-mail: grazia.gambarini@mi.infn.it; Agosteo, S.; Marchesi, P.; Nava, E.; Palazzi, P.; Pecci, A.; Rosi, G.; Tinti, R

2000-11-15

A method is described for the 3D measurements of absorbed dose in a ferrous sulphate gel phantom, exposed in the thermal column of a nuclear reactor. The method, studied for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) purposes, allows absorbed dose imaging and profiling, with the separation of different contributions coming from different secondary radiations, generated from thermal neutrons. In fact, the biological effectiveness of the different radiations is different. Tests with conventional dosimeters were performed too.

Neutron scattering. Lectures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brueckel, Thomas; Heger, Gernot; Richter, Dieter; Roth, Georg; Zorn, Reiner

2012-01-01

The following topics are dealt with: Neutron scattering in contemporary research, neutron sources, symmetry of crystals, diffraction, nanostructures investigated by small-angle neutron scattering, the structure of macromolecules, spin dependent and magnetic scattering, structural analysis, neutron reflectometry, magnetic nanostructures, inelastic scattering, strongly correlated electrons, dynamics of macromolecules, applications of neutron scattering. (HSI)

Neutron Diffusion in a Space Lattice of Fissionable and Absorbing Materials

Science.gov (United States)

Feynman, R. P.; Welton, T. A.

1946-08-27

Methods are developed for estimating the effect on a critical assembly of fabricating it as a lattice rather than in the more simply interpreted homogeneous manner. An idealized case is discussed supposing an infinite medium in which fission, elastic scattering and absorption can occur, neutrons of only one velocity present, and the neutron m.f.p. independent of position and equal to unity with the unit of length used.

Characterization of 'strong-fragile' behaviour of glass-forming aqueous solutions by neutron scattering

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Branca, C.; Faraone, A.; Galli, G.; Magazu' , S.; Maisano, G.; Migliardo, F. [Dipartimento di Fisica and INFM, Universita' di Messina, PO Box 55, 98166 Messina (Italy)

2002-07-01

Neutron-scattering measurements have been performed on trehalose/H{sub 2}O and sucrose/H{sub 2}O mixtures by using the spectrometer MIBEMOL at the Laboratoire Leon Brillouin (LLB, Saclay) as a function of temperature and concentration. In order to characterize the different rigidities of both the disaccharide/H{sub 2}O mixtures, we have evaluated the R{sub 1}(T{sub g}) parameter connected to the 'strong-fragile' classification of the systems according to Angell's nomenclature. (orig.)

Monte Carlo calculations of lung dose in ORNL phantom for boron neutron capture therapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krstic, D.; Markovic, V.M.; Jovanovic, Z.; Milenkovic, B.; Nikezic, D.; Atanackovic, J.

2014-01-01

Monte Carlo simulations were performed to evaluate dose for possible treatment of cancers by boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The computational model of male Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) phantom was used to simulate tumours in the lung. Calculations have been performed by means of the MCNP5/X code. In this simulation, two opposite neutron beams were considered, in order to obtain uniform neutron flux distribution inside the lung. The obtained results indicate that the lung cancer could be treated by BNCT under the assumptions of calculations. The difference in evaluated dose in cancer and normal lung tissue suggests that BNCT could be applied for the treatment of cancers. The difference in exposure of cancer and healthy tissue can be observed, so the healthy tissue can be spared from damage. An absorbed dose ratio of metastatic tissue-to-the healthy tissue was ∼5. Absorbed dose to all other organs was low when compared with the lung dose. Absorbed dose depth distribution shows that BNC therapy can be very useful in the treatments for tumour. The ratio of the tumour absorbed dose and irradiated healthy tissue absorbed dose was also ∼5. It was seen that an elliptical neutron field was better irradiation choice. (authors)

Estimated neutron dose to embryo and foetus during commercial flight

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chen, J.; Lewis, B. J.; Bennett, L. G. I.; Green, A. R.; Tracy, B. L.

2005-01-01

A study has been carried out to assess the radiation exposure from cosmic-ray neutrons to the embryo and foetus of pregnant aircrew and air travellers in consideration of the radiation exposure from cosmic-ray neutrons to the embryo and foetus. A Monte Carlo analysis was performed to determine the equivalent dose from neutrons to the brain and body of an embryo at 8 weeks and to the foetus at the 3, 6 and 9 month periods. Neutron fluence-to-absorbed dose conversion coefficients for the foetal brain and for the entire foetal body (isotropic irradiation geometry) have been determined at the four developmental stages. The equivalent dose rate to the foetus during commercial flights has been further evaluated considering the fluence-to-absorbed dose conversion coefficients, a neutron spectrum measured at an altitude of 11.3 km and an ICRP-92 radiation-weighting factor for neutrons. This study indicates that the foetus can exceed the annual dose limit of 1 mSv for the general public after, for example, 15 round trips on commercial trans-Atlantic flights. (authors)

Radiation resistance of elastomeric O-rings in mixed neutron and gamma fields: Testing methodology and experimental results

Science.gov (United States)

Zenoni, A.; Bignotti, F.; Donzella, A.; Donzella, G.; Ferrari, M.; Pandini, S.; Andrighetto, A.; Ballan, M.; Corradetti, S.; Manzolaro, M.; Monetti, A.; Rossignoli, M.; Scarpa, D.; Alloni, D.; Prata, M.; Salvini, A.; Zelaschi, F.

2017-11-01

Materials and components employed in the presence of intense neutron and gamma fields are expected to absorb high dose levels that may induce deep modifications of their physical and mechanical properties, possibly causing loss of their function. A protocol for irradiating elastomeric materials in reactor mixed neutron and gamma fields and for testing the evolution of their main mechanical and physical properties with absorbed dose has been developed. Four elastomeric compounds used for vacuum O-rings, one fluoroelastomer polymer (FPM) based and three ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) based, presently available on the market have been selected for the test. One EPDM is rated as radiation resistant in gamma fields, while the other elastomers are general purpose products. Particular care has been devoted to dosimetry calculations, since absorbed dose in neutron fields, unlike pure gamma fields, is strongly dependent on the material composition and, in particular, on the hydrogen content. The products have been tested up to about 2 MGy absorbed dose. The FPM based elastomer, in spite of its lower dose absorption in fast neutron fields, features the largest variations of properties, with a dramatic increase in stiffness and brittleness. Out of the three EPDM based compounds, one shows large and rapid changes in the main mechanical properties, whereas the other two feature more stable behaviors. The performance of the EPDM rated as radiation resistant in pure gamma fields does not appear significantly better than that of the standard product. The predictive capability of the accelerated irradiation tests performed as well as the applicable concepts of threshold of radiation damage is discussed in view of the use of the examined products in the selective production of exotic species facility, now under construction at the Legnaro National Laboratories of the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare. It results that a careful account of dose rate effects

Neutron scattering. Lectures

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Brueckel, Thomas; Heger, Gernot; Richter, Dieter; Roth, Georg; Zorn, Reiner [eds.

2010-07-01

The following topics are dealt with: Neutron sources, symmetry of crystals, diffraction, nanostructures investigated by small-angle neutron scattering, the structure of macromolecules, spin dependent and magnetic scattering, structural analysis, neutron reflectometry, magnetic nanostructures, inelastic scattering, strongly correlated electrons, dynamics of macromolecules, applications of neutron scattering. (HSI)

Neutron scattering. Lectures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brueckel, Thomas; Heger, Gernot; Richter, Dieter; Roth, Georg; Zorn, Reiner

2010-01-01

The following topics are dealt with: Neutron sources, symmetry of crystals, diffraction, nanostructures investigated by small-angle neutron scattering, the structure of macromolecules, spin dependent and magnetic scattering, structural analysis, neutron reflectometry, magnetic nanostructures, inelastic scattering, strongly correlated electrons, dynamics of macromolecules, applications of neutron scattering. (HSI)

Monte Carlo simulation of reflection spectra of random multilayer media strongly scattering and absorbing light

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Meglinskii, I V

2001-01-01

The reflection spectra of a multilayer random medium - the human skin - strongly scattering and absorbing light are numerically simulated. The propagation of light in the medium and the absorption spectra are simulated by the stochastic Monte Carlo method, which combines schemes for calculations of real photon trajectories and the statistical weight method. The model takes into account the inhomogeneous spatial distribution of blood vessels, water, and melanin, the degree of blood oxygenation, and the hematocrit index. The attenuation of the incident radiation caused by reflection and refraction at Fresnel boundaries of layers inside the medium is also considered. The simulated reflection spectra are compared with the experimental reflection spectra of the human skin. It is shown that a set of parameters that was used to describe the optical properties of skin layers and their possible variations, despite being far from complete, is nevertheless sufficient for the simulation of the reflection spectra of the human skin and their quantitative analysis. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)

Utilization of RP-10 reactor for neutron therapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Paucar, R.; Nieto, M.; Parreno, F.; Vela, M.; Pozo, Z.

1997-01-01

In the Nuclear Energy Peruvian Institute, IPEN, a research area has established of Neutron Radiotherapy, know as NCT. This research joins the physics of particles (Neutrons and photons) and Medical Physics, and this one is an applied investigation where in considering the construction of a treatment hall in Huarangal (Peru) Reactor's irradiation facility, it can treat patients with brain tumors. In Neutron Therapy (NCT), it tries to use neutrons to destroy tumor cells where other therapeutic techniques are not effective. This process consist on to incise a neutrons beam of adequate characteristics over the tumor area of the patient. The neutrons used are of thermal energy and therefore irradiations are developed in experimental reactors. For this one, it is used horizontal channels prepared suitably. Before the irradiation, it is injected to the patient a substance which is absorbed by tumoral tissue. The substance components will be B-10, nuclide with an absorption cross section high to thermal neutrons (3837 b). The B-10 irradiate with thermal neutrons produce alpha particles of short reach (10 μm. on soft tissue) and with LET values (lineal energy transference) very high. The result is a cell preferential destruction which have absorbed the substance and it's next neighbors, like the cell size is 10 μm. This process as know as Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). This work describes Peruvian RP-10 reactor and recently efforts to assess the design and feasibility of the medical neutron irradiation facility for NCT. (author). 22 refs., 6 tabs

Off-specular polarized neutron reflectometry study of magnetic dots with a strong shape anisotropy

CERN Document Server

Temst, K; Moshchalkov, V V; Bruynseraede, Y; Fritzsche, H; Jonckheere, R

2002-01-01

We have measured the off-specular polarized neutron reflectivity of a regular array of rectangular magnetic polycrystalline Co dots, which were prepared by a combination of electron-beam lithography, molecular beam deposition, and lift-off processes. The dots have a length-to-width ratio of 4:1 imposing a strong shape anisotropy. The intensity of the off-specular satellite reflection was monitored as a function of the magnetic field applied parallel to the rows of dots and in the plane of the sample, allowing us to analyze the magnetization-reversal process using the four spin-polarized cross sections. (orig.)

Development of time projection chamber for precise neutron lifetime measurement using pulsed cold neutron beams

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Arimoto, Y. [High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki (Japan); Higashi, N. [Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan); Igarashi, Y. [High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki (Japan); Iwashita, Y. [Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto (Japan); Ino, T. [High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki (Japan); Katayama, R. [Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan); Kitaguchi, M. [Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute, Nagoya University, Aichi (Japan); Kitahara, R. [Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto (Japan); Matsumura, H.; Mishima, K. [High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki (Japan); Nagakura, N.; Oide, H. [Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan); Otono, H., E-mail: otono@phys.kyushu-u.ac.jp [Research Centre for Advanced Particle Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka (Japan); Sakakibara, R. [Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Aichi (Japan); Shima, T. [Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University, Osaka (Japan); Shimizu, H.M.; Sugino, T. [Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Aichi (Japan); Sumi, N. [Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka (Japan); Sumino, H. [Department of Basic Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan); Taketani, K. [High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Ibaraki (Japan); and others

2015-11-01

A new time projection chamber (TPC) was developed for neutron lifetime measurement using a pulsed cold neutron spallation source at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). Managing considerable background events from natural sources and the beam radioactivity is a challenging aspect of this measurement. To overcome this problem, the developed TPC has unprecedented features such as the use of polyether-ether-ketone plates in the support structure and internal surfaces covered with {sup 6}Li-enriched tiles to absorb outlier neutrons. In this paper, the design and performance of the new TPC are reported in detail.

Neutron source for a reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kobayashi, Hiromasa.

1975-01-01

Object: To easily increase a start-up power of a reactor without irradiation in other reactors. Structure: A neutron source comprises Cf 252 , a natural antimony rod, a layer of beryllium, and a vessel of neutron source. On upper and lower portion of Cf 252 are arranged natural antimony rods, which are surrounded by the Be layer, the entirety being charged into the vessel. The Cf 252 may emit neutron, has a half life more than a period of operating cycle of the reactor and is less deteriorated even irradiated by radioactive rays while being left within the reactor. The natural antimony rod is radioactivated by neutron from Cf 252 and neutron as reactor power increases to emit γ rays. The Be absorbs γ rays to emit the neutron. The antimony rod is irradiated within the reactor. Further, since the Cf 252 is small in neutron absorption cross section, it is hard to be deteriorated even while being inserted within the reactor. (Kamimura, M.)

Quality factor for charged particle recoils as a function of neutron energy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Borak, T.B.; Stinchcomb, T.G.

1980-01-01

A method has been developed for computing the quality factor for any neutron spectrum with a maximum energy of 4 MeV. Calculated values for 41 adjacent neutron energy intervals from thermal to 4 MeV are tabulated. The table includes the fraction of absorbed dose and neutron dose equivalent produced by hydrogen recoils in soft tissue with the remaining fraction due to heavier particles. The production rate of 2.2 MeV photons from hydrogen capture in tissue is also given. The quality factor for a neutron spectrum of interest can be obtained from a weighted integration over the values listed. The total dose equivalent must include the contributions of absorbed dose from photons having a quality factor of unity. (author)

Regularities in the Changes of Absorber Material Properties as a Function of Absorber Concentration; Regularite des Variations des Proprietes des Substances Absorbantes en Fonction de la Concentration de l'Absorbant; Zakonomernosti izmeneniya svojstv poglashchayushchikh materialov v zavisimosti ot kontsentratsii poglotitelya; Leyes de Variacion de las Propiedades de los Materiales Absorbentes en Funcion de la Concentracion del Absorbente

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Portnoj, K. I.

1964-06-15

The paper presents regularities of the change in mechanical and heat-physical properties as well as in absorption capability as a function of absorber concentration for thermal and intermediate reactors. The thermal conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient of absorber alloys containing boron and rare-earth element oxides is reduced with an increase of absorber concentration. Alloys with rare-earth element oxides have a linear law of the thermal expansion coefficient change, while for boron containing alloys this additive law of changes of properties is disturbed. This is caused by formation under high temperatures of boride phases with various crystal lattices. It is shown in the paper that absorption capability, being a function of absorber concentration, is changed along a curve with saturation and depends on the neutron spectrum. A hypothesis of the author on formation of absorption capability maximum under mutual alloying of absorbers is set forth. The hypothesis has got a wide experimental confirmation on a large number of metal and non-metal absorber system compositions in thermal and intermediate reactors. (author) [French] Le memoire expose la regularite des variations des proprietes mecaniques et thermiques ainsi que du pouvoir absorbant en fonction de la concentration de l'absorbant dans les reacteurs a neutrons thermiques et intermediaires. La conductibilite thermique et le coefficient de dilatation thermique des combinaisons absorbantes contenant du bore et des oxydes de terres rares diminuent a mesure qu'augmente la concentration de l'absorbant. Pour les combinaisons qui contiennent des oxydes de terres rares, la variation du coefficient de dilatation thermique est regie par une loi lineaire. Dans le cas des combinaisons contenant du bore, cette loi de variation des proprietes n'est pas rigoureusement applicable, du fait de la formation, a haute temperature, de phases 'borare' avec divers reseaux cristallins. Le memoire demontre que le

New applications and developments in the neutron shielding

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Uğur Fatma Aysun

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Shielding neutrons involve three steps that are slowing neutrons, absorption of neutrons, and impregnation of gamma rays. Neutrons slow down with thermal energy by hydrogen, water, paraffin, plastic. Hydrogenated materials are also very effective for the absorption of neutrons. Gamma rays are produced by neutron (radiation retention on the neutron shield, inelastic scattering, and degradation of activation products. If a source emits gamma rays at various energies, high-energy gamma rays sometimes specify shielding requirements. Multipurpose Materials for Neutron Shields; Concrete, especially with barium mixed in, can slow and absorb the neutrons, and shield the gamma rays. Plastic with boron is also a good multipurpose shielding material. In this study; new applications and developments in the area of neutron shielding will be discussed in terms of different materials.

New applications and developments in the neutron shielding

Science.gov (United States)

Uğur, Fatma Aysun

2017-09-01

Shielding neutrons involve three steps that are slowing neutrons, absorption of neutrons, and impregnation of gamma rays. Neutrons slow down with thermal energy by hydrogen, water, paraffin, plastic. Hydrogenated materials are also very effective for the absorption of neutrons. Gamma rays are produced by neutron (radiation) retention on the neutron shield, inelastic scattering, and degradation of activation products. If a source emits gamma rays at various energies, high-energy gamma rays sometimes specify shielding requirements. Multipurpose Materials for Neutron Shields; Concrete, especially with barium mixed in, can slow and absorb the neutrons, and shield the gamma rays. Plastic with boron is also a good multipurpose shielding material. In this study; new applications and developments in the area of neutron shielding will be discussed in terms of different materials.

Neutron detector assembly

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hanai, Koi; Shirayama, Shinpei.

1978-01-01

Purpose: To prevent gamma-ray from leaking externally passing through the inside of a neutron detector assembly. Constitution: In a neutron detector assembly having a protection pipe formed with an enlarged diameter portion which serves also as a spacer, partition plates with predetermined width are disposed at the upper and the lower portions in this expanded portion. A lot of metal particles are filled into spaces formed by the partition plates. In such a structure, the metal particles well-absorb the gamma-rays from above and convert them into heat to provide shielding for the gamma-rays. (Horiuchi, T.)

Understanding and predicting the behaviour of silver base neutron absorbers under irradiations; Comprehension et prediction du comportement sous irradiation neutronique d`alliages absorbants a base d`argent

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Desgranges, C

1998-12-31

The effect of neutron irradiation induced transmutations on the swelling of AgInCd (AIC) alloys used as neutron absorber in the control rods of Pressurized Water Reactors has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Effective atomic volumes have been determined in synthetic AgCdInSn alloys with various compositions and containing fcc and hc phases, representative of irradiated AIC (Sn is a transmutation product). Swelling is shown to result first from the transmutation of Ag into Cd and of In into Sn, both with larger effective volume than the mother atom, and second from grain boundaries precipitation of s still less dense hc phase when solid solubility of transmuted products is exceeded. For both fcc and hc phases, we have determined profiles at the temperatures in the vicinity of the operating temperature. Unusual characteristics of second phase growth at grain boundaries induced by transmutations are identified on a simple binary alloy model: kinetics is controlled by irradiation temperature which scales diffusivities and flux which scales transmutation rates, as well as by the grain size in the underlying matrix. To address the AgInCdSn alloys, a novel technique is proposed to model diffusion in multicomponent alloys. It is based on a linearization of a simple atomistic model. With a single set of parameters, for each phase, our model well reproduces our interdiffusion measurements in quaternary alloys as well as existing interdiffusion experiments in binary alloys. Finally this diffusion model implemented with a moving interface algorithm is used to model the growth of the second phase induced by transmutation in the AIC under irradiation. (authors) 74 refs.

Dosimetry of clinical neutron and proton beams: An overview of recommendations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vynckier, S.

2004-01-01

Neutron therapy beams are obtained by accelerating protons or deuterons on Beryllium. These neutron therapy beams present comparable dosimetric characteristics as those for photon beams obtained with linear accelerators; for instance, the penetration of a p(65) + Be neutron beam is comparable with the penetration of an 8 MV photon beam. In order to be competitive with conventional photon beam therapy, the dosimetric characteristics of the neutron beam should therefore not deviate too much from the photon beam characteristics. This paper presents a brief summary of the neutron beams used in radiotherapy. The dosimetry of the clinical neutron beams is described. Finally, recent and future developments in the field of physics for neutron therapy is mentioned. In the last two decades, a considerable number of centres have established radiotherapy treatment facilities using proton beams with energies between 50 and 250 MeV. Clinical applications require a relatively uniform dose to be delivered to the volume to be treated, and for this purpose the proton beam has to be spread out, both laterally and in depth. The technique is called 'beam modulation' and creates a region of high dose uniformity referred to as the 'spread-out Bragg peak'. Meanwhile, reference dosimetry in these beams had to catch up with photon and electron beams for which a much longer tradition of dosimetry exists. Proton beam dosimetry can be performed using different types of dosemeters, such as calorimeters, Faraday cups, track detectors and ionisation chambers. National standard dosimetry laboratories will, however, not provide a standard for the dosimetry of proton beams. To achieve uniformity on an international level, the use of an ionisation chamber should be considered. This paper reviews and summarises the basic principles and recommendations for the absorbed dose determination in a proton beam, utilising ionisation chambers calibrated in terms of absorbed dose to water. These recommendations

Quasi-energy of ultracold neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Frank, A.I.; Nosov, V.G.

1992-01-01

A solution is found to the problem of the propagation of a neutron beam transmitted through a periodically acting high-speed chopper. It is a generalization of the Moshinsky's problem of the evolution of a plane wave in the right half-space after an ideal absorber at the origin of coordinates has been instantaneously removed. The energy spectrum of transmitted neutrons is found to be discrete and corresponding to their quasi-energy. Interference of the states corresponding to different satellite lines leads to a complex spatial pattern with typical beats. A number of experiments with ultracold neutrons are suggested and discussed. 12 refs.; 1 fig

Development of a bandwidth limiting neutron chopper for CSNS

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, P.; Yang, B.; Cai, W. L.

2015-08-01

Bandwidth limiting neutron choppers are indispensable key equipments for the time-of-flight neutron scattering spectrometers of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). The main principle is to chop the neutron beam to limit the neutron wavelength bandwidth at the neutron detector. We have successfully developed a bandwidth limiting neutron chopper for CSNS in the CSNS advance research project II. The transmission rate of the neutron absorbing coating is less than 1×10-4 (for 1 angstrom neutron). The phase control accuracy is ±0.084° (±9.4 μs at 25 Hz). The dynamic balance grade is G1.0. Various experimental technical features have met the design requirements, and it also runs stably and reliably during the long-term tests.

Development of a bandwidth limiting neutron chopper for CSNS

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, P.; Yang, B.; Cai, W.L.

2015-01-01

Bandwidth limiting neutron choppers are indispensable key equipments for the time-of-flight neutron scattering spectrometers of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). The main principle is to chop the neutron beam to limit the neutron wavelength bandwidth at the neutron detector. We have successfully developed a bandwidth limiting neutron chopper for CSNS in the CSNS advance research project II. The transmission rate of the neutron absorbing coating is less than 1×10 −4 (for 1 angstrom neutron). The phase control accuracy is ±0.084° (±9.4 μs at 25 Hz). The dynamic balance grade is G1.0. Various experimental technical features have met the design requirements, and it also runs stably and reliably during the long-term tests

Measuring background by the DIN-1M spectrometer using the oscillating absorbing screen method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Glazkov, Yu.Yu.; Liforov, V.G.; Novikov, A.G.; Parfenov, V.A.; Semenov, V.A.

1982-01-01

Technique for measuring background by a double pulse slow neutron spectrometer is described. To measure the background on oscillating absorbing screen (OAS) periodically overlapping primary neutron beam at the input of a mechanical interrupter was used. During the overlapping monochromatic neutrons conditioned the effect are removed out of the beam and general background conditions are not practically applied. Screen oscillation permits to realize the condition of simultaneous measurement of effect and background neutrons. The optimal period of oscillations amounts to approximately 3 min. Analysis of neutron spectra scattered with different materials and corresponding background curves measured by means of the OAS technique shows that the share of monochromatic neutrons passing through the screen constitutes less than 1% of elastic peak and relative decrease of the total background level doesn't exceed 1.5-2%

Neutron-scattering study of the vibrational behavior of trehalose aqueous solutions

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Branca, C.; Magazu, S.; Migliardo, F.; Romeo, G.; Villari, V.; Wanderlingh, U. [Dipartimento di Fisica and INFM, Universita' di Messina, PO Box 55, 98166 Messina (Italy); Colognesi, D. [DRAL-ISIS,Chilton, Oxford OX1 3PU (United Kingdom)

2002-07-01

Neutron spectra for hydrated trehalose samples have been obtained by using the time-of-flight spectrometer TOSCA at the ISIS Pulse Neutron Facility (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, UK). Neutron spectra have been compared to the absorbance spectra obtained by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Finally, a comparison with findings obtained by density functional theory has been performed. (orig.)

Biological dosimetry for mixed gamma-neutron field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brandao, J.O.C.; Santos, J.A.L.; Souza, P.L.G.; Lima, F.F.; Vilela, E.C.; Calixto, M.S.; Santos, N.

2011-01-01

There is increasing concern about airline crew members (about one million worldwide) exposed to measurable neutrons doses. Historically, cytogenetic biodosimetry assays have been based on quantifying asymmetrical chromosome alterations (dicentrics, centric rings and acentric fragments) in mitogen-stimulated T-lymphocytes in their first mitosis after radiation exposure. Increased levels of chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes are a sensitive indicator of radiation exposure and they are routinely exploited for assessing radiation absorbed dose after accidental or occupational exposure. Since radiological accidents are not common, not all nations feel that it is economically justified to maintain biodosimetry competence. However, dependable access to biological dosimetry capabilities is completely critical in event of an accident. In this paper the dose-response curve was measured for the induction of chromosomal alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes after chronic exposure in vitro to mixed gamma-neutron field. Blood was obtained from one healthy donor and exposed to two mixed gamma-neutron field from sources 241 AmBe (20 Ci) at the Neutron Calibration Laboratory (NCL - CRCN/NE - PE - Brazil). The evaluated absorbed doses were 0.2 Gy; 1.0 Gy and 2.5 Gy. The dicentric chromosomes were observed at metaphase, following colcemide accumulation and 1000 well-spread metaphases were analyzed for the presence of dicentrics by two experts after painted by giemsa 5%. The preliminary results showed a linear dependence between radiations absorbed dose and dicentric chromosomes frequencies. Dose-response curve described in this paper will contribute to the construction of calibration curve that will be used in our laboratory for biological dosimetry. (author)

New opportunities in neutron capture research using advanced pulsed neutron sources

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bowman, C.D.

1987-08-01

The extraordinary neutron intensities available from the new spallation pulsed neutron sources open up exciting opportunities for basic and applied research in neutron nuclear physics. Prospective experiments are reviewed with particular attention to those with a strong connection to capture gamma-ray spectroscopy

A study on artificial rare earth (RE2O3) based neutron absorber.

Science.gov (United States)

Kim, Kyung-O; Kyung Kim, Jong

2015-11-01

A new concept of a neutron absorption material (i.e., an artificial rare earth compound) was introduced for criticality control in a spent fuel storage system. In particular, spent nuclear fuels were considered as a potential source of rare earth elements because the nuclear fission of uranium produces a full range of nuclides. It was also found that an artificial rare earth compound (RE2O3) as a High-Level Waste (HLW) was naturally extracted from pyroprocessing technology developed for recovering uranium and transuranic elements (TRU) from spent fuels. In this study, various characteristics (e.g., activity, neutron absorption cross-section) were analyzed for validating the application possibility of this waste compound as a neutron absorption material. As a result, the artificial rare earth compound had a higher neutron absorption probability in the entire energy range, and it can be used for maintaining sub-criticality for more than 40 years on the basis of the neutron absorption capability of Boral™. Therefore, this approach is expected to vastly improve the efficiency of radioactive waste management by simultaneously keeping HLW and spent nuclear fuel in a restricted space. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Semiconductor saturable absorbers for ultrafast terahertz signals

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Hoffmann, Matthias C.; Turchinovich, Dmitry

2010-01-01

states, due to conduction band onparabolicity and scattering into satellite valleys in strong THz fields. Saturable absorber parameters, such as linear and nonsaturable transmission, and saturation fluence, are extracted by fits to a classic saturable absorber model. Further, we observe THz pulse......We demonstrate saturable absorber behavior of n-type semiconductors GaAs, GaP, and Ge in the terahertz THz frequency range at room temperature using nonlinear THz spectroscopy. The saturation mechanism is based on a decrease in electron conductivity of semiconductors at high electron momentum...

Experiment of neutron multiplication in lead

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jiang Wenmian; Chen Yuan; Liu Rong; Guo Haiping; Shen Jian

1994-01-01

The experiments of neutron multiplication in bulk lead have been performed with a total absorption detector (TAD). A hollow polyethylene sphere is used as neutron moderator and absorber of the TAD, which inner and outer diameters are 56 cm and 138 cm respectively. Slow neutron density in TAD is detected with a 6 Li glass scintillator. For Pb thicknesses of 5, 10, 15, 19.6 and 23.1 cm, the neutron multiplications are 1.301, 1.492, 1.599, 1.713 and 1.745 respectively. Overall experimental error is 2.7%. The calculational neutron multiplications with the 1-D ANISN code and ENDF/B-VI file are agreed with experimental ones within experimental error. Moreover, some factors of systematic error of TAD were investigated experimentally, but obvious factors have not been observed yet. (author)

Characterization of plastic and boron carbide additive manufactured neutron collimators

Science.gov (United States)

Stone, M. B.; Siddel, D. H.; Elliott, A. M.; Anderson, D.; Abernathy, D. L.

2017-12-01

Additive manufacturing techniques allow for the production of materials with complicated geometries with reduced costs and production time over traditional methods. We have applied this technique to the production of neutron collimators for use in thermal and cold neutron scattering instrumentation directly out of boron carbide. We discuss the design and generation of these collimators. We also provide measurements at neutron scattering beamlines which serve to characterize the performance of these collimators. Additive manufacturing of parts using neutron absorbing material may also find applications in radiography and neutron moderation.

Recombination methods for boron neutron capture therapy dosimetry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Golnik, N.; Tulik, P.; Zielczynski, M.

2003-01-01

The radiation effects of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) are associated with four-dose-compartment radiation field - boron dose (from 10 B(n,α) 7 Li) reaction), proton dose from 14 N(n,p) 14 C reaction, neutron dose (mainly fast and epithermal neutrons) and gamma-ray dose (external and from capture reaction 1 H(n,γ) 2 D). Because of this the relation between the absorbed dose and the biological effects is very complex and all the above mentioned absorbed dose components should be determined. From this point of view, the recombination chambers can be very useful instruments for characterization of the BNCT beams. They can be used for determination of gamma and high-LET dose components for the characterization of radiation quality of mixed radiation fields by recombination microdosimetric method (RMM). In present work, a graphite high-pressure recombination chamber filled with nitrogen, 10 BF 3 and tissue equivalent gas was used for studies on application of RMM for BNCT dosimetry. The use of these gases or their mixtures opens a possibility to design a recombination chamber for determination of the dose fractions due to gamma radiation, fast neutrons, neutron capture on nitrogen and high LET particles from (n, 10 B) reaction in simulated tissue with different content of 10 B. (author)

Analysis of unstable chromosome alterations frequency induced by neutron-gamma mixed field radiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Souza, Priscilla L.G.; Brandao, Jose Odinilson de C.; Vale, Carlos H.F.P.; Santos, Joelan A.L.; Vilela, Eudice C.; Lima, Fabiana F. [Centro Regional de Ciencias Nucleares (CRCN-NE/CNEN-PE), Recife, PE (Brazil)], e-mail: psouza@cnen.gov.br, e-mail: jodinilson@cnen.gov.br; Calixto, Merilane S.; Santos, Neide [Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE (Brazil). Dept. de Genetica

2009-07-01

Nowadays monitoring chromosome alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes have been used to access the radiation absorbed dose in individuals exposed accidental or occupationally to gamma radiation. However there are not many studies based on the effects of mixed field neutron-gamma. The radiobiology of neutrons has great importance because in nuclear factories worldwide there are several hundred thousand individuals monitored as potentially receiving doses of neutron. In this paper it was observed the frequencies of unstable chromosome alterations induced by a gamma-neutron mixed field. Blood was obtained from one healthy donor and exposed to mixed field neutron-gamma sources {sup 241}AmBe (20 Ci) at the Neutron Calibration Laboratory (NCL-CRCN/NE-PE-Brazil). The chromosomes were observed at metaphase, following colcemid accumulation and 1000 well-spread metaphases were analyzed for the presence of chromosome alterations by two experienced scorers. The results suggest that there is the possibility of a directly proportional relationship between absorbed dose of neutron-gamma mixed field radiation and the frequency of unstable chromosome alterations analyzed in this paper. (author)

Analysis of unstable chromosome alterations frequency induced by neutron-gamma mixed field radiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Souza, Priscilla L.G.; Brandao, Jose Odinilson de C.; Vale, Carlos H.F.P.; Santos, Joelan A.L.; Vilela, Eudice C.; Lima, Fabiana F.; Calixto, Merilane S.; Santos, Neide

2009-01-01

Nowadays monitoring chromosome alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes have been used to access the radiation absorbed dose in individuals exposed accidental or occupationally to gamma radiation. However there are not many studies based on the effects of mixed field neutron-gamma. The radiobiology of neutrons has great importance because in nuclear factories worldwide there are several hundred thousand individuals monitored as potentially receiving doses of neutron. In this paper it was observed the frequencies of unstable chromosome alterations induced by a gamma-neutron mixed field. Blood was obtained from one healthy donor and exposed to mixed field neutron-gamma sources 241 AmBe (20 Ci) at the Neutron Calibration Laboratory (NCL-CRCN/NE-PE-Brazil). The chromosomes were observed at metaphase, following colcemid accumulation and 1000 well-spread metaphases were analyzed for the presence of chromosome alterations by two experienced scorers. The results suggest that there is the possibility of a directly proportional relationship between absorbed dose of neutron-gamma mixed field radiation and the frequency of unstable chromosome alterations analyzed in this paper. (author)

Fast neutron dosimetry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

DeLuca, P.M. Jr.; Pearson, D.W.

1993-01-01

Research concentrated on three major areas during the last twelve months: (1) investigations of energy fluence and absorbed dose measurements using crystalline and hot pressed TLD materials exposes to ultrasoft beams of photons, (2) fast neutron kerma factor measurements for several important elements as well as NE-213 scintillation material response function determinations at the intense ''white'' source available at the WNR facility at LAMPF, and (3) kerma factor ratio determinations for carbon and oxygen to A-150 tissue equivalent plastic at the clinical fast neutron radiation facility at Harper Hospital, Detroit, MI. Progress summary reports of these efforts are given in this report

Directional epithermal neutron detector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Givens, W.W.; Mills, W.R. Jr.

1986-01-01

A borehole tool for epithermal neutron die-away logging of subterranean formations surrounding a borehole is described which consists of: (a) a pulsed source of fast neutrons for irradiating the formations surrounding a borehole, (b) at least one neutron counter for counting epithermal neutrons returning to the borehole from the irradiated formations, (c) a neutron moderating material, (d) an outer thermal neutron shield providing a housing for the counter and the moderating material, (e) an inner thermal neutron shield dividing the housing so as to provide a first compartment bounded by the inner thermal neutron shield and a first portion of the outer thermal neutron shield and a second compartment bounded by the inner thermal neutron shield and a second portion of the outer thermal neutron shield, the counter being positioned within the first compartment and the moderating material being positioned within the second compartment, and (f) means for positioning the borehole tool against one side of the borehole wall and azimuthally orienting the borehole tool such that the first chamber is in juxtaposition with the borehole wall, the formation epithermal neutrons penetrating into the first chamber through the first portion of the outer thermal neutron shield are detected by the neutron counter for die-away measurement, thereby maximizing the directional sensitivty of the neutron counter to formation epithermal neutrons, the borehole fluid epithermal neutrons penetrating into the second chamber through the second chamber through the second portion of the outer thermal neutron shield are largely slowed down and lowered in energy by the moderating material and absorbed by the inner thermal neutron shield before penetrating into the first chamber, thereby minimizing the directional sensitivity of the neutron counter to borehole fluid epithermal neutrons

Time dependet behaviour of the neutron field in in two interacting cylindrical disks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hedlund, T.

1979-01-01

The influence of a void on the neutron flux in a moderating system has been studied mainly by the Monte Carlo method. The calculations simulate the decay of the neutron field in a pulsed neutron source measurement. The neutron flux was studied as a function of space, angle, energy and time for a system of two flat cylindrical polyethylene disks. The slab thickness was varied between 1.1 and 4.4 cm and the radius was 9.0 cm. The gap between the slabs was varied from zero to 18 cm. Some calculations have also been made for absorbers in the gap. The purpose of these absorbers was to eliminate the time delay effect for the low velocity neutrons accumulating in the gap. The calculations showed the usefulness of the absorber method. From the results in the time dependent cases the interaction parameter for the two slabs in the corresponding stationary cases has been calculated. The agreement with measurements made by Grosshoeg is good. In the one velocity cases some other methods have also been used to predict the decay rates. For small gap widths the best agreement with the Monte Carlo results was obtained with the variational method. (author)

Method of manufacturing neutron protection materials

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kakibana, Hidetake; Okamoto, Masazane; Fujii, Yasuhiko; Koguchi, Noboru; Takesute, Morito; Miyamatsu, Tokuhisa

1985-06-22

To obtain protection materials easily moldable, flexible and capable of minimizing the workers' neutron exposure dose, a fine fiberous assembly is prepared by dispersing compounds of atoms having neutron absorbing performance such as Li or B, for example, finely powderous compounds of LiF or /sup 6/LiF into a solution of spinnable polymer, particularly, polyolefin polymer such as polyethylene in CH/sub 2/Cl and then flash spinning them. The fine fibers are fabricated into mat-like material, blankets, cloths and the likes for use in neutron exposure protection. In the case of neutron irradiation therapy, protection materials of reduced weight, flexible and giving preferred contact with human body can be obtained with ease for protecting the regions other than the lesion area.

New burnable absorber for long-cycle low boron operation of PWRs

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Choe, Jiwon; Shin, Ho Cheol; Lee, Deokjung

2016-01-01

Highlights: • A burnable absorber design for advanced PWRs with a low soluble boron concentration. • The burnable absorber consists of a UO 2 – 157 Gd 2 O 3 rod with a thin layer of Zr 167 Er 2 . • Three verification cases: two kinds of fuel assemblies and an OPR-1000 core. - Abstract: This paper presents a new high performance burnable absorber (BA) design for advanced Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) aiming for a long-cycle operation with a low soluble boron concentration. The new BA consists of a UO 2 – 157 Gd 2 O 3 rod covered with a thin layer of Zr 167 Er 2 . A key feature of this new BA is that enriched isotopes, 157 Gd and 167 Er, are used as absorber materials. Since the high absorption cross section of 157 Gd can reduce the mass fraction of Gd 2 O 3 in UO 2 –Gd 2 O 3 , the thermal margin of fuel rods will increase with higher heat conductivity. Also, the 157 Gd transmutes into 158 Gd by neutron absorption and therefore the residual penalty at the end of cycle (EOC) will decrease. Since 167 Er has a resonance near the thermal neutron energy region, the moderator temperature coefficient (MTC) will become more negative and the control rod worth will increase. These advantages of the new BA are demonstrated with three verification cases: a 17 × 17 Westinghouse (WH) type fuel assembly, a 16 × 16 Combustion Engineering (CE) type fuel assembly, and an OPR-1000 equilibrium core.

A study on artificial rare earth (RE2O3) based neutron absorber

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

KIM, Kyung-O; Kyung KIM, Jong

2015-01-01

A new concept of a neutron absorption material (i.e., an artificial rare earth compound) was introduced for criticality control in a spent fuel storage system. In particular, spent nuclear fuels were considered as a potential source of rare earth elements because the nuclear fission of uranium produces a full range of nuclides. It was also found that an artificial rare earth compound (RE 2 O 3 ) as a High-Level Waste (HLW) was naturally extracted from pyroprocessing technology developed for recovering uranium and transuranic elements (TRU) from spent fuels. In this study, various characteristics (e.g., activity, neutron absorption cross-section) were analyzed for validating the application possibility of this waste compound as a neutron absorption material. As a result, the artificial rare earth compound had a higher neutron absorption probability in the entire energy range, and it can be used for maintaining sub-criticality for more than 40 years on the basis of the neutron absorption capability of Boral™. Therefore, this approach is expected to vastly improve the efficiency of radioactive waste management by simultaneously keeping HLW and spent nuclear fuel in a restricted space. - Highlights: • Quantitative analysis of rare earth elements in PWR spent fuels. • Extraction of artificial rare earth compound using pyroprocessing technology. • Characteristic analysis of artificial rare earth elements. • Performance evaluation of artificial rare earth for criticality control.

One-neutron and two-neutron transfer in the scattering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reisdorf, W.N.; Lau, P.H.; Vandenbosch, R.

1975-01-01

Angular distributions have been measured for one- and two-neutron transfer reactions induced by 18 O beams on 16 O targets at laboratory bombarding energies of 42 and 52 MeV. The reactions populating the ground and first excited states of 17 O and 18 O are analyzed in terms of single step finite range plus recoil DWBA theory taking into account antisymmetrization effects. Special attention is paid to an internally consistent description of the observed absolute magnitudes of all the reactions and to the theoretically expected interferences between various backward-forward scattering mechanisms. The importance of neutron transfer in accounting for different absorbing properties of the 16 O- 18 O systems as compared to the 16 O- 16 O system is shown. (13 figures, 2 tables)

Hydrogen Absorption in Metal Thin Films and Heterostructures Investigated in Situ with Neutron and X-ray Scattering

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Sara J. Callori

2016-05-01

Full Text Available Due to hydrogen possessing a relatively large neutron scattering length, hydrogen absorption and desorption behaviors in metal thin films can straightforwardly be investigated by neutron reflectometry. However, to further elucidate the chemical structure of the hydrogen absorbing materials, complementary techniques such as high resolution X-ray reflectometry and diffraction remain important too. Examples of work on such systems include Nb- and Pd-based multilayers, where Nb and Pd both have strong affinity to hydrogen. W/Nb and Fe/Nb multilayers were measured in situ with unpolarized and polarized neutron reflectometry under hydrogen gas charging conditions. The gas-pressure/hydrogen-concentration dependence, the hydrogen-induced macroscopic film swelling as well as the increase in crystal lattice plane distances of the films were determined. Ferromagnetic-Co/Pd multilayers were studied with polarized neutron reflectometry and in situ ferromagnetic resonance measurements to understand the effect of hydrogen absorption on the magnetic properties of the system. This electronic effect enables a novel approach for hydrogen sensing using a magnetic readout scheme.

Current in-pile absorbed dose measurements at the Boris Kidric Institute of nuclear sciences - Vinca, Status report

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Draganic, G I [Institute of nuclear sciences Boris Kidric, Vinca, Beograd (Yugoslavia)

1966-11-15

So far in-pile absorbed dose measurements have been limited only to experiments in the RA reactor at the Boris Kidric Institute of Nuclear Sciences at Vinca (6.5 D{sub 2}O moderated and 2% enriched uranium). The methods used for absorbed dose and neutron flux measurements were 1,2 discussed in some earlier reports at the IAEA meetings. The purpose of the present report is to illustrate the further development of methods of determining in-pile absorbed doses (author)

Solution of the Neutron transport equation in hexagonal geometry using strongly discontinuous nodal schemes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mugica R, C.A.; Valle G, E. del

2005-01-01

In 2002, E. del Valle and Ernest H. Mund developed a technique to solve numerically the Neutron transport equations in discrete ordinates and hexagonal geometry using two nodal schemes type finite element weakly discontinuous denominated WD 5,3 and WD 12,8 (of their initials in english Weakly Discontinuous). The technique consists on representing each hexagon in the union of three rhombuses each one of which it is transformed in a square in the one that the methods WD 5,3 and WD 12,8 were applied. In this work they are solved the mentioned equations of transport using the same discretization technique by hexagon but using two nodal schemes type finite element strongly discontinuous denominated SD 3 and SD 8 (of their initials in english Strongly Discontinuous). The application in each case as well as a reference problem for those that results are provided for the effective multiplication factor is described. It is carried out a comparison with the obtained results by del Valle and Mund for different discretization meshes so much angular as spatial. (Author)

Use of gadolinium as neutron poison in 540 MWe PHWR

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nag, P.K.; Fernando, M.P.S.; Kumar, A.N.

2006-01-01

In Pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), neutron poison in the moderator is used to compensate the excess reactivity present in the core on different occasions such as xenon decay during synchronization just after poison out period or start ups from xenon free conditions. It is also used in secondary shutdown system (SDS-2), where required amount of neutron poison is injected directly into the moderator within 2.5 seconds. Further, it is also used for over poisoning the moderator to achieve the guaranteed shutdown state when the regular shutdown systems are taken for maintenance. Generally, two types of moderator poisons are used in power reactors to balance the reactivity of the core and they are boron and gadolinium. Gadolinium is used in the form of gadolinium nitrate (Gd(NO 3 ) 3 .6H 2 O). The paper gives the details of estimation of reactivity coefficients of gadolinium for 540 MWe PHWR for different operating conditions. These neutron poisons are converted into non-absorbing elements and therefore their effective worth will decrease as reactor operation proceeds. The rate of burning of neutron absorbing isotopes depends on its magnitude of absorption cross-section and thermal flux seen by them. The present study discusses the burning characteristics of gadolinium during power operation in 540 MWe PHWR. It is established by detailed analysis that the rate of positive reactivity realized due to burning of neutron absorbing Gd isotopes almost match with the build up rate of xenon. The burning half lives of boron and gadolinium is worked out for different power levels. (author)

Electro neutrons around a 12 MV Linac

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vega C, H. R.; Perez L, L. H.

2012-10-01

Neutron contamination around Linacs for radiotherapy is a source of undesirable doses for the patient. The main source of these neutrons is the photonuclear reactions occurring in the Linac head and the patient body. Electrons also produce neutrons through (e, en) reactions. This reaction is known as electro disintegration and is carried out by the electron scattering that produce a virtual photon that is absorbed by the scattering nucleus producing the reaction e + A → (A-1) + n + e'. In this work the electron-neutron spectrum to 100 cm from the isocenter of a 12 MV Linac has been measured using a passive Bonner spheres spectrometer in a novel procedure named Planetary mode. (Author)

Need for improved standards in neutron personnel dosimetry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Auxier, J.A.

1976-01-01

There is a continuing need for standards in neutron monitoring. A discussion of special problem areas and the benefits of intercomparisons is given. The RBE for leukemia induction in the survivors of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is greater than ten for absorbed doses in the bone marrow of less than 100 rads; this may have an important impact on neutron standards preparation

Atomic collisions by neutrons-induced charged particles in water, protein and nucleic acid

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bergman, R.

1976-01-01

The action of slow charged particles is peculiar in that atomic collisions are commonly invlolved. In atomic collisions, which are rare events when fast particles interact with matter, displacement of atoms and chemical bond-breakage is possible. Sufficiently energetic neutrons generate charged recoil particles in matter. Some of these are slow as compared to orbital electrons, but the energy transferred to such slow particles is generally relatively small. Yet, it contributes significantly to the dose absorbed from 0.1-30 keV neutrons. In tissue all recoils induced by neutrons of less than 30 keV are slow, and above 0.1 keV the absorbed dose due to collisiondominates over that due to capture reactions. The aim of the present paper is to identify those intervals of neutron energy in which atomic collision damage is most probable in living matter. The results of calculations presented here indicate that atomic collisions should be most significant for 0.5-3 keV neutrons. (author)

Neutron, Proton, and Photonuclear Cross Sections for Radiation Therapy and Radiation Protection

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chadwick, M.B.

1998-01-01

The authors review recent work at Los Alamos to evaluate neutron, proton, and photonuclear cross section up to 150 MeV (to 250 MeV for protons), based on experimental data and nuclear model calculations. These data are represented in the ENDF format and can be used in computer codes to simulate radiation transport. They permit calculations of absorbed dose in the body from therapy beams, and through use of kerma coefficients allow absorbed dose to be estimated for a given neutron energy distribution. For radiation protection, these data can be used to determine shielding requirements in accelerator environments, and to calculate neutron, proton, gamma-ray, and radionuclide production. Illustrative comparisons of the evaluated cross section and kerma coefficient data with measurements are given

Neutron dosimetry in biology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sigurbjoernsson, B.; Smith, H.H.; Gustafsson, A.

1965-01-01

To study adequately the biological effects of different energy neutrons it is necessary to have high-intensity sources which are not contaminated by other radiations, the most serious of which are gamma rays. An effective dosimetry must provide an accurate measure of the absorbed dose, in biological materials, of each type of radiation at any reactor facility involved in radiobiological research. A standardized biological dosimetry, in addition to physical and chemical methods, may be desirable. The ideal data needed to achieve a fully documented dosimetry has been compiled by H. Glubrecht: (1) Energy spectrum and intensity of neutrons; (2) Angular distribution of neutrons on the whole surface of the irradiated object; (3) Additional undesired radiation accompanying the neutrons; (4) Physical state and chemical composition of the irradiated object. It is not sufficient to note only an integral dose value (e.g. in 'rad') as the biological effect depends on the above data

Effect of gamma and neutron irradiation on the mechanical properties of Spectralon™ porous PTFE

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gourdin, William H., E-mail: gourdin1@llnl.gov [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA USA (United States); Datte, Philip; Jensen, Wayne; Khater, Hesham; Pearson, Mark [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA USA (United States); Girard, Sylvain [Laboratoire Hubert Curien − UMR CNRS 5516, 18 rue du Pr. Benoît Lauras, F-42000 Saint Etienne (France); Paillet, Philippe; Alozy, Eric [CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon (France)

2016-11-15

Highlights: • The effects of neutrons and gammas on PTFE are equivalent for a given absorbed dose. • A neutron fluence of 10{sup 13} n/cm{sup 2} corresponds to a gamma dose of 200 Gy. • The dose-to-fluence conversion factor is approximately 5 × 10{sup 10} n/(cm{sup 2}-Gy). • Irradiation in a low-oxygen environment enhances loads and elongations. • Mechanical properties of PTFE will deteriorate at a neutron fluence of 10{sup 13} n/cm{sup 2}. - Abstract: We establish a correspondence between the mechanical properties (maximum load and failure elongation) of Spectralon™ porous PTFE irradiated with 14 MeV neutrons and 1.17 and 1.33 MeV gammas from a cobalt-60 source. From this correspondence we infer that the effects of neutrons and gammas on this material are approximately equivalent for a given absorbed dose.

Method to produce a neutron shielding

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Merkle, H.J.

1978-01-01

The neutron shielding for armoured vehicles consists of preshaped plastic plates which are coated on the armoured vehicle walls by conversion of the thermoplast. Suitable plastics or thermoplasts are PVC, PVC acetate, or mixtures of these, into which more than 50% B, B 4 C, or BN is embedded. The colour of the shielding may be determined by the choice of the neutron absorber, e.g. a white colour for BN. The plates are produced using an extruder or calender. (DG) [de

Calculated characteristics of subcritical assembly with anisotropic transport of neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gorin, N.V.; Lipilina, E.N.; Lyutov, V.D.; Saukov, A.I.

2003-01-01

There was considered possibility of creating enough sub-critical system that multiply neutron fluence from a primary source by many orders. For assemblies with high neutron tie between parts, it is impossible. That is why there was developed a construction consisting of many units (cascades) having weak feedback with preceding cascades. The feedback attenuation was obtained placing layers of slow neutron absorber and moderators between the cascades of fission material. Anisotropy of fast neutron transport through the layers was used. The system consisted of many identical cascades aligning one by another. Each cascade consists of layers of moderator, fissile material and absorber of slow neutrons. The calculations were carried out using the code MCNP.4a with nuclear data library ENDF/B5. In this construction neutrons spread predominantly in one direction multiplying in each next fissile layer, and they attenuate considerably in the opposite direction. In a calculated construction, multiplication factor of one cascade is about 1.5 and multiplication factor of whole construction composed of n cascades is 1.5 n . Calculated keff value is 0.9 for one cascade and does not exceed 0.98 for a system containing any number of cascades. Therefore the assembly is always sub-critical and therefore it is safe in respect of criticality. There was considered using such a sub-critical assembly to create a powerful neutron fluence for neutron boron-capturing therapy. The system merits and demerits were discussed. (authors)

Theory of neutron slowing down in nuclear reactors

CERN Document Server

Ferziger, Joel H; Dunworth, J V

2013-01-01

The Theory of Neutron Slowing Down in Nuclear Reactors focuses on one facet of nuclear reactor design: the slowing down (or moderation) of neutrons from the high energies with which they are born in fission to the energies at which they are ultimately absorbed. In conjunction with the study of neutron moderation, calculations of reactor criticality are presented. A mathematical description of the slowing-down process is given, with particular emphasis on the problems encountered in the design of thermal reactors. This volume is comprised of four chapters and begins by considering the problems

Application of neutron radiography to plant research

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nakanishi, Tomoko

1995-01-01

Neutron radiography was used to image plant roots in soils. Soybeans were used as experimental plants. When the length of the soybean root was 3-5 cm, the plant was transferred to an alminum foil and cultivated by adding polyvinyl alcoholic polymer (polymer A) and pulm-derived polymer (polymer B) as water absorbing polymers to soils. Plant samples were removed sequentially and irradiated with neutrons for 19 seconds at the JRR-3M neutron radiography facility. After irradiation, X-ray film images were obtained to observe water dynamics of roots and soils. Neutron images of soybean roots showed that secondary roots had grown on the side of water absorbing polymer-added soils in the case of polymer A, but on the side of non-added soils in the case of polymer B. When polymer B was added just below the soils where roots were grown, root growth was restricted only to the soil surface, and plant growth condition and dry weight were similar to those in the control plants. Thus the design of root shape may be possible by using polymer B. Similar experiment was made on 5 kinds of trees. Images of cross section of Japanese Cypress revealed that water contained in the tree is not always present along with growth ring of the tree. These findings may have an important implication for the potential application of neutron radiography in plant research. (N.K.)

Study of the strongly ionized medium in active galactic n ('Warm Absorber'): multi-wavelength modelling and plasma diagnostics in the X-ray spectral range

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Porquet, Delphine

1999-01-01

The so-called 'Warm Absorber' medium is observed in the central region of Active Galactic Nuclei and particularly in Seyfert l galaxies. lt is mainly characterized by O(VII) and O(VIII) absorption edges detected in the soft X-rays. Its study (modelization and observation) is an important key tool to understand Active Galactic Nuclei. The work presented here consists in modelling the Warm Absorber, and in developing X-ray spectroscopy diagnostics to constrain the physical parameters of any hot medium such as the Warm Absorber. The physical parameters of the Warm Absorber (density, temperature, ionization processes..) are difficult to determine only on the basis of present X-ray data. In particular, the value of the density cannot be derived only from the modelling of the resonance lines and of the soft X-ray absorption edges since there are almost insensitive to the density in the range of values expected for the Warm Absorber. lt is why we have developed diagnostic methods based on a multi-wavelength approach. The modelling is made with two complementary computational codes: PEGAS, and IRIS which takes into account the most accurate atomic data. With these two codes, we have modelled several types of plasma ionisation processes (photoionized plasmas and/or collisional). Results for the Warm Absorber were compared to multi-wavelength observations (mainly the optical iron coronal lines [Fe X] 6375 Angstroms, [Fe XI] 7892 Angstroms, and [Fe XIV] 5303 Angstroms). The proposed method has allowed to show that the Warm Absorber could be responsible of the emission of these lines totally or partially. All models of the Warm Absorber producing coronal line equivalent widths larger than observed were ruled out. This strongly constrains the physical parameters of the Warm Absorber, and particularly its density (n H ≥10 10 cm -3 ). The new generation of X-ray satellites (Chandra/AXAF, XMM...) will produce spectra at high spectral resolution and high sensitivity

Neutron slowing-down time in matter

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chabod, Sebastien P., E-mail: sebastien.chabod@lpsc.in2p3.fr [LPSC, Universite Joseph Fourier Grenoble 1, CNRS/IN2P3, Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, 38000 Grenoble (France)

2012-03-21

We formulate the neutron slowing-down time through elastic collisions in a homogeneous, non-absorbing, infinite medium. Our approach allows taking into account for the first time the energy dependence of the scattering cross-section as well as the energy and temporal distribution of the source neutron population in the results. Starting from this development, we investigate the specific case of the propagation in matter of a mono-energetic neutron pulse. We then quantify the perturbation on the neutron slowing-down time induced by resonances in the scattering cross-section. We show that a resonance can induce a permanent reduction of the slowing-down time, preceded by two discontinuities: a first one at the resonance peak position and an echo one, appearing later. From this study, we suggest that a temperature increase of the propagating medium in presence of large resonances could modestly accelerate the neutron moderation.

A long neutron optical horn for the ILL neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bitter, T.; Eisert, F.; El-Muzeini, P.; Kessler, M.; Klemt, E.; Lippert, W.; Meienburg, W.; Dubbers, D.

1992-01-01

In the neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment at ILL the divergence of the free flying cold neutron beam was strongly reduced without loss of intensity by the use of a 34 m long neutron-optical horn system. The divergence reduction was accurately studied in order to maintain the total width of the neutron beam below 1.1 m after a neutron free flight distance of about 80 m. The fabrication and performance of this system are described. (orig.)

Spin polarized states in strongly asymmetric nuclear matter

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Isayev, A.A.; Yang, J.

2004-01-01

The possibility of appearance of spin polarized states in strongly asymmetric nuclear matter is analyzed within the framework of a Fermi liquid theory with the Skyrme effective interaction. The zero temperature dependence of the neutron and proton spin polarization parameters as functions of density is found for SLy4 and SLy5 effective forces. It is shown that at some critical density strongly asymmetric nuclear matter undergoes a phase transition to the state with the oppositely directed spins of neutrons and protons while the state with the same direction of spins does not appear. In comparison with neutron matter, even small admixture of protons strongly decreases the threshold density of spin instability. It is clarified that protons become totally polarized within a very narrow density domain while the density profile of the neutron spin polarization parameter is characterized by the appearance of long tails near the transition density

Measurements and analyses on reactivity effects of absorber rods in a light-water moderated UO2 lattices

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Murakami, Kiyonobu; Miyoshi, Yoshinori; Hirose, Hideyuki; Suzaki, Takenori

1985-03-01

Reactivity effects and reactivity-interference effects of absorber rods were measured with a cylindrical core aiming to obtain bench-marks for verification of the calculational methods. The core consisted of 2.6 w/o enriched UO 2 fuel rods lattice of which water-to-fuel volume ratio was 1.83. In the experiment, the critical water levels were measured changing neutron absorber content of absorber rods and the distance between two absorber rods in the core center. Monte Calro codes KENO-IV and MULTI-KENO were used to calculate reactivity worthes of absorber rods. The calculational results of effective multiplication factors ranged from 0.978 to 0.999 for the 60 cases of critical cores with inserted absorber rods. The calculational results of absorber worthes agreed to the experimental results within twice of the standerd deviation accompanied with the Monte Calro calculation. (author)

Transmission line model and fields analysis of metamaterial absorber in the terahertz band.

Science.gov (United States)

Wen, Qi-Ye; Xie, Yun-Song; Zhang, Huai-Wu; Yang, Qing-Hui; Li, Yuan-Xun; Liu, Ying-Li

2009-10-26

Metamaterial (MM) absorber is a novel device to provide near-unity absorption to electromagnetic wave, which is especially important in the terahertz (THz) band. However, the principal physics of MM absorber is still far from being understood. In this work, a transmission line (TL) model for MM absorber was proposed, and with this model the S-parameters, energy consumption, and the power loss density of the absorber were calculated. By this TL model, the asymmetric phenomenon of THz absorption in MM absorber is unambiguously demonstrated, and it clarifies that strong absorption of this absorber under studied is mainly related to the LC resonance of the split-ring-resonator structure. The distribution of power loss density in the absorber indicates that the electromagnetic wave is firstly concentrated into some specific locations of the absorber and then be strongly consumed. This feature as electromagnetic wave trapper renders MM absorber a potential energy converter. Based on TL model, some design strategies to widen the absorption band were also proposed for the purposes to extend its application areas.

OPTIMIZATION OF THE EPITHERMAL NEUTRON BEAM FOR BORON NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY AT THE BROOKHAVEN MEDICAL RESEARCH REACTOR.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

HU,J.P.; RORER,D.C.; RECINIELLO,R.N.; HOLDEN,N.E.

2002-08-18

Clinical trials of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for patients with malignant brain tumor had been carried out for half a decade, using an epithermal neutron beam at the Brookhaven's Medical Reactor. The decision to permanently close this reactor in 2000 cut short the efforts to implement a new conceptual design to optimize this beam in preparation for use with possible new protocols. Details of the conceptual design to produce a higher intensity, more forward-directed neutron beam with less contamination from gamma rays, fast and thermal neutrons are presented here for their potential applicability to other reactor facilities. Monte Carlo calculations were used to predict the flux and absorbed dose produced by the proposed design. The results were benchmarked by the dose rate and flux measurements taken at the facility then in use.

A study on the effect of stainless steel plate position on neutron multiplication factor in spent fuel storage racks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sohn, Hee Dong

2012-02-01

In spent fuel storage racks, which are just composed of stainless steel plates without neutron absorbing materials, neutron multiplication factors are investigated as the variation of the water gap that exists between the fuel assembly and the stainless steel plates. The stainless steel plate has a low moderating power compared with water because it has a lower elastic scattering cross section, as well as far less change of lethargy in an elastic collision than water. Thus, if stainless steel plates are installed around the fuel assembly instead of water, it is hard for neutrons to be thermalized properly. Therefore, the neutron multiplication factor can be decreased because the thermal neutron fluence and the total neutron production rate in fuel rods are decreased. A stainless steel plate has also has a thermal neutron absorption cross section. Thus, it can absorb thermal neutrons around the fuel assembly. The dominant factor which can cause a decrease in the neutron multiplication factor is the interruption of neutron moderation by stainless steel plates. Therefore, the neutron multiplication factor should always be kept at its lowest point, if stainless steel plates are installed on the specific position where interruptions of the neutron moderation occur most often, allowing for thermal neutrons to be absorbed. The stainless steel plate position is 7 mm away from the outermost surface of the fuel assembly with a pitch of 280mm. The specific position appearing the lowest neutron multiplication factor as the pitch variation from 260mm to 290mm with 10mm interval is also investigated. The lowest neutron multiplication factor also occurs 7mm or 8mm away from the outermost surface of the fuel assembly

A study on the effect of stainless steel plate position on neutron multiplication factor in spent fuel storage racks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sohn, Hee Dong

2012-02-15

In spent fuel storage racks, which are just composed of stainless steel plates without neutron absorbing materials, neutron multiplication factors are investigated as the variation of the water gap that exists between the fuel assembly and the stainless steel plates. The stainless steel plate has a low moderating power compared with water because it has a lower elastic scattering cross section, as well as far less change of lethargy in an elastic collision than water. Thus, if stainless steel plates are installed around the fuel assembly instead of water, it is hard for neutrons to be thermalized properly. Therefore, the neutron multiplication factor can be decreased because the thermal neutron fluence and the total neutron production rate in fuel rods are decreased. A stainless steel plate has also has a thermal neutron absorption cross section. Thus, it can absorb thermal neutrons around the fuel assembly. The dominant factor which can cause a decrease in the neutron multiplication factor is the interruption of neutron moderation by stainless steel plates. Therefore, the neutron multiplication factor should always be kept at its lowest point, if stainless steel plates are installed on the specific position where interruptions of the neutron moderation occur most often, allowing for thermal neutrons to be absorbed. The stainless steel plate position is 7 mm away from the outermost surface of the fuel assembly with a pitch of 280mm. The specific position appearing the lowest neutron multiplication factor as the pitch variation from 260mm to 290mm with 10mm interval is also investigated. The lowest neutron multiplication factor also occurs 7mm or 8mm away from the outermost surface of the fuel assembly

Survey on neutron pre-emission at the fusion of 11 Li halo nuclei with light targets

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Petrascu, M.

1999-01-01

The neutron halo nuclei characterized by very large matter radii, small separation energy and small internal momentum of the valence neutrons, were discovered by Tanihata and co-workers. Until now, the halo nuclei were investigated mostly by elastic, inelastic scattering and breakup processes. It was recently predicted, that due to the very large dimension of 11 Li, one may expect, that in a fusion experiment on a light target, the valence neutrons will not be absorbed together with the 9 Li core, but will be emitted in the early stage of the reaction process. The first experiment aiming to check this expectation, was performed at the RIKEN-RIPS facility. In the experimental setup, the MUSIC chamber, achieved in the frame of IFIN-HH - RIKEN cooperation, played an important role. The obtained results confirm the prediction, indicating to a novel pre-emission effect (near 40 %, for one or two neutrons). The pre-emission of neutron pairs was investigated by time-position coincidences. It is considered that the pre-emission of neutron pairs is responsible for the experimentally observed strong neutron focusing effect. An experiment aiming to a large number of n-n coincidences, based on a new neutron array detector built in the frame of IFIN-HH - RIKEN cooperation, is in preparation. A model for the pre-emission probabilities calculations has been also worked out. Good agreement with the experimental data has been obtained. (author)

Evaluation of neutron irradiation fields for BNCT by using absorbed dose in a phantom

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aizawa, O.

1993-01-01

In a previous paper, the author defined the open-quotes irradiation timeclose quotes as the time of irradiation in which the maximum open-quotes total background doseclose quotes becomes 2,500 RBE-cGy. In this paper, he has modified the definition a little as the time of irradiation in which the maximum open-quotes lμg/g B-10 doseclose quotes becomes 3,000 RBE-cGy, because he assumed that normal tissue contained 1μg/g B-10. Moreover, he has modified the dose criteria for BNCT as follows: The open-quotes eye doseclose quotes, open-quotes total body doseclose quotes and open-quotes except-head doseclose quotes should be less that 200, 100 and 50 RBE-cGy, respectively. He has added one more criterion for BNCT that the thermal neutron fluence at the tumor position should be over 2.5x10 12 n/cm 2 at the open-quotes irradiation timeclose quotes. The distance from the core side to the irradiation port in the open-quotes old configurationclose quotes of the Musashi reactor (TRIGA-II, 100kW) was 160 cm. He is now planning to design an eccentric core and to move the reactor core nearer to the irradiation port, distance between the core side and the irradiation port to be 140, 130 and 120cm. The other assumptions used in this paper are as follows: (1) The B-10 concentrations in tumor are 30 and/or 10μg/g. (2) The depth of the tumor is 5.0 cm to 5.5 cm from the surface. (3) The RBE values used are 1.0 for all gamma rays and 2.3 for B 10 (n,α) reaction products. (4) The RBE values for neutrons are the following three cases: the first case is using 1.6 for all neutrons; the second one is using 3.2 for non-thermal neutrons and 1.6 for thermal neutrons; the third case is using 4.8 for fast neutrons, 3.2 for faster epithermal and epithermal neutrons, and 1.6 for thermal neutrons

Neutron dosimetric measurements in shuttle and MIR

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reitz, G.

2001-01-01

Detector packages consisting of thermoluminescence detectors (TLD), nuclear emulsions and plastic track detectors were exposed at identical positions inside MIR space station and on shuttle flights inside Spacelab and Spacehab during different phases of the solar cycle. The objectives of the investigations are to provide data on charge and energy spectra of heavy ions, and the contribution of events with low-energy deposit (protons, electrons, gamma, etc.) to the dose, as well as the contribution of secondaries, such as nuclear disintegration stars and neutrons. For neutron dosimetry 6 LiF (TLD600) and 7 LiF (TLD700) chips were used both of which have almost the same response to gamma rays but different response to neutrons. Neutrons in space are produced mainly in evaporation and knock-on processes with energies mainly of 1-10 MeV and up to several 100 MeV, respectively. The energy spectrum undergoes continuous changes toward greater depth in the attenuating material until an equilibrium is reached. In equilibrium, the spectrum is a wide continuum extending down to thermal energies to which the 6 LiF is sensitive. Based on the difference of absorbed doses in the 6 LiF and 7 LiF chips, thermal neutron fluxes from 1 to 2.3 cm -2 s -1 are calculated using the assumption that the maximum induced dose in TLD600 for 1 neutron cm -2 is 1.6x10 -10 Gy (Horrowitz and Freeman, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 157 (1978) 393). It is assumed that the flux of high-energy neutrons is at least of that quantity. Tissue doses were calculated taking as a mean ambient absorbed dose per neutron 6x10 -12 Gy cm 2 (for a 10 MeV neutron). The neutron equivalent doses for the above-mentioned fluxes are 52 μGy d -1 and 120 μGy d -1 . In recent experiments, a personal neutron dosimeter was integrated into the dosimeter packages. First results of this dosimeter which is based on nuclear track detectors with converter foils are reported. For future measurements, a scintillator counter with

Determination of neutron flux distribution in an Am-Be irradiator using the MCNP.

Science.gov (United States)

Shtejer-Diaz, K; Zamboni, C B; Zahn, G S; Zevallos-Chávez, J Y

2003-10-01

A neutron irradiator has been assembled at IPEN facilities to perform qualitative-quantitative analysis of many materials using thermal and fast neutrons outside the nuclear reactor premises. To establish the prototype specifications, the neutron flux distribution and the absorbed dose rates were calculated using the MCNP computer code. These theoretical predictions then allow one to discuss the optimum irradiator design and its performance.

Fast neutron dosemeter from the 103 Rh (n,n') 103m Rh reaction

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Arriola, H.; Monroy, F.

1998-01-01

Neutron dosimetry presents problems due to the form of neutron interaction with matter. Therefore, we propose an activation method using Rhodium foils to measure the neutron flux and thus calculate the doses. Rhodium has a reasonably large cross section proportional to the absorbed doses from 0.8 to 10 MeV. This method would be useful for personal dosimetry in nuclear reactors. (Author)

Selective solar absorber emittance measurement at elevated temperature

Science.gov (United States)

Giraud, Philémon; Braillon, Julien; Raccurt, Olivier

2017-06-01

Durability of solar components for CSP (Concentrated Solar Power Plant) technologies is a key point to lower cost and ensure their large deployment. These technologies concentrated the solar radiation by means of mirrors on a receiver tube where it is collected as thermal energy. The absorbers are submitted to strong environmental constraints and the degradation of their optical properties (emittance and solar absorbance) have a direct impact on performance. The characterization of a material in such condition is complicated and requires advanced apparatuses, and different measurement methods exist for the determination of the two quantities of relevance regarding an absorber, which are its emittance and its solar absorbance. The objective is to develop new optical equipment for measure the emittance of this solar absorber at elevated temperature. In this paper, we present an optical bench developed for emittance measurement on absorbers is conditions of use. Results will be shown, with a discussion of some factors of influence over this measurement and how to control them.

Importance of the elemental composition in brachytherapy with neutrons; Importancia de la composicion elemental en braquiterapia con neutrones

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Paredes G, L.; Balcazar G, M. [ININ, A.P. 18-1027, 11801 Mexico D.F. (Mexico); Azorin N, J. [UAM-I, 09340 Mexico D.F. (Mexico); Francois L, J.L. [ICN-UNAM, 04510 Mexico D.F. (Mexico)

2004-07-01

An analysis is presented of as the small differences that exist in the elementary composition of the wicked tumors, healthy fabrics and some material substitutes of fabric employees in dosimetry, they generate variations in the value of the kerma coefficient and consequently in the absorbed dose of neutrons in the interval 11 eV to 29 MeV. These differences make that the coefficient of kerma of neutrons average for the considered wicked tumors, be between 6% and 7% smaller that the coefficient of kerma of neutrons average for soft fabric, in the interval of interest in therapy with quick neutrons. These results have a special importance during the process of planning of brachytherapy treatments with sources of {sup 252} Cf, to optimize and to individualize the treatments to the patients. (Author)

Self-shielding for thick slabs in a converging neutron beam

CERN Document Server

Mildner, D F R

1999-01-01

We have previously given a correction to the neutron self-shielding for a thin slab to account for the increased average path length through the slab when irradiated in a converging neutron beam. This expression overstates the case for the self-shielding for a thick (or highly absorbing) slab. We give a better approximation to the increase in effective shielding correction for a slab placed in a converging neutron beam. It is negligible at large absorption mean free paths. (author)

Neutron gauging to detect voids in polyurethane

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tsang, F.Y.; Alger, D.M.; Brugger, R.M.

1978-01-01

Thermal-neutron radiography and fast-neutron gauging measurements were made to evaluate the feasibility of detecting voids in a polyurethane block placed between steel plates. This sandwich of polyurethane and steel simulates the walls of a canister being designed to hold explosive devices. The polyurethane would act as a shock absorber in the canister. A large fabrication cost saving would result by casting the polyurethane, but a nondestructive testing (NDT) method is needed to determine the uniformity of the polyurethane fill. The radiography measurements used a beam of thermal neutrons, while the gauging used filtered beams of 24 keV and fission spectrum neutrons. For the 83-mm-thick polyurethane and 130-mm-thick steel matrix, the thermal-neutron radiography was able to detect only those voids equal to about one-half the polyurethane thickness. The gauging detected voids in the path of the neutron beam of a few millimetres thickness in seconds to minutes. The gauging is feasible as an NDT method for the canister application

Radiolysis of some aqueous solutions of neutron absorbers; Etude des effets de certains absorbeurs de neutrons en solution sur la radiolyse de l'eau

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rozenberg, J [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires

1964-12-15

The initial yield of molecular hydrogen formed by radiolytic decomposition of water in reactor and {sup 60}Co gamma radiation is decreased by the presence of salts of polyvalent elements possessing only one stable valence, i.e cadmium, zinc, magnesium, gadolinium. This effect is favourable for the use of cadmium and gadolinium as soluble neutron absorber in heavy water reactors. Cations of these salts are not inert toward the primary products of water radiolysis. They have a high degree of reactivity toward the hydrated electron, which is the precursor of molecular hydrogen in neutral or alkaline aqueous media. The value of the rate constant for the reaction between cadmium ion and hydrated electron was shown to be (6.1 {+-} 1.8) 10{sup 10} M{sup -1} s{sup -1}. Boric acid at low concentration has no effect on the radiation chemistry of water. An isotope effect has been found in the radiolysis of heavy water, corresponding to a lowering of initial yield [G{sub 0}(D{sub 2}) < G{sub 0}(H{sub 2})]. additionally it was necessary to determine the influence of organic impurities, remaining after the purification of water, on the mechanism of its radiolytic decomposition. (author) [French] Le rendement initial de la formation d'hydrogene moleculaire dans la decomposition radiolytique de l'eau, sous l'effet du rayonnement des reacteurs nucleaires ou du cobalt 60, est diminue si le solute est un sel d'element polyvalent ne possedant qu'un seul etat stable de valence (cadmium, zinc, magnesium, gadolinium). Cet effet est favorable au choix des elements cadmium et gadolinium pour servir d'absorbeur soluble de neutrons dans un reacteur a eau lourde. Les cations de ces sels ne sont pas inertes vis-a-vis des produits primaires de la radiolyse. Ils ont une affinite notable pour l'electron solvate, precurseur de l'hydrogene moleculaire en milieu neutre ou alcalin. En particulier, la constante de vitesse de la reaction du cadmium ionise avec l'electron solvate a pu etre calculee. Sa

Cask for radioactive material and method for preventing release of neutrons from radioactive material

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gaffney, M.F.; Shaffer, P.T.

1981-01-01

A cask for radioactive material, such as nuclear reactor fuel or spent nuclear reactor fuel, includes a plurality of associated walled internal compartments for containing such radioactive material, with neutron absorbing material present to absorb neutrons emitted by the radioactive material, and a plurality of thermally conductive members, such as longitudinal copper or aluminum castings, about the compartment and in thermal contact with the compartment walls and with other such thermally conductive members and having thermal contact surfaces between such members extending, preferably radially, from the compartment walls to external surfaces of the thermally conductive members, which surfaces are preferably in the form of a cylinder. The ends of the shipping cask also preferably include a neutron absorber and a conductive metal covering to dissipate heat released by decay of the radioactive material. A preferred neutron absorber utilized is boron carbide, preferably as plasma sprayed with metal powder or as particles in a matrix of phenolic polymer, and the compartment walls are preferably of stainless steel, copper or other corrosion resistant and heat conductive metal or alloy. The invention also relates to shipping casks, storage casks and other containers for radioactive materials in which a plurality of internal compartments for such material, e.g., nuclear reactor fuel rods, are joined together, preferably in modular construction with surrounding heat conductive metal members, and the modules are joined together to form a major part of a finished shipping cask, which is preferably of cylindrical shape. Also within the invention are methods of safely storing radioactive materials which emit neutrons, while dissipating the heat thereof, and of manufacturing the present shipping casks

Experiments at the GELINA facility for the validation of the self-indication neutron resonance densitometry technique

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rossa Riccardo

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Self-Indication Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD is a passive non-destructive method that is being investigated to quantify the 239Pu content in a spent fuel assembly. The technique relies on the energy dependence of total cross sections for neutron induced reaction. The cross sections show resonance structures that can be used to quantify the presence of materials in objects, e.g. the total cross-section of 239Pu shows a strong resonance close to 0.3 eV. This resonance will cause a reduction of the number of neutrons emitted from spent fuel when 239Pu is present. Hence such a reduction can be used to quantify the amount of 239Pu present in the fuel. A neutron detector with a high sensitivity to neutrons in this energy region is used to enhance the sensitivity to 239Pu. This principle is similar to self-indication cross section measurements. An appropriate detector can be realized by surrounding a 239Pu-loaded fission chamber with appropriate neutron absorbing material. In this contribution experiments performed at the GELINA time-of-flight facility of the JRC at Geel (Belgium to validate the simulations are discussed. The results confirm that the strongest sensitivity to the target material was achieved with the self-indication technique, highlighting the importance of using a 239Pu fission chamber for the SINRD measurements.

Neutron dosimetry using proportional counters with tissue equivalent walls

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kerviller, H. de

1965-01-01

The author reminds the calculation method of the neutron absorbed dose in a material and deduce of it the conditions what this material have to fill to be equivalent to biological tissues. Various proportional counters are mode with walls in new tissue equivalent material and filled with various gases. The multiplication factor and neutron energy response of these counters are investigated and compared with those obtained with ethylene lined polyethylene counters. The conditions of working of such proportional counters for neutron dosimetry in energy range 10 -2 to 15 MeV are specified. (author) [fr

Monte Carlo calculations of neutron thermalization in a heterogeneous system

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hoegberg, T

1959-07-15

The slowing down of neutrons in a heterogeneous system (a slab geometry) of uranium and heavy water has been investigated by Monte Carlo methods. Effects on the neutron spectrum due to the thermal motions of the scattering and absorbing atoms are taken into account. It has been assumed that the speed distribution of the moderator atoms are Maxwell-Boltzmann in character.

Variation of the critical slab thickness with the degree of strongly anisotropic scattering in one-speed neutron transport theory

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yildiz, C.

1998-01-01

The critical slab problem is studied in one-speed neutron transport theory using a linearly anisotropic kernel which combines forward and backward scattering. It is shown that, the recently observed non-monotonic variation of the thickness also exists in this strongly anisotropic case. In addition, the influence of the linear anisotropy on the critical thickness is analysed in detail. Numerical analysis for the critical thickness are performed using the spherical harmonics method and results are tabulated for selected illustrative cases as a function of different degrees of anisotropic scattering. Finally, some results are discussed and compared with those already obtained by other methods, the agreement is satisfactory. The spherical harmonic method gives generally accurate results in one dimensional geometry, and it is very suitable for the numerical solution of the neutron transport equation with linearly anisotropic scattering

Transmission of Thermal Neutrons through Boral

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aakerhielm, F

1960-06-15

Transmission measurements have been performed using Maxwellian distributed neutrons from the R1 reactor perpendicularly incident upon a boral absorption plate. American, English, German, Swedish and Swiss samples have been investigated and the results are compared to calculated values. The influence of the absorber grain size is discussed.

Transmission of Thermal Neutrons through Boral

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aakerhielm, F.

1960-06-01

Transmission measurements have been performed using Maxwellian distributed neutrons from the R1 reactor perpendicularly incident upon a boral absorption plate. American, English, German, Swedish and Swiss samples have been investigated and the results are compared to calculated values. The influence of the absorber grain size is discussed

The estimation of the control rods absorber burn-up during the VVER-1000 operation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bolshagin, Sergey N.; Gorodkov, Sergey S.; Sukhino-Khomenko, Evgeniya A. [National Research Centre ' Kurchatov Institute' , Moscow (Russian Federation)

2013-09-15

The isotopic composition of the control rods absorber changes under the neutron flux influence, so the control rods efficiency can decrease. In the VVER-1000 control rods boron carbide and dysprosium titanate are used as absorbing materials. In boric part the efficiency decreases due to the {sup 10}B isotope burn-up. Dysprosium isotopes turn into other absorbing isotopes, so the absorbing properties of dysprosium part decrease to a lesser degree. Also the control rod's shells may be deformed as a consequence of boron carbide radiation swelling. This fact should be considered in substantiation of control rods durability. For the estimation of the control rods absorber burn-up two models are developed: VVER-1000 3-D fuel assembly with control rods partially immersed (imitation of the control rods operation in the working group) and VVER-1000 3-D fuel assembly with control rods, located at the upper limit switch (imitation of the control rods operation in groups of the emergency shutdown system). (orig.)

Fast neutron dosimetry and spectrometry using radioactivation (1963); Dosimetrie et spectrometrie des neutrons rapides par radioactivation (1963)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lamberieux, J [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires

1963-07-01

The author first recalls rapidly a few generalities concerning induced radioactivity detectors and gives, in an appendix, tables summarizing the properties of detector elements which may be used in radioprotection. The excitation functions found in the literature and also given. The technological characteristics of the detectors used are given, together with the counting methods. The many advantages of activation dosimetry for strong or periodic neutron fluxes and for those in the presence of {gamma}-radiation are stressed. The main problem in activation dosimetry is, however, the calculation of the dose absorbed from the results of the measurements. It is shown how the dose is expressed, fairly accurately, as a function of the radioactivities induced in a series of detectors. As an example, the spectrometry and the dosimetry of the neutron flux emitted by a Po-Be source are presented. (author) [French] L'auteur fait d'abord un bref rappel des generalites sur les detecteurs a radioactivite induite, accompagne, en annexe, des tableaux resumant les proprietes d'elements detecteurs utilisables en radioprotection. Les fonctions d'excitation trouvees dans la litterature y sont egalement annexees. On donne ensuite les caracteristiques technologiques des detecteurs employes ainsi que les methodes de comptage utilisees. On souligne les nombreux avantages de la dosimetrie par activation dans les flux de neutrons intenses ou periodiques et en presence de rayonnement {gamma}. Il reste que le probleme central de la dosimetrie par activation est le calcul de la dose absorbee a partir des resultats de mesure. On montre comment la dose s'exprime, de maniere approchee, en fonction des radioactivites induites dans une serie de detecteurs. A titre d'exemple, la spectrometrie et la dosimetrie du flux de neutrons emis par une source de Po-Be sont presentees. (auteur)

Nuclear characteristics of epoxy resin as a space environment neutron shielding

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Adeli, Ruhollah [Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Yazd (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Central Iran Research Complex; Shirmardi, Seyed Pezhman [Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Radiation Application Research School; Mazinani, Saideh [Amirkabir Nanotechnology Research Institute, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Ahmadi, Seyed Javad [Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School

2017-03-15

In recent years many investigations have been done for choosing applicable light neutron shielding in space environmental applications. In this study, we have considered the neutron radiation-protective characteristics of neat epoxy resin, a thermoplastic polymer material and have compared it with various candidate materials in neutron radiation protection such as Al 6061 alloy and Polyethylene. The aim of this investigation is the effect of type of moderator for fast neutron, notwithstanding neutron absorbers fillers. The nuclear interactions and the effective dose at shields have been studied with the Monte Carlo N-Particle transport code (MCNP), using variance reductions to reduce the relative error. Among the candidates, polymer matrix showed a better performance in attenuating fast neutrons and caused a lower neutron and secondary photon effective dose.

About the possibility of using the field of the portable neutron generator for treatment of oncological diseases

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stoyanov, A.Ph.; Dovbnya, A.N.; Tsymbal, V.A.

2017-01-01

The possibility of using a portable neutron generator (PNG) for the treatment of oncological diseases is being considered. It has been shown that when using PNG as a neutron source, it is possible to ensure sufficient therapeutic impact on sick cells, with minimal damage to healthy cells. It's about applying PNG in a brachytherapy tumor. It is important to note that the presence of a narrow ion- pipe- needle allows a neutron source to be placed close to the tumor, and thus to increase therapeutic influence. Numerical estimates of the density of neutrons and the consumed dose when using PNG for brachytherapy performed, it is shown that, for a short period of time (approx 1 minute), sufficient dose of radiation for therapy is absorbed. The calculations of the neutron field and absorbed dose are accomplished through a computer program developed by the authors based on the Monte Carlo method, designed to simulate the generation, movement, braking and absorption of neutrons.

Neutron polarizing set-up of the Sofia IRT research reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krezhov, K.; Mikhajlova, V.; Okorokov, A.

1990-01-01

Neutron polarizing set-up of one of the horizontal beam tubes of the IRT-200 research reactor of the Bulgarian Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy is presented. Neutron mirrors are extensively used in an effort to compensate the moderate reactor beam intensity by the high reflected intensity and wide-band transmittance of the mirror neutron guides. Time-to-flight technique using a slotted neutron absorbing chopper with a horizontal rotation axis has been applied to obtain the exit neutron spectra. Beam polarization and flipping ratios have been determined. Cadmium ratio in the polarized beam has been found almost 10 4 and the average polarization has been measured to be higher than 96%. 3 figs, 3 refs

Physical aspects on the neutron irradiation. 4. Dosimetry with ionization chamber

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hiraoka, Takeshi; Takada, Masashi

2008-01-01

Absolute measurements of the absorbed dose for irradiation are generally made using ionization chambers, which should be calibrated by the standard radiation source. The neutron dose measurements are not simple since gamma rays always contaminate the neutron flux and a variety of charged particles are induced by neutrons. Following subjects are described: (1) The method by ICRU 45 to estimate total dose of neutrons and gamma ray, (2) The method to measure the neutron dose and the gamma ray dose separately using paired ionization-chambers, and (3) The calibration of ionization chambers. The stability of the standard ionization-chambers is also presented. (K.Y.)

Measurement of the neutron detection efficiency of a 80% absorber-20% scintillating fibers calorimeter

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anelli, M.; Bertolucci, S. [Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell' INFN, Via E.Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati (Italy); Bini, C., E-mail: cesare.bini@roma1.infn.i [Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); INFN Sezione di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); Branchini, P. [INFN Sezione di Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 84 I-00146 Roma (Italy); Corradi, G.; Curceanu, C. [Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell' INFN, Via E.Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati (Italy); De Zorzi, G.; Di Domenico, A. [Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); INFN Sezione di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); Di Micco, B. [Dipartimento di Fisica dell' Universita ' Roma Tre' , Via della Vasca Navale, 84 I-00146 Roma (Italy); INFN Sezione di Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 84 I-00146 Roma (Italy); Ferrari, A. [Institute of Safety Research and Institute of Radiation Physics, Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, PF 510119, 01314 Dresden (Germany); Fiore, S. [Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); INFN Sezione di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); Gauzzi, P., E-mail: paolo.gauzzi@roma1.infn.i [Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); INFN Sezione di Roma, P.le A.Moro, 2 I-00185 Roma (Italy); Giovannella, S.; Happacher, F. [Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell' INFN, Via E.Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati (Italy); Iliescu, M. [Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell' INFN, Via E.Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati (Italy); ' Horia Hulubei' National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Str. Atomistilor no. 407, P.O. Box MG-6 Bucharest-Magurele (Romania); Luca, A.; Martini, M.; Miscetti, S. [Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell' INFN, Via E.Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati (Italy)

2011-01-21

The neutron detection efficiency of a sampling calorimeter made of 1 mm diameter scintillating fibers embedded in a lead/bismuth structure has been measured at the neutron beam of The Svedberg Laboratory at Uppsala. A significant enhancement of the detection efficiency with respect to a bulk organic scintillator detector with the same thickness is observed.

Plasmons in strong superconductors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Baldo, M.; Ducoin, C.

2011-01-01

We present a study of the possible plasmon excitations that can occur in systems where strong superconductivity is present. In these systems the plasmon energy is comparable to or smaller than the pairing gap. As a prototype of these systems we consider the proton component of Neutron Star matter just below the crust when electron screening is not taken into account. For the realistic case we consider in detail the different aspects of the elementary excitations when the proton, electron components are considered within the Random-Phase Approximation generalized to the superfluid case, while the influence of the neutron component is considered only at qualitative level. Electron screening plays a major role in modifying the proton spectrum and spectral function. At the same time the electron plasmon is strongly modified and damped by the indirect coupling with the superfluid proton component, even at moderately low values of the gap. The excitation spectrum shows the interplay of the different components and their relevance for each excitation modes. The results are relevant for neutrino physics and thermodynamical processes in neutron stars. If electron screening is neglected, the spectral properties of the proton component show some resemblance with the physical situation in high-T c superconductors, and we briefly discuss similarities and differences in this connection. In a general prospect, the results of the study emphasize the role of Coulomb interaction in strong superconductors.

Neutron Detection with a Cryogenic Spectrometer

CERN Document Server

Bell, Z W; Cristy, S S; Lamberti, V E

2003-01-01

Cryogenic calorimeters are used for x-ray detection because of their exquisite energy resolution and have found application in x-ray astronomy, and the search for dark matter. These devices operate by detecting the heat pulse produced by ionization in an absorber cooled to temperatures below 1 K. Such temperatures are needed to lower the absorber's heat capacity to the point that the deposition of even a few eV results in a measurable temperature excursion. Typical absorbers for dark matter measurements are massive Si or Ge crystals, and, with Ge, have achieved a resolution of 650 eV at 10 keV. Chow, et al., report the measurement of the 60 keV emission from sup 2 sup 4 sup 1 Am with 230 eV resolution using a superconducting tin absorber. Cunningham, et al., also using a superconducting tin absorber, have recently reported a four-fold improvement over Chow. With such results being reported from the x- and gamma-ray world it is natural to examine the possibilities for cryogenic neutron spectroscopy. Such a det...

Dual-sided microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors (DSMSNDs)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fronk, Ryan G.; Bellinger, Steven L.; Henson, Luke C.; Ochs, Taylor R.; Smith, Colten T.; Kenneth Shultis, J.; McGregor, Douglas S.

2015-01-01

Microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors (MSNDs) have in recent years received much interest as high-efficiency replacements for thin-film-coated thermal neutron detectors. The basic device structure of the MSND involves micro-sized trenches that are etched into a vertically-oriented pvn-junction diode that are backfilled with a neutron converting material. Neutrons absorbed within the converting material induce fission of the parent nucleus, producing a pair of energetic charged-particle reaction products that can be counted by the diode. The MSND deep-etched microstructures produce good neutron-absorption and reaction-product counting efficiencies, offering a 10× improvement in intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency over thin-film-coated devices. Performance of present-day MSNDs are nearing theoretical limits; streaming paths between the conversion-material backfilled trenches, allow a considerable fraction of neutrons to pass undetected through the device. Dual-sided microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors (DSMSNDs) have been developed that utilize a complementary second set of trenches on the back-side of the device to count streaming neutrons. DSMSND devices are theoretically capable of greater than 80% intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency for a 1-mm thick device. The first such prototype DSMSNDs, presented here, have achieved 29.48±0.29% nearly 2× better than MSNDs with similar microstructure dimensions.

Protein dynamics by neutron scattering: The protein dynamical transition and the fragile-to-strong dynamical crossover in hydrated lysozyme

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magazù, Salvatore; Migliardo, Federica; Benedetto, Antonio; Vertessy, Beata

2013-01-01

Highlights: • The role played by the instrumental energy resolution in neutron scattering is presented. • The effect of natural bioprotectants on protein dynamics is shown. • A connection between the protein dynamical transition and the fragile-to-strong dynamical crossover is formulated. - Abstract: In this work Elastic Incoherent Neutron Scattering (EINS) results on lysozyme water mixtures in absence and in presence of bioprotectant systems are presented. The EINS data have been collected by using the IN13 and the IN10 spectrometers at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France) allowing to evaluate the temperature behaviour of the mean square displacement and of the relaxation time for the investigated systems. The obtained experimental findings together with theoretical calculations allow to put into evidence the role played by the spectrometer resolution and to clarify the connexion between the registered protein dynamical transition, the system relaxation time, and the instrumental energy resolution

Estimate of the damage in organs induced by neutrons in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy; Estimacion del dano en organos inducido por neutrones en radioterapia conformada en 3D

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Benites R, J. L. [Centro Estatal de Cancerologia de Nayarit, Servicio de Seguridad Radiologica, Calzada de la Cruz 118 sur, 63000 Tepic, Nayarit (Mexico); Vega C, H. R. [Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares, Cipres No. 10, Fracc. La Penuela, 98068 Zacatecas (Mexico); Uribe, M. del R., E-mail: jlbenitesr@prodigy.net.mx [Instituto Tecnico Superior de Radiologia, Calle Leon No. 129, 63000 Tepic, Nayarit (Mexico)

2014-08-15

By means of Monte Carlo methods was considered the damage in the organs, induced by neutrons, of patients with cancer that receive treatment in modality of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with lineal accelerator Varian Ix. The objective of this work was to estimate the damage probability in radiotherapy patients, starting from the effective dose by neutrons in the organs and tissues out of the treatment region. For that a three-dimensional mannequin of equivalent tissue of 30 x 100 x 30 cm{sup 3} was modeled and spherical cells were distributed to estimate the Kerma in equivalent tissue and the absorbed dose by neutrons. With the absorbed dose the effective dose was calculated using the weighting factors for the organ type and radiation type. With the effective dose and the damage factors, considered in the ICRP 103, was considered the probability of damage induction in organs. (Author)

Neutron absorption spectroscopy for identification of light elements in actinides

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hau, I.D. [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Advanced Detector Group, 7000 East Ave., L-270, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States) and Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 (United States)]. E-mail: hau2@llnl.gov; Niedermayr, T.R. [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Advanced Detector Group, 7000 East Ave., L-270, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States); Drury, O.B. [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Advanced Detector Group, 7000 East Ave., L-270, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States); Burger, A. [Fisk University, 1000 17th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37208 (United States); Bell, Z. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States); Friedrich, S. [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Advanced Detector Group, 7000 East Ave., L-270, Livermore, CA 94550 (United States)]. E-mail: friedrich1@llnl.gov

2006-04-15

We are developing cryogenic high-energy resolution fast-neutron spectrometers using superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES) for nuclear science and non-proliferation applications. Fast neutrons are absorbed in 94% enriched {sup 6}LiF single crystals with volumes of {approx}1 cm{sup 3} in an exothermic {sup 6}Li(n,{alpha}){sup 3}H capture reaction. The neutron energy is measured from the subsequent temperature rise with a Mo/Cu multilayer TES. Fast-neutron spectra from a {sup 252}Cf source show an energy resolution of 55 kev. Here, we discuss the instrument performance, with emphasis on the identification of light elements in actinide matrices.

Improving the neutron-to-photon discrimination capability of detectors used for neutron dosimetry in high energy photon beam radiotherapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Irazola, L.; Terrón, J.A.; Bedogni, R; Pola, A.; Lorenzoli, M.; Sánchez-Nieto, B.; Gómez, F.; Sánchez-Doblado, F.

2016-01-01

The increasing interest of the medical community to radioinduced second malignancies due to photoneutrons in patients undergoing high-energy radiotherapy, has stimulated in recent years the study of peripheral doses, including the development of some dedicated active detectors. Although these devices are designed to respond to neutrons only, their parasitic photon response is usually not identically zero and anisotropic. The impact of these facts on measurement accuracy can be important, especially in points close to the photon field-edge. A simple method to estimate the photon contribution to detector readings is to cover it with a thermal neutron absorber with reduced secondary photon emission, such as a borated rubber. This technique was applied to the TNRD (Thermal Neutron Rate Detector), recently validated for thermal neutron measurements in high-energy photon radiotherapy. The positive results, together with the accessibility of the method, encourage its application to other detectors and different clinical scenarios. - Highlights: • Neutron-to-photon discrimination of a thermal neutron detector used in radiotherapy. • Photon and anisotropic response study with distance and beam incidence of thermal neutron detector. • Borated rubber for estimating photon contribution in any thermal neutron detector.

A Simple Correlation for Neutron Capture Rates from Nuclear Masses

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Couture, Aaron Joseph [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

2018-01-30

Recent studies of neutron capture performed at LANL have revealed a previously unrecognized connection between nuclear masses and the average neutron capture cross section. A team of three scientists from Los Alamos (P-27), Yale Univ., and Istanbul Univ. (Turkey) recently discovered this connection and have published their results as a Rapid Communication in Physical Review C. Neutron capture is a reaction in which a free neutron is absorbed by the nucleus, keeping the element unchanged, but changing isotopes. This reaction is typically exothermic. As a result, the reaction can proceed even when many other reaction channels are closed. In an astrophysical environment, this means that neutron capture is the primary mechanism by which all of the elements with atomic number greater than nickel are produced is neutron capture.

Extended use of alanine irradiated in experimental reactor for combined gamma- and neutron-dose assessment by ESR spectroscopy and thermal neutron fluence assessment by measurement of (14)C by LSC.

Science.gov (United States)

Bartoníček, B; Kučera, J; Světlík, I; Viererbl, L; Lahodová, Z; Tomášková, L; Cabalka, M

2014-11-01

Gamma- and neutron doses in an experimental reactor were measured using alanine/electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. The absorbed dose in alanine was decomposed into contributions caused by gamma and neutron radiation using neutron kerma factors. To overcome a low sensitivity of the alanine/ESR response to thermal neutrons, a novel method has been proposed for the assessment of a thermal neutron flux using the (14)N(n,p) (14)C reaction on nitrogen present in alanine and subsequent measurement of (14)C by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOSE-Analyzer. A computer program with graphical user interface to analyze absorbed dose inside a body of mouse and human upon external neutron exposure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Satoh, Daiki; Takahashi, Fumiaki; Shigemori, Yuji; Sakamoto, Kensaku

2010-06-01

DOSE-Analyzer is a computer program to retrieve the dose information from a database and generate a graph through a graphical user interface (GUI). The database is constructed for absorbed dose, fluence, and energy distribution inside a body of mouse and human exposed upon external neutrons, which is calculated by our developed Monte-Carlo simulation method using voxel-based phantom and particle transport code PHITS. The input configurations of irradiation geometry, subject, and energy are set by GUI. The results are tabulated at particle types, i.e. electron, proton, deuteron, triton, and alpha particle, and target organs on a data sheet of Microsoft Office Excel TM . Simple analysis to compare the output values for two subjects is also performed on DOSE-Analyzer. This report is a user manual of DOSE-Analyzer. (author)

Neutron response study

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Endres, G.W.R.; Fix, J.J.; Thorson, M.R.; Nichols, L.L.

1981-01-01

Neutron response of the albedo type dosimeter is strongly dependent on the energy of the incident neutrons as well as the moderating material on the backside of the dosimeter. This study characterizes the response of the Hanford dosimeter for a variety of neutron energies for both a water and Rando phantom (a simulated human body consisting of an actual human skeleton with plastic for body muscles and certain organs). The Hanford dosimeter response to neutrons of different energies is typical of albedo type dosimeters. An approximate two orders of magnitude difference in response is observed between neutron energies of 100 keV and 10 MeV. Methods were described to compensate for the difference in dosimeter response between a laboratory neutron spectrum and the different spectra encountered at various facilities in the field. Generally, substantial field support is necessary for accurate neutron dosimetry

Neutrons characterization of the nuclear reactor Ian-R1 of Colombia; Caracterizacion de los neutrones del reactor nuclear IAN-R1 de Colombia

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gonzalez P, L. X.; Martinez O, S. A. [Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia, Grupo de Fisica Nuclear Aplicada y Simulacion, Carretera Central del Norte Km. 1, Via Paipa, 150003 Tunja, Boyaca (Colombia); Vega C, H. R., E-mail: s.agustin.martinez@uptc.edu.co [Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Unidad Academica de Estudios Nucleares, Cipres No. 10, Fracc. La Penuela, 98068 Zacatecas (Mexico)

2014-08-15

By means of Monte Carlo methods, with the code MCNPX, the neutron characteristics of the research nuclear reactor Ian-R1 of Colombia, in power off but with the neutrons source in their start position, have been valued. The neutrons spectra, the total flow and their average power were calculated in the irradiation spaces inside the graphite reflector, as well as in the cells with air. Also the spectra, the total flow and the absorbed dose were calculated in several places distributed along the radial shaft inside the water moderator. The neutrons total flow was also considered to the long of the axial shaft. The characteristics of the neutrons spectra vary depending on their position regarding the source and the material that surrounds to the cell where the calculation was made. (Author)

Development of absorber rod drive mechanisms for PFBR

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Veerasamy, R.; Dash, S.K.; Natarajan, S.; Rajan, M.; Prabhakar, R.; Kale, R.D.

1997-01-01

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor has two independent, diverse and fast acting shutdown systems each having its own neutron detectors, logic circuits, drive mechanisms and absorber rods. The respective drive mechanisms are called the control and safety rod drive mechanism and the diverse safety rod drive mechanism. The reliability of the shutdown systems has a direct bearing on the safety of the reactor. Hence a lot of development and testing efforts are required to optimise the design of the drive mechanisms and finally to qualify the same for reactor application. (author)

Exact analytical solution of time-independent neutron transport equation, and its applications to systems with a point source

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mikata, Y.

2014-01-01

Highlights: • An exact solution for the one-speed neutron transport equation is obtained. • This solution as well as its derivation are believed to be new. • Neutron flux for a purely absorbing material with a point neutron source off the origin is obtained. • Spherically as well as cylindrically piecewise constant cross sections are studied. • Neutron flux expressions for a point neutron source off the origin are believed to be new. - Abstract: An exact analytical solution of the time-independent monoenergetic neutron transport equation is obtained in this paper. The solution is applied to systems with a point source. Systematic analysis of the solution of the time-independent neutron transport equation, and its applications represent the primary goal of this paper. To the best of the author’s knowledge, certain key results on the scalar neutron flux as well as their derivations are new. As an application of these results, a scalar neutron flux for a purely absorbing medium with a spherically piecewise constant cross section and an isotropic point neutron source off the origin as well as that for a cylindrically piecewise constant cross section with a point neutron source off the origin are obtained. Both of these results are believed to be new

Soller collimators for small angle neutron scattering

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Crawford, R.K.; Epperson, J.E.; Thiyagarajan, P.

1989-01-01

The neutron beam transmitted through the soller collimators on the SAD (Small Angle Diffractometer) instrument at IPNS (Intense Pulsed Neutron Source) showed wings about the main beam. These wings were quite weak, but were sufficient to interfere with the low-Q scattering data. General considerations of the theory of reflection from homogeneous absorbing media, combined with the results from a Monte Carlo simulation, suggested that these wings were due to specular reflection of neutrons from the absorbing material on the surfaces of the collimator blades. The simulations showed that roughness of the surface was extremely important, with wing background variations of three orders of magnitude being observed with the range of roughness values used in the simulations. Based on the results of these simulations, new collimators for SAD were produced with a much rougher 10 B-binder surface coating on the blades. These new collimators were determined to be significantly better than the original SAD collimators. This work suggests that any soller collimators designed for use with long wavelengths should be fabricated with such a rough surface coating, in order to eliminate (or at least minimize) the undesirable reflection effects which otherwise seem certain to occur. 4 refs., 6 figs

Use of borosilicate-glass raschig rings as a neutron absorber in solutions of fissile material-ANSI/ANS-8.5-1996

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rothe, R.E.; Ketzlach, N.; Finch, D.R.

1996-01-01

American National Standards Institute/American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-8.5 is one of several standards prepared by the ANS Standards Committee to provide guidance to enhance criticality safety in the handling, storage, and processing of fissionable materials. American National Standard ANSI/ANS-8.5-1996 provides this guidance for one type of boron-loaded glass in one type of geometry (cylindrical rings) for use with fissile solutions. Recorded use of such fixed neutron absorbers for criticality control of fissile solutions dates back to 1958, but some less-well-documented applications were recorded as early as the mid-1940's. The first solid efforts to collect recommendations derived from experience and technology were begun in 1965. Over the next 6 yr additional experiments were performed, and supporting data for the proposed standard were gathered. The first standard on this safety matter was issued in 1971. It was reaffirmed in 1979 with only minor changes and a slight expansion of the coverage. The standard was last revised in 1986

VENTURE: a code block for solving multigroup neutronics problems applying the finite-difference diffusion-theory approximation to neutron transport

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Vondy, D.R.; Fowler, T.B.; Cunningham, G.W.

1975-10-01

The computer code block VENTURE, designed to solve multigroup neutronics problems with application of the finite-difference diffusion-theory approximation to neutron transport (or alternatively simple P 1 ) in up to three-dimensional geometry is described. A variety of types of problems may be solved: the usual eigenvalue problem, a direct criticality search on the buckling, on a reciprocal velocity absorber (prompt mode), or on nuclide concentrations, or an indirect criticality search on nuclide concentrations, or on dimensions. First-order perturbation analysis capability is available at the macroscopic cross section level

Monte Carlo evaluation of a photon pencil kernel algorithm applied to fast neutron therapy treatment planning

Science.gov (United States)

Söderberg, Jonas; Alm Carlsson, Gudrun; Ahnesjö, Anders

2003-10-01

When dedicated software is lacking, treatment planning for fast neutron therapy is sometimes performed using dose calculation algorithms designed for photon beam therapy. In this work Monte Carlo derived neutron pencil kernels in water were parametrized using the photon dose algorithm implemented in the Nucletron TMS (treatment management system) treatment planning system. A rectangular fast-neutron fluence spectrum with energies 0-40 MeV (resembling a polyethylene filtered p(41)+ Be spectrum) was used. Central axis depth doses and lateral dose distributions were calculated and compared with the corresponding dose distributions from Monte Carlo calculations for homogeneous water and heterogeneous slab phantoms. All absorbed doses were normalized to the reference dose at 10 cm depth for a field of radius 5.6 cm in a 30 × 40 × 20 cm3 water test phantom. Agreement to within 7% was found in both the lateral and the depth dose distributions. The deviations could be explained as due to differences in size between the test phantom and that used in deriving the pencil kernel (radius 200 cm, thickness 50 cm). In the heterogeneous phantom, the TMS, with a directly applied neutron pencil kernel, and Monte Carlo calculated absorbed doses agree approximately for muscle but show large deviations for media such as adipose or bone. For the latter media, agreement was substantially improved by correcting the absorbed doses calculated in TMS with the neutron kerma factor ratio and the stopping power ratio between tissue and water. The multipurpose Monte Carlo code FLUKA was used both in calculating the pencil kernel and in direct calculations of absorbed dose in the phantom.

Self-powered neutron detector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Goldstein, N.P.; Todt, W.H.

1974-01-01

The invention relates a self-powered neutron detector comprising an emitting body, an insulating material surrounding said body, and a conducting outer cover, a power conductor connected to the emitting body and passing through the insulating material permitting to insert an ammeter between said emitting body and said cover. The invention is characterized in that said emitting body is surrounded by a thin conducting layer of small cross section for neutrons made of high density material said material being capable of absorbing the beta-radiations due to the degradation of the emitting body activating product, while transmitting the fast electrons of high average energy emitted by said emitting body. This can be applied to safety control devices required to provide a quick answer [fr

Energy response of neutron area monitor with silicon semiconductor detector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kitaguchi, Hiroshi; Izumi, Sigeru; Kobayashi, Kaoru; Kaihara, Akihisa; Nakamura, Takashi.

1993-01-01

A prototype neutron area monitor with a silicon semiconductor detector has been developed which has the energy response of 1 cm dose equivalent recommended by the ICRP-26. Boron and proton radiators are coated on the surface of the silicon semiconductor detector. The detector is set at the center of a cylindrical polyethylene moderator. This moderator is covered by a porous cadmium board which serves as the thermal neutron absorber. Neutrons are detected as α-particles generated by the nuclear reaction 10 B(n,α) 7 Li and as recoil protons generated by the interaction of fast neutrons with hydrogen. The neutron energy response of the monitor was measured using thermal neutrons and monoenergetic fast neutrons generated by an accelerator. The response was consistent with the 1 cm dose equivalent response required for the monitor within ±34% in the range of 0.025 - 15 Mev. (author)

High resolution neutron tomography applied to tooth fillings on real teeth by use of neutron lens

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Masschaele, B.; Cauwels, P.; Mondelaers, W.; Baechler, S.; Jolie, J.; Materna, T.

2000-01-01

Today tomography is a well known technique for nondestructive analysis of samples. By taking several X-ray pictures from an object, it is possible to make a 3D reconstruction. The same thing can be done with neutrons. Since very recent it is possible to produce a high-flux neutron beam. By looking at the attenuation of the neutron beam in the sample from different angles, it is possible to make a neutron tomography. The properties of neutrons are so much different from X-rays that a new era in tomography has started. Where X-rays have a hard time penetrating samples containing heavy elements (Pb, Bi, U, Hg, Au), neutrons just seem to walk through. But when the neutrons encounter samples containing light compounds like water, oil, paper, B, Li,... they are easily absorbed. This makes the use of neutrons for imaging complementary to the well known X-ray imaging. The most used tooth filling material nowadays is amalgam. Amalgam is a mixture of different metals, like silver, tin, copper, mercury. Mercury is dangerous for the human body when it enters the blood stream. These fillings are very dense and X-rays have a very hard time penetrating it. Neutrons are the ideal probe for investigation of these high density regions. The result of the tomography reveals information on the long term stability of amalgam fillings and could help the still ongoing debate on the safety of the fillings. (author)

Neutron diffraction on CeMnAlD{sub x} (0{<=}x{<=}2.5)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Spatz, P.; Gross, K.; Schlapbach, L. [Fribourg Univ. (Switzerland); Fischer, P.; Fauth, F. [Paul Scherrer Inst. (PSI), Villigen (Switzerland)

1997-09-01

CeMnAl was found to absorb considerable amounts of hydrogen. Part of the totally stored hydrogen is absorbed at low pressures (< 10 mbar). Additional hydrogen can be absorbed and desorbed reversible in a wide pressure range (10 mbar to 10 bar) at room temperature. In order to a better understanding of this new metal-hydride system, we performed neutron diffraction on deuterated CeMnAl samples with different D-concentrations. (author) 1 fig., 2 refs.

Gadolinium neutron capture brachytherapy (GdNCB), a new treatment method for intravascular brachytherapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Enger, Shirin A.; Rezaei, Arash; Munck af Rosenschoeld, Per; Lundqvist, Hans

2006-01-01

Restenosis is a major problem after balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. The aim of this study is to introduce gadolinium neutron capture brachytherapy (GdNCB) as a suitable modality for treatment of stenosis. The utility of GdNCB in intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) of stent stenosis is investigated by using the GEANT4 and MCNP4B Monte Carlo radiation transport codes. To study capture rate, Kerma, absorbed dose and absorbed dose rate around a Gd-containing stent activated with neutrons, a 30 mm long, 5 mm diameter gadolinium foil is chosen. The input data is a neutron spectrum used for clinical neutron capture therapy in Studsvik, Sweden. Thermal neutron capture in gadolinium yields a spectrum of high-energy gamma photons, which due to the build-up effect gives an almost flat dose delivery pattern to the first 4 mm around the stent. The absorbed dose rate is 1.33 Gy/min, 0.25 mm from the stent surface while the dose to normal tissue is in order of 0.22 Gy/min, i.e., a factor of 6 lower. To spare normal tissue further fractionation of the dose is also possible. The capture rate is relatively high at both ends of the foil. The dose distribution from gamma and charge particle radiation at the edges and inside the stent contributes to a nonuniform dose distribution. This will lead to higher doses to the surrounding tissue and may prevent stent edge and in-stent restenosis. The position of the stent can be verified and corrected by the treatment plan prior to activation. Activation of the stent by an external neutron field can be performed days after catherization when the target cells start to proliferate and can be expected to be more radiation sensitive. Another advantage of the nonradioactive gadolinium stent is the possibility to avoid radiation hazard to personnel

Experimental possibilities and fast neutron dose map of the fast neutron fields at the RB reactor facility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sokcic-Kostic, M.; Pesic, M.; Antic, D.; Ninkovic, M.

1993-01-01

The RB is an unshielded, zero power nuclear facility with natural and enriched uranium fuel (2% and 80%) and D 2 O as moderator. It is possible to create different configurations of non-reflected and partially reflected critical systems and to make experiments in the fields of thermal neutrons. The fields of fast neutrons with 'softened' fission spectrum are made by modifying the system: modified experimental fuel channel EFC, coupled fast-thermal system in two configurations CFTS-1 and CFTS-2, coupled fast-thermal core HERBE. The intermediate and fast neutron absorbed doses in fast neutron fields are given. In first configuration of RB reactor it was almost impossible to perform dosimetric and other experiments. By creating these fields, with in our circumstances available fuel elements, the possibilities for different experiments are greatly improved. Now we can irradiate food samples, soil samples, electronic devices, study material properties, perform various dosimetry experiments, etc. (1 tab.)

Secure data storage by three-dimensional absorbers in highly scattering volume medium

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Matoba, Osamu; Matsuki, Shinichiro; Nitta, Kouichi

2008-01-01

A novel data storage in a volume medium with highly scattering coefficient is proposed for data security application. Three-dimensional absorbers are used as data. These absorbers can not be measured by interferometer when the scattering in a volume medium is strong enough. We present a method to reconstruct three-dimensional absorbers and present numerical results to show the effectiveness of the proposed data storage.

Calorimetric and ionometric dosimetry for cyclotron produced fast neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McDonald, J.C.; Ma, I.C.; Laughlin, J.S.

1977-01-01

A portable tissue equivalent (TE) calorimeter, constructed of A-150 plastic, has been employed for the measurement of absorbed dose in two fast neutron fields produced by the 9 Be( 3 He,n) and 9 Be(d,n) interactions. A disc shaped ionization chamber has also been constructed of A-150 plastic and has a collecting volume geometrically equivalent to the calorimeter core (2 cm in diameter and 0.2 cm thick). A flow of methane compounded TE gas was maintained through the chamber at a rate of approximately 5 cc/min during the measurements. The ionization chamber was mounted within an irradiation enclosure which simulated the outer dimensions of the calorimeter housing. In this way, both detectors were placed at the same depth in TE plastic and each received approximately the same scattered radiation. The gamma-ray component of absorbed dose has been determined by the use of a miniature Geiger-Mueller dosimeter. It was found that the response sensitivity ratio for the TE ionization chamber in the two neutron fields relative to the 60 Co gamma-ray field, when normalized to the absorbed dose measured by the TE calorimeter, was approximately 1.07. Uncertainties in these calorimetric and ionometric methods for the measurements of the absorbed dose will be discussed along with measurements of the thermal defect for A-150 TE plastic

Using multi spherical spectrometry for determination of dosimetric characteristics of mixed neutron and gamma radiation fields of fission sources

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fyulep, M.; Nikodemova, D.; Grabovtsova, A.; Galan, P.; Trousil, J.

1977-01-01

Possibilities of the application of multispherical spectrometry in personnel dosimetry of neutrons (n) and gamma radiation (γ) are considered. Studies were made to elucidate a possibility of using albedo dosemeters to increase the sensitivity of personnel dosemeters. Determined were the dose due to the (n,γ) reaction in a human body, absorbed dose and dose equivalent. The effect of (n,γ) dose on the reading of personnel gamma dosemeter was considered. It is shown that the above effect on the dosemeter readings for frontal irradiation by a broad neutron beam in everyday personnel dosimetry near 252 Cf sources may be neglected. Only in the case of strongly slowed-down fission spectrum the effect of the (n,γ) reaction is considerable. The application of albedo dosemeter is expedient to take into account the corrections of personnel dosemeter readings [ru

Neutron star equilibrium configurations within a fully relativistic theory with strong, weak, electromagnetic, and gravitational interactions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Belvedere, Riccardo; Pugliese, Daniela; Rueda, Jorge A.; Ruffini, Remo; Xue, She-Sheng

2012-01-01

We formulate the equations of equilibrium of neutron stars taking into account strong, weak, electromagnetic, and gravitational interactions within the framework of general relativity. The nuclear interactions are described by the exchange of the σ, ω, and ρ virtual mesons. The equilibrium conditions are given by our recently developed theoretical framework based on the Einstein–Maxwell–Thomas–Fermi equations along with the constancy of the general relativistic Fermi energies of particles, the “Klein potentials”, throughout the configuration. The equations are solved numerically in the case of zero temperatures and for selected parameterizations of the nuclear models. The solutions lead to a new structure of the star: a positively charged core at supranuclear densities surrounded by an electronic distribution of thickness ∼ℏ/(m e c)∼10 2 ℏ/(m π c) of opposite charge, as well as a neutral crust at lower densities. Inside the core there is a Coulomb potential well of depth ∼m π c 2 /e. The constancy of the Klein potentials in the transition from the core to the crust, imposes the presence of an overcritical electric field ∼(m π /m e ) 2 E c , the critical field being E c =m e 2 c 3 /(eℏ). The electron chemical potential and the density decrease, in the boundary interface, until values μ e crust e core and ρ crust core . For each central density, an entire family of core–crust interface boundaries and, correspondingly, an entire family of crusts with different mass and thickness, exist. The configuration with ρ crust =ρ drip ∼4.3×10 11 gcm −3 separates neutron stars with and without inner crust. We present here the novel neutron star mass–radius for the especial case ρ crust =ρ drip and compare and contrast it with the one obtained from the traditional Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff treatment.

Neutron Scattering in Hydrogenous Moderators, Studied by Time Dependent Reaction Rate Method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Larsson, L G; Moeller, E; Purohit, S N

1966-03-15

The moderation and absorption of a neutron burst in water, poisoned with the non-1/v absorbers cadmium and gadolinium, has been followed on the time scale by multigroup calculations, using scattering kernels for the proton gas and the Nelkin model. The time dependent reaction rate curves for each absorber display clear differences for the two models, and the separation between the curves does not depend much on the absorber concentration. An experimental method for the measurement of infinite medium reaction rate curves in a limited geometry has been investigated. This method makes the measurement of the time dependent reaction rate generally useful for thermalization studies in a small geometry of a liquid hydrogenous moderator, provided that the experiment is coupled to programs for the calculation of scattering kernels and time dependent neutron spectra. Good agreement has been found between the reaction rate curve, measured with cadmium in water, and a calculated curve, where the Haywood kernel has been used.

Neutron dosimetry in organs of an adult human phantom using linacs with multileaf collimator in radiotherapy treatments

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Martinez-Ovalle, S. A.; Barquero, R.; Gomez-Ros, J. M.; Lallena, A. M. [Grupo de Fisica Nuclear Aplicada y Simulacion, Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia, Tunja 15001000 (Colombia); Servicio de Proteccion Radiologica, Hospital Clinico Universitario, E-47012 Valladolid (Spain) and Departamento de Radiologia, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid E-47071 (Spain); CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 40, Madrid, E-28040 (Spain); Departamento de Fisica Atomica, Molecular y Nuclear, Universidad de Granada, Granada E-18071 (Spain)

2012-05-15

Purpose: To calculate absorbed doses due to neutrons in 87 organs/tissues for anthropomorphic phantoms, irradiated in position supine (head first into the gantry) with orientations anteroposterior (AP) and right-left (RLAT) with a 18 MV accelerator. Conversion factors from monitor units to {mu}Gy per neutron in organs, equivalent doses in organs/tissues, and effective doses, which permit to quantify stochastic risks, are estimated. Methods: MAX06 and FAX06 phantoms were modeled with MCNPX and irradiated with a 18 MV Varian Clinac 2100C/D accelerator whose geometry included a multileaf collimator. Two actual fields of a pelvic treatment were simulated using electron-photon-neutron coupled transport. Absorbed doses due to neutrons were estimated from kerma. Equivalent doses were estimated using the radiation weighting factor corresponding to an average incident neutron energy 0.47 MeV. Statistical uncertainties associated to absorbed doses, as calculated by MCNPX, were also obtained. Results: Largest doses were absorbed in shallowest (with respect to the neutron pathway) organs. In {mu}GyMU{sup -1}, values of 2.66 (for penis) and 2.33 (for testes) were found in MAX06, and 1.68 (for breasts), 1.05 (for lenses of eyes), and 0.94 (for sublingual salivary glands) in FAX06, in AP orientation. In RLAT, the largest doses were found for bone tissues (leg) just at the entrance of the beam in the body (right side in our case). Values, in {mu}GyMU{sup -1}, of 1.09 in upper leg bone right spongiosa, for MAX06, and 0.63 in mandible spongiosa, for FAX06, were found. Except for gonads, liver, and stomach wall, equivalent doses found for FAX06 were, in both orientations, higher than for MAX06. Equivalent doses in AP are higher than in RLAT for all organs/tissues other than brain and liver. Effective doses of 12.6 and 4.1 {mu}SvMU{sup -1} were found for AP and RLAT, respectively. The organs/tissues with larger relative contributions to the effective dose were testes and breasts, in

Age-dependent conversion coefficients for organ doses and effective doses for external neutron irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nishizaki, Chihiro; Endo, Akira; Takahashi, Fumiaki

2006-06-01

To utilize dose assessment of the public for external neutron irradiation, conversion coefficients of absorbed doses of organs and effective doses were calculated using the numerical simulation technique for six different ages (adult, 15, 10, 5 and 1 years and newborn), which represent the member of the public. Calculations were performed using six age-specific anthropomorphic phantoms and a Monte Carlo radiation transport code for two irradiation geometries, anterior-posterior and rotational geometries, for 20 incident energies from thermal to 20 MeV. Effective doses defined by the 1990 Recommendation of ICRP were calculated from the absorbed doses in 21 organs. The calculated results were tabulated in the form of absorbed doses and effective doses per unit neutron fluence. The calculated conversion coefficients are used for dose assessment of the public around nuclear facilities and accelerator facilities. (author)

Contribution to the development of a primary standard for high energy neutron beams

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Mancaux, M.

1983-12-01

A tissue equivalent calorimeter, made of Shonka A-150 plastic, has been constructed in order to create a primary standard for high energy neutrons and to establish a calibration procedure for ionization chambers used in neutrontherapy. After a detailed description of the calorimeter and the associated measuring system, the preliminary tests are presented, in particular, the evolution of the response as a function of accumulated dose. The measurements of the total absorbed dose (n + γ) by calorimetry in a neutron beam, in order to determine chambers' calibration factors in terms of absorbed dose to A-150 plastic, have been performed at the Neutrontherapy Unit of the Centre Hospitalier Regional d'Orleans. The uncertainty in the determination of the total absorbed dose to the tissu equivalent material using the new procedure is 3% lower than that obtained with the usual procedure, derived from an exposure calibration [fr

Neutron spectra produced by moderating an isotopic neutron source

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Carrillo Nunnez, Aureliano; Vega Carrillo, Hector Rene

2001-01-01

A Monte Carlo study has been carried out to determine the neutron spectra produced by an isotopic neutron source inserted in moderating media. Most devices used for radiation protection have a response strongly dependent on neutron energy. ISO recommends several neutron sources and monoenergetic neutron radiations, but actual working situations have broad spectral neutron distributions extending from thermal to MeV energies, for instance, near nuclear power plants, medical applications accelerators and cosmic neutrons. To improve the evaluation of the dosimetric quantities, is recommended to calibrate the radiation protection devices in neutron spectra which are nearly like those met in practice. In order to complete the range of neutron calibrating sources, it seems useful to develop several wide spectral distributions representative of typical spectra down to thermal energies. The aim of this investigation was to use an isotopic neutron source in different moderating media to reproduce some of the neutron fields found in practice. MCNP code has been used during calculations, in these a 239PuBe neutron source was inserted in H2O, D2O and polyethylene moderators. Moderators were modeled as spheres and cylinders of different sizes. In the case of cylindrical geometry the anisotropy of resulting neutron spectra was calculated from 0 to 2 . From neutron spectra dosimetric features were calculated. MCNP calculations were validated by measuring the neutron spectra of a 239PuBe neutron source inserted in a H2O cylindrical moderator. The measurements were carried out with a multisphere neutron spectrometer with a 6LiI(Eu) scintillator. From the measurements the neutron spectrum was unfolded using the BUNKIUT code and the UTA4 response matrix. Some of the moderators with the source produce a neutron spectrum close to spectra found in actual applications, then can be used during the calibration of radiation protection devices

DOE personnel neutron dosimetry evaluation and upgrade program

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Faust, L.G.; Stroud, C.M.; Vallario, E.J.

1988-01-01

The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors an extensive research program to improve the methods, dosimeters, and instruments available to DOE facilities for measuring neutron dose and assessing its effects on the work force. The Total Dose Meter was recently developed for measuring in real time the absorbed dose of mixed neutron and gamma radiation and for calculating the dose equivalent. The Field Neutron Spectrometer was developed to provide a portable instrument for determining neutron spectra in the workplace for flux-to-dose equivalent conversion and quality factor calculation. The Combination Thermoluminescence/Track Etch Dosimeter (TLD/TED) was developed to extend the effective neutron energy range of the conventional TLDs to improve detection of fast-energy neutrons. An Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeter is presently being developed for application to gamma, neutron, and beta radiation. An Effective Dose Equivalent System is being developed to provide guidance in implementing the January 1987 Presidential Directive to determine effective dose equivalent. Superheated Drop Detectors are being investigated for their potential as real time neutron dosimeters. This paper includes discussions of these improvements brought about by the DOE research program

Advances in absorbed dose measurement standards at the australian radiation laboratory

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Boas, J.F.; Hargrave, N.J.; Huntley, R.B.; Kotler, L.H.; Webb, D.V.; Wise, K.N.

1996-01-01

The applications of ionising radiation in the medical and industrial fields require both an accurate knowledge of the amount of ionising radiation absorbed by the medium in question and the capability of relating this to National and International standards. The most useful measure of the amount of radiation is the absorbed dose which is defined as the energy absorbed per unit mass. For radiotherapy, the reference medium is water, even though the measurement of the absorbed dose to water is not straightforward. Two methods are commonly used to provide calibrations in absorbed dose to water. The first is the calibration of the chamber in terms of exposure in a Cobalt-60 beam, followed by the conversion by a protocol into dose to water in this and higher energy beams. The other route is via the use of a graphite calorimeter as a primary standard device, where the conversion from absorbed dose to graphite to absorbed dose in water is performed either by theoretical means making use of cavity ionisation theory, or by experiment where the graphite calorimeter and secondary standard ionisation chamber are placed at scaled distances from the source of the radiation beam (known as the Dose-Ratio method). Extensive measurements have been made at Cobalt-60 at ARL using both the exposure and absorbed dose to graphite routes. Agreement between the ARL measurements and those based on standards maintained by ANSTO and NPL is within ± 0.3%. Absorbed dose measurements have also been performed at ARL with photon beams of nominal energy 16 and 19 MeV obtained from the ARL linac. The validity of the protocols at high photon energies, the validity of the methods used to convert from absorbed dose in graphite to absorbed dose in water and the validity of the indices used to specify the beams are discussed. Brief mention will also be made of the establishment of a calibration facility for neutron monitors at ARL and of progress in the development of ERP dosimetry

Advances in absorbed dose measurement standards at the australian radiation laboratory

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Boas, J.F.; Hargrave, N.J.; Huntley, R.B.; Kotler, L.H.; Webb, D.V.; Wise, K.N. [Australian Radiation Laboratory, Yallambie, VIC (Australia)

1996-12-31

The applications of ionising radiation in the medical and industrial fields require both an accurate knowledge of the amount of ionising radiation absorbed by the medium in question and the capability of relating this to National and International standards. The most useful measure of the amount of radiation is the absorbed dose which is defined as the energy absorbed per unit mass. For radiotherapy, the reference medium is water, even though the measurement of the absorbed dose to water is not straightforward. Two methods are commonly used to provide calibrations in absorbed dose to water. The first is the calibration of the chamber in terms of exposure in a Cobalt-60 beam, followed by the conversion by a protocol into dose to water in this and higher energy beams. The other route is via the use of a graphite calorimeter as a primary standard device, where the conversion from absorbed dose to graphite to absorbed dose in water is performed either by theoretical means making use of cavity ionisation theory, or by experiment where the graphite calorimeter and secondary standard ionisation chamber are placed at scaled distances from the source of the radiation beam (known as the Dose-Ratio method). Extensive measurements have been made at Cobalt-60 at ARL using both the exposure and absorbed dose to graphite routes. Agreement between the ARL measurements and those based on standards maintained by ANSTO and NPL is within {+-} 0.3%. Absorbed dose measurements have also been performed at ARL with photon beams of nominal energy 16 and 19 MeV obtained from the ARL linac. The validity of the protocols at high photon energies, the validity of the methods used to convert from absorbed dose in graphite to absorbed dose in water and the validity of the indices used to specify the beams are discussed. Brief mention will also be made of the establishment of a calibration facility for neutron monitors at ARL and of progress in the development of ERP dosimetry.

Hidden explosives detector employing pulsed neutron and x-ray interrogation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Schultz, F.J.; Caldwell, J.T.

1993-01-01

Methods and systems for the detection of small amounts of modern, highly-explosive nitrogen-based explosives, such as plastic explosives, hidden in airline baggage. Several techniques are employed either individually or combined in a hybrid system. One technique employed in combination is X-ray imaging. Another technique is interrogation with a pulsed neutron source in a two-phase mode of operation to image both nitrogen and oxygen densities. Another technique employed in combination is neutron interrogation to form a hydrogen density image or three-dimensional map. In addition, deliberately-placed neutron-absorbing materials can be detected

Hidden explosives detector employing pulsed neutron and x-ray interrogation

Science.gov (United States)

Schultz, Frederick J.; Caldwell, John T.

1993-01-01

Methods and systems for the detection of small amounts of modern, highly-explosive nitrogen-based explosives, such as plastic explosives, hidden in airline baggage. Several techniques are employed either individually or combined in a hybrid system. One technique employed in combination is X-ray imaging. Another technique is interrogation with a pulsed neutron source in a two-phase mode of operation to image both nitrogen and oxygen densities. Another technique employed in combination is neutron interrogation to form a hydrogen density image or three-dimensional map. In addition, deliberately-placed neutron-absorbing materials can be detected.

Implementation of a Gadolinium Burnable Absorber in the Carbide LEU-NTR

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Venneria, Paolo; Kim, Yonghee

2015-01-01

Among the most crucial are the rapid reactivity depletion during full-power operation and the positive reactivity insertion during the full-submersion criticality accident. In previous work, it has been suggested that both challenges can be mitigated through the successful implementation of a burnable absorber in the active core. Of the poisons previously surveyed, one of the most promising is Gadolinium in the form of Gadolina (Gd2O4). This paper explores the possibility of different methods by which the Gadolinia can be implemented in the core and makes a preliminary study of its effect on the full submersion criticality accident and the reactivity depletion during operation. The application of a Gadolinium neutron absorber in the active core region of the LEU-NTR has been shown to be neutronically feasible. It can be introduced into the core in various locations without resulting in core performance loss. The utility of the poison in terms of mitigating the full-submersion reactivity accident and the rapid change in reactivity during full-power operation have been preliminarily shown and the first steps towards eventual implementation made. Future work will consist of determining the maximum poison content in the core and tailoring the self-shielding effect in order to determine a specific Gd depletion rate

Calculation of isotope burn-up and change in efficiency of absorbing elements of WWER-1000 control and protection system during burn-up

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Timofeeva, O.A.; Kurakin, K.U.

2006-01-01

The report deals with fast and thermal neutron flows distribution in structural elements of WWER-1000 fuel assembly and absorbing rods, determination of absorbing isotope burn-up and worth variation in WWER reactor control and protection system rods. Simulation of absorber rod burn-up is provided using code package SAPPHIRE 9 5 end RC W WER allowing detailed description of the core segment spatial model. Maximum burn-up of absorbing rods and respective worth variation of control and protection system rods is determined on the basis of a number of calculations considering known characteristics of fuel cycles (Authors)

A strongly heated neutron star in the transient z source MAXI J0556-332

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Homan, Jeroen; Remillard, Ronald A. [MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, 77 Massachusetts Avenue 37-582D, Cambridge, MA 02139 (United States); Fridriksson, Joel K.; Wijnands, Rudy [Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 94249, 1090 GE Amsterdam (Netherlands); Cackett, Edward M. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, 666 W. Hancock St., Detroit, MI 48201 (United States); Degenaar, Nathalie [Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, 500 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States); Linares, Manuel [Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, c/ Vía Láctea s/n, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain); Lin, Dacheng, E-mail: jeroen@space.mit.edu [Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 (United States)

2014-11-10

We present Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Swift observations of the quiescent neutron star in the transient low-mass X-ray binary MAXI J0556-332. Observations of the source made during outburst (with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer) reveal tracks in its X-ray color-color and hardness-intensity diagrams that closely resemble those of the neutron-star Z sources, suggesting that MAXI J0556-332 had near- or super-Eddington luminosities for a large part of its ∼16 month outburst. A comparison of these diagrams with those of other Z sources suggests a source distance of 46 ± 15 kpc. Fits to the quiescent spectra of MAXI J0556-332 with a neutron-star atmosphere model (with or without a power-law component) result in distance estimates of 45 ± 3 kpc, for a neutron-star radius of 10 km and a mass of 1.4 M {sub ☉}. The spectra show the effective surface temperature of the neutron star decreasing monotonically over the first ∼500 days of quiescence, except for two observations that were likely affected by enhanced low-level accretion. The temperatures we obtain for the fits that include a power law (kT{sub eff}{sup ∞} = 184-308 eV) are much higher than those seen for any other neutron star heated by accretion, while the inferred cooling (e-folding) timescale (∼200 days) is similar to other sources. Fits without a power law yield higher temperatures (kT{sub eff}{sup ∞} = 190-336 eV) and a shorter e-folding time (∼160 days). Our results suggest that the heating of the neutron-star crust in MAXI J0556-332 was considerably more efficient than for other systems, possibly indicating additional or more efficient shallow heat sources in its crust.

Personnel neutron dose assessment upgrade: Volume 2, Field neutron spectrometer for health physics applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Brackenbush, L.W.; Reece, W.D.; Miller, S.D.

1988-07-01

Both the (ICRP) and the (NCPR) have recommended an increase in neutron quality factors and the adoption of effective dose equivalent methods. The series of reports entitled Personnel Neutron Dose Assessment Upgrade (PNL-6620) addresses these changes. Volume 1 in this series of reports (Personnel Neutron Dosimetry Assessment) provided guidance on the characteristics, use, and calibration of personnel neutron dosimeters in order to meet the new recommendations. This report, Volume 2: Field Neutron Spectrometer for Health Physics Applications describes the development of a portable field spectrometer which can be set up for use in a few minutes by a single person. The field spectrometer described herein represents a significant advance in improving the accuracy of neutron dose assessment. It permits an immediate analysis of the energy spectral distribution associated with the radiation from which neutron quality factor can be determined. It is now possible to depart from the use of maximum Q by determining and realistically applying a lower Q based on spectral data. The field spectrometer is made up of two modules: a detector module with built-in electronics and an analysis module with a IBM PC/reg sign/-compatible computer to control the data acquisition and analysis of data in the field. The unit is simple enough to allow the operator to perform spectral measurements with minimal training. The instrument is intended for use in steady-state radiation fields with neutrons energies covering the fission spectrum range. The prototype field spectrometer has been field tested in plutonium processing facilities, and has been proven to operate satisfactorily. The prototype field spectrometer uses a 3 He proportional counter to measure the neutron energy spectrum between 50 keV and 5 MeV and a tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) to measure absorbed neutron dose

Study of the RP-10 reactor neutron beam applied to the neutron radiography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zegarra, Manuel; Lopez, Alcides

2013-01-01

We have studied the RP-10 reactor radial neutron beam No. 3, which is used for neutron radiographies, by comparing radiograph's with and without the inner duct, and neutron flux determination with in flakes along the external duct, being the presence of photons creating signals at comparable levels of neutron effects, which reduce the quality of the analysis, values around 10 6 and 10 4 n/cm 2 s for thermal and epithermal flux were obtained respectively. It is recommended evaluate the design of the internal duct which presents strong photon emission. (authors).

Neutron spectrum measurement by TOF

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aizawa, Otohiko

1982-01-01

The TOF experiments by using various facilities are described. The steady neutron spectra in light water which contains non-1/V absorbing materials were measured by the TOF method at a LINAC facility. The results were compared with the calculations based on the Koppel-Haywood model and two others. The leakage neutron spectra from a heavy-water assembly were measured and compared with model calculations. The time-dependent energy spectra in a small graphite assembly were measured. For this measurement, a chopper system was also used. The two-region calculation explains the spectrum just after the neutron burst. The time-dependent spectra in a small Be assembly and in an assembly of coolant-moderator containing hydrogen were also measured. The calculations based on various models are in progress. The TOF experiments at the reactor-chopper facility were carried out for measuring the total cross sections of crystalline moderators, the thermal neutron total cross section of high temperature beryllium, the thermal neutron total cross sections of granular lead and high temperature liquid lead, and the angle-dependent scattering spectra. A pseudo-chopper was designed and constructed. The spectra of the neutron field for medical use were measured by the chopper-TOF system. The thermal neutron total cross sections of Fe, Zr, Nb and Mg were measured, and the results were compared with the calculations by THRUSH and UNCLE-TOM codes. The random-trigger TOF experiments were made by using Cf-252. (Kato, T.)

Fast Neutron Dosimetry Using CR-39 Nuclear Track Detector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

ZAKI, M.; ABDEL-NABY, A.; MORSY, A.

2010-01-01

Measurement of the neutron dose in and around the neutron sources is important for the purpose of personnel and environmental neutron dosimetry. In the present study, a method for the measurement of neutron dose using the UV-Vis spectra of CR-39 plastic track detector was investigated. A set of CR-39 plastic detectors was exposed to 252 Cf neutron source, which had the yield of 0.68x10 8 /s, and neutron dose equivalent rate 1m apart from the source is equal to 3.8 mrem/h. The samples were etched for 10 h in 6.25 N NaOH at 70 o C. The absorbance of the etched samples was measured using UV-visible spectrophotometer as a function of neutron dose. It was observed that there was a linear relationship between the optical absorption of these detectors and neutron dose. This means that the exposure dose of neutron can be determined by knowing the optical absorption of the sample. These results were compared with previous study. It was found that there was a matching and good agreement with their investigations.

A European neutron dosimetry intercomparison project (ENDIP). Results and evaluation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Broerse, J.J.; Burger, G.; Coppola, M.

1978-01-01

A total of twenty groups from nine countries participated in sessions of the European Neutron Dosimetry Intercomparison Project (ENDIP) which were held during 1975 at GSF, Munich-Neuherberg and TNO, Rijswijk. The data of all participants are collected, the analysis and evaluation of the results are given in the present report. Specific chapters deal with the experimental arrangements and monitoring results at GSF and TNO, characteristics of the dosimetry systems employed by the paticipating groups and the basic physical data and correction factors employed for the determination of kerma and absorbed dose. In general, the participants in ENDIP quote systematic uncertainties of 7 to 8% in the neutron and total kerma or absorbed dose, which are mainly attributed to inadequate knowledge of basic constants. The variations in the results obtained by different participants seem to be in accordance with the relative large systematic uncertainties quoted. In order to determine the influence of the use of different values for the physical parameters, the relative responses of the participants' dosimeters have also been compared. The variances of quoted kerma and dose values are of the same order of magnitude as those of instrument responses. This result indicates inconsistencies in experimental techniques employed by the participants for the determination of kerma and absorbed dose. A separate nonparametric analysis of the ENDIP results confirmed that there are considerable systematic differences. Recommendations for future studies on neutron dosimetry for biological and medical applications are given at the end of the report

In-Pile Experiment of a New Hafnium Aluminide Composite Material to Enable Fast Neutron Testing in the Advanced Test Reactor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Donna Post Guillen; Douglas L. Porter; James R. Parry; Heng Ban

2010-06-01

A new hafnium aluminide composite material is being developed as a key component in a Boosted Fast Flux Loop (BFFL) system designed to provide fast neutron flux test capability in the Advanced Test Reactor. An absorber block comprised of hafnium aluminide (Al3Hf) particles (~23% by volume) dispersed in an aluminum matrix can absorb thermal neutrons and transfer heat from the experiment to pressurized water cooling channels. However, the thermophysical properties, such as thermal conductivity, of this material and the effect of irradiation are not known. This paper describes the design of an in-pile experiment to obtain such data to enable design and optimization of the BFFL neutron filter.

Dosimetry and biological effects of fast neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zoetelief, J.

1981-01-01

This thesis contains studies on two types of cellular damage: cell reproductive death and chromosome aberrations induced by irradiation with X rays, gamma rays and fast neutrons of different energies. A prerequisite for the performance of radiobiological experiments is the determination of the absorbed dose with a sufficient degree of accuracy and precision. Basic concepts of energy deposition by ionizing radiation and practical aspects of neutron dosimetry for biomedical purposes are discussed. Information on the relative neutron sensitivity of GM counters and on the effective point of measurement of ionization chambers for dosimetry of neutron and photon beams under free-in-air conditions and inside phantoms which are used to simulate the biological objects is presented. Different methods for neutron dosimetry are compared and the experimental techniques used for the investigations of cell reproductive death and chromosome aberrations induced by ionizing radiation of different qualities are presented. Dose-effect relations for induction cell inactivation and chromsome aberrations in three cultured cell lines for different radiation qualities are presented. (Auth.)

On-line neutron activation analyzers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Flahaut, V.; Colmon, A.

1999-01-01

A neutronic analyser has been designed to determine the composition of the flow of raw materials entering a cement factory on the conveyor belt. This new system gives a reliable analysis of the whole cargo that outdates the sampling or the usual surface analysis based on fluorescence spectrometry. The accuracy is about 1%.The neutrons interact with the materials on an average depth of 25 cm and are absorbed by nuclei, these nuclei produce photons whose energy is characteristic of the chemical element itself. The composition can be deduced by measuring the number of photons emitted and their energy. The analysis is made on-line and can concern the search for about 10 compounds. In the case of cement the list of compounds is: SiO 2 , CaO, Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , MgO, Na 2 O, TiO 2 , S, Mn 2 O 3 , K 2 O, and H 2 O. The neutron generator involves a deuterium ion source whose deuterium ions are accelerated by means of an electrical field and impinge on a tritiated target, the nuclear reactions between deuterium and tritium produce 14 MeV neutrons. This neutron analysing technique can be adapted to any need of on-line composition determination. (A.C.)

Medical use of fast neutrons in radiotherapy and radiography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bewley, D.K.

1975-01-01

Over 400 patients have been treated with fast neutrons from a cyclotron at Hammersmith Hospital, London, using 16 MeV deuterons on beryllium. A large variety of malignant disease is included in this trial. A randomized trial of fast neutron therapy for cancer of the mouth and throat is in progress and preliminary results will be given. Fast neutron radiographs are often taken to check the positions of the fields used on the patients. These show no contrast from bone, but demonstrate only the presence of gas-filled cavities. As a diagnostic method, fast neutron radiography suffers from a number of disadvantages, the main ones being lack of sensitivity of the image-forming system and the hazard to the patient due to a large Quality Factor. Estimation of the absorbed dose given to different types of tissue is an important factor in the medical use of fast neutrons. More data are needed on the processes whereby fast neutrons impart energy to matter, particularly for neutrons above 15 MeV

Dynamic simulation of a two-phase control absorber for neutron flux regulation in a nuclear reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Plourde, J.A.; Lepp, R.M.

1979-08-01

A dynamic simulation of the two-phase control absorber being proposed for future Canadian nuclear power reactors has been developed at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories. The model, implemented on a hybrid computer, was developed to study absorber dynamics at different circuit operating conditions and with different circuit configurations. The simulation is modular, with as much correspondence as possible between individual modules and the physical entities. The dynamics of several of the modules are described by partial differential equations, with space and time as independent variables. These are solved via the Continuous Space/Discrete Time technique. The simulation has been validated with data from the Two-Phase Absorber Experimental (TOPAX) Rig installed at the ZED-2 test reactor. (author)

Importance of the elemental composition in brachytherapy with neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Paredes G, L.; Balcazar G, M.; Azorin N, J.; Francois L, J.L.

2004-01-01

An analysis is presented of as the small differences that exist in the elementary composition of the wicked tumors, healthy fabrics and some material substitutes of fabric employees in dosimetry, they generate variations in the value of the kerma coefficient and consequently in the absorbed dose of neutrons in the interval 11 eV to 29 MeV. These differences make that the coefficient of kerma of neutrons average for the considered wicked tumors, be between 6% and 7% smaller that the coefficient of kerma of neutrons average for soft fabric, in the interval of interest in therapy with quick neutrons. These results have a special importance during the process of planning of brachytherapy treatments with sources of 252 Cf, to optimize and to individualize the treatments to the patients. (Author)

Asymmetry of neutrino emission from neutron beta-decay in superdense matter and strong magnetic field

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kauts, V.L.; Savochkin, A.M.; Studenikin, A.I.

2006-01-01

Exact solution of Dirac equation for charged particles in homogenous magnetic field for computation of probability in presence of degenerate magnetized Fermi-gas consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons has been used. Angular distribution of antineutrino momenta is investigated. Values of main parameters of medium is realistic for physics of neutron stars. This investigation may be applied for consideration of cooling of neutron stars [ru

Risk from fast neutron exposure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bond, V.P.

1978-01-01

The recommendations made by Rossi and Mays imply that the risk associated with the current annual dose equivalent limit of 5 rem for all radiations is unacceptably high, that this limit must be reduced by a factor of 10 or more, and that the conservative linear, no threshold hypothesis must be abandoned. It is shown here that these recommendations are not supported by the newly-analyzed neutron data, and certainly cannot be applied selectively to the annual absorbed dose limit for neutrons. In particular, the judgment that the risk of an annual exposure from 0.5 rad (5 rem) of neutrons is unacceptable high, although perhaps defensible as a personal opinion of the authors, does not follow either from the assumption of a linear-quadratic dose effect relation for low-LET radiation or from other radiobiological considerations. At issue is the level of risk that is to be considered acceptable, a question that is societal and thus not resolvable on purely technical or scientific grounds

Neutron collar calibration for assay of LWR [light-water reactor] fuel assemblies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Menlove, H.O.; Pieper, J.E.

1987-03-01

The neutron-coincidence collar is used for the verification of the uranium content in light-water reactor fuel assemblies. An AmLi neutron source is used to give an active interrogation of the fuel assembly to measure the 235 U content, and the 238 U content is verified from a passive neutron-coincidence measurement. This report gives the collar calibration data of pressurized-water reactor and boiling-water reactor fuel assemblies. Calibration curves and correction factors are presented for neutron absorbers (burnable poisons) and different fuel assembly sizes. The data were collected at Exxon Nuclear, Franco-Belge de Fabrication de Combustibles, ASEA-Atom, and other nuclear fuel fabrication facilities

The Time Structure of Hadronic Showers in Highly Granular Calorimeters with Tungsten and Steel Absorbers

CERN Document Server

Adloff, C.; Chefdeville, M.; Drancourt, C.; Gaglione, R.; Geffroy, N.; Karyotakis, Y.; Koletsou, I.; Prast, J.; Vouters, G.; Repond, J.; Schlereth, J.; Xia, L.; Baldolemar, E.; Li, J.; Park, S.T.; Sosebee, M.; White, A.P.; Yu, J.; Eigen, G.; Thomson, M.A.; Ward, D.R.; Benchekroun, D.; Hoummada, A.; Khoulaki, Y.; Apostolakis, J.; Arfaoui, A.; Benoit, M.; Dannheim, D.; Elsener, K.; Folger, G.; Grefe, C.; Ivantchenko, V.; Killenberg, M.; Klempt, W.; van der Kraaij, E.; Linssen, L.; Lucaci-Timoce, A.-I.; Münnich, A.; Poss, S.; Ribon, A.; Roloff, P.; Sailer, A.; Schlatter, D.; Sicking, E.; Strube, J.; Uzhinskiy, V.; Carloganu, C.; Gay, P.; Manen, S.; Royer, L.; Cornett, U.; David, D.; Ebrahimi, A.; Falley, G.; Feege, N.; Gadow, K.; Göttlicher, P.; Günter, C.; Hartbrich, O.; Hermberg, B.; Karstensen, S.; Krivan, F.; Krüger, K.; Lu, S.; Lutz, B.; Morozov, S.; Morgunov, V.; Neubüser, C.; Reinecke, M.; Sefkow, F.; Smirnov, P.; Terwort, M.; Fagot, A.; Tytgat, M.; Zaganidis, N.; Hostachy, J.-Y.; Morin, L.; Garutti, E.; Laurien, S.; Marchesini, I.; Matysek, M.; Ramilli, M.; Briggl, K.; Eckert, P.; Harion, T.; Schultz-Coulon, H.-Ch.; Shen, W.; Stamen, R.; Chang, S.; Khan, A.; Kim, D.H.; Kong, D.J.; Oh, Y.D.; Bilki, B.; Norbeck, E.; Northacker, D.; Onel, Y.; Wilson, G.W.; Kawagoe, K.; Miyazaki, Y.; Sudo, Y.; Ueno, H.; Yoshioka, T.; Dauncey, P.D.; Cortina Gil, E.; Mannai, S.; Baulieu, G.; Calabria, P.; Caponetto, L.; Combaret, C.; Della Negra, R.; Ete, R.; Grenier, G.; Han, R.; Ianigro, J-C.; Kieffer, R.; Laktineh, I.; Lumb, N.; Mathez, H.; Mirabito, L.; Petrukhin, A.; Steen, A.; Tromeur, W.; Vander Donckt, M.; Zoccarato, Y.; Berenguer Antequera, J.; Calvo Alamillo, E.; Fouz, M.-C.; Puerta-Pelayo, J.; Corriveau, F.; Bobchenko, B.; Chadeeva, M.; Danilov, M.; Epifantsev, A.; Markin, O.; Mizuk, R.; Novikov, E.; Rusinov, V.; Tarkovsky, E.; Kozlov, V.; Soloviev, Y.; Besson, D.; Buzhan, P.; Ilyin, A.; Kantserov, V.; Kaplin, V.; Popova, E.; Tikhomirov, V.; Gabriel, M.; Kiesling, C.; Seidel, K.; Simon, F.; Soldner, C.; Szalay, M.; Tesar, M.; Weuste, L.; Amjad, M.S.; Bonis, J.; Conforti di Lorenzo, S.; Cornebise, P.; Fleury, J.; Frisson, T.; van der Kolk, N.; Richard, F.; Pöschl, R.; Rouene, J.; Anduze, M.; Balagura, V.; Becheva, E.; Boudry, V.; Brient, J-C.; Cornat, R.; Frotin, M.; Gastaldi, F.; Guliyev, E.; Haddad, Y.; Magniette, F.; Ruan, M.; Tran, T.H.; Videau, H.; Callier, S.; Dulucq, F.; Martin-Chassard, G.; de la Taille, Ch.; Raux, L.; Seguin-Moreau, N.; Zacek, J.; Cvach, J.; Gallus, P.; Havranek, M.; Janata, M.; Kvasnicka, J.; Lednicky, D.; Marcisovsky, M.; Polak, I.; Popule, J.; Tomasek, L.; Tomasek, M.; Ruzicka, P.; Sicho, P.; Smolik, J.; Vrba, V.; Zalesak, J.; Belhorma, B.; Ghazlane, H.; Kotera, K.; Ono, H.; Takeshita, T.; Uozumi, S.; Chai, J.S.; Song, H.S.; Lee, S.H.; Götze, M.; Sauer, J.; Weber, S.; Zeitnitz, C.

2014-01-01

The intrinsic time structure of hadronic showers influences the timing capability and the required integration time of hadronic calorimeters in particle physics experiments, and depends on the active medium and on the absorber of the calorimeter. With the CALICE T3B experiment, a setup of 15 small plastic scintillator tiles read out with Silicon Photomultipliers, the time structure of showers is measured on a statistical basis with high spatial and temporal resolution in sampling calorimeters with tungsten and steel absorbers. The results are compared to GEANT4 (version 9.4 patch 03) simulations with different hadronic physics models. These comparisons demonstrate the importance of using high precision treatment of low-energy neutrons for tungsten absorbers, while an overall good agreement between data and simulations for all considered models is observed for steel.

Installation and development of neutron radiography in the nuclear reactor (IEAR-1) of the Instituto de Energia Atomica, Brazil

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fuga, R.

1979-01-01

Investigations on the field of Neutron Radiography have been performed at the IEAR-1, swimming pool reactor utilizing a collimated neutron beam and the so-called photographic transfer method as a mean of detection. The test object (sample) is placed between the neutron source (reactor core) and the gold foil. The acitivity of its different points is the inverse measure of the neutrons absorbed in the test sample at the corresponding points. The activity distribution on the gold foil is determined again by exposing it to an X-ray film. A multichannel type collimator consisting of an assemblage of stainless steel tubes inside an aluminium mantle (tube) was used as a direction beam selector. Improvements have been introduced in respect to the reduction of angular divergence and neutron scattering. To improve further the quality of the radiographs another collimator type has been developed using boric acid as a neutron absorber and moderator. Flux measurements by means of gold foil activation at reactor positions of interest were necessary to eliminate errors originating of different neutron flux values. The dependence of film darkening upon the neutron flux and other factors have been discussed. Finally neutron-and gama-radiographs of the same objects were evaluated in comparison. (author) [pt

Estimate of the damage in organs induced by neutrons in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Benites R, J. L.; Vega C, H. R.; Uribe, M. del R.

2014-08-01

By means of Monte Carlo methods was considered the damage in the organs, induced by neutrons, of patients with cancer that receive treatment in modality of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with lineal accelerator Varian Ix. The objective of this work was to estimate the damage probability in radiotherapy patients, starting from the effective dose by neutrons in the organs and tissues out of the treatment region. For that a three-dimensional mannequin of equivalent tissue of 30 x 100 x 30 cm 3 was modeled and spherical cells were distributed to estimate the Kerma in equivalent tissue and the absorbed dose by neutrons. With the absorbed dose the effective dose was calculated using the weighting factors for the organ type and radiation type. With the effective dose and the damage factors, considered in the ICRP 103, was considered the probability of damage induction in organs. (Author)

Studies on thermal neutron perturbation factor needed for bulk sample activation analysis

CERN Document Server

Csikai, J; Sanami, T; Michikawa, T

2002-01-01

The spatial distribution of thermal neutrons produced by an Am-Be source in a graphite pile was measured via the activation foil method. The results obtained agree well with calculated data using the MCNP-4B code. A previous method used for the determination of the average neutron flux within thin absorbing samples has been improved and extended for a graphite moderator. A procedure developed for the determination of the flux perturbation factor renders the thermal neutron activation analysis of bulky samples of unknown composition possible both in hydrogenous and graphite moderators.

Development and qualification of reference calculation schemes for absorbers in pressured water reactor

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Blanc-Tranchant, P.

2001-01-01

The general field in which this work takes place is the field of the accuracy improvement of neutronic calculations, required to operate Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) with a better precision and a lower cost. More specifically, this thesis deals with the calculation of the absorber clusters used to control these reactors. The first aim of that work was to define and validate a reference calculation route of such an absorber cluster, based on the deterministic code APOLLO2. This calculation scheme was then to be checked against experimental data. This study of the complex situation of absorber clusters required several intermediate studies, of simpler problems, such as the study of fuel rods lattices and the study of single absorber rods (B4C, AIC, Hafnium) isolated in such lattices. Each one of these different studies led to a particular reference calculation route. All these calculation routes were developed against reference continuous energy Monte-Carlo calculations, carried out with the stochastic code TRIPOLI4. They were then checked against experimental data measured during French experimental programs, undertaken within the EOLE experimental reactor, at the Nuclear Research Center of Cadarache: the MISTRAL experiments for the study of isolated absorber rods and the EPICURE experiments for the study of absorber clusters. This work led to important improvements in the calculation of isolated absorbers and absorber clusters. The reactivity worth of these clusters in particular, can now be obtained with a great accuracy: the discrepancy observed between the calculated and the experimental values is less than 2.5 %, and then slightly lower than the experimental uncertainty. (author)

Fluence-compensated down-scattered neutron imaging using the neutron imaging system at the National Ignition Facility

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Casey, D. T., E-mail: casey21@llnl.gov; Munro, D. H.; Grim, G. P.; Landen, O. L.; Spears, B. K.; Fittinghoff, D. N.; Field, J. E.; Smalyuk, V. A. [Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States); Volegov, P. L.; Merrill, F. E. [Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

2016-11-15

The Neutron Imaging System at the National Ignition Facility is used to observe the primary ∼14 MeV neutrons from the hotspot and down-scattered neutrons (6-12 MeV) from the assembled shell. Due to the strong spatial dependence of the primary neutron fluence through the dense shell, the down-scattered image is convolved with the primary-neutron fluence much like a backlighter profile. Using a characteristic scattering angle assumption, we estimate the primary neutron fluence and compensate the down-scattered image, which reveals information about asymmetry that is otherwise difficult to extract without invoking complicated models.

Neutronic design of pulse operation simulating device for in-pile functional test of fusion blanket by MCNP

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nagao, Yoshiharu; Nakamichi, Masaru; Kawamura, Hiroshi [Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Oarai, Ibaraki (Japan)

2000-03-01

The pulse operation of a fusion reactor can be simulated in a fission reactor by controlling the neutron flux entering a test section by using a rotating 'hollow cylinder with window' made of hafnium. The rotating cylinder is installed between the test section and the fixed outer neutron absorber cylinder and is also made of hafnium with an opening in the direction to the core center. For gathering engineering data for the tritium breeding blanket such as characteristics of temperature change, tritium release and recovery, etc., it is desirable that the ratio of minimum to maximum thermal neutron fluxes is greater than 1:10. Design calculations were performed for the test assembly which considered local neutronic effects and the mechanical constraints of the device. From the results of these calculations, the ratio of minimum to maximum thermal neutron flux under irradiation would be about 1:10 using a pulse operation simulating device which has a thickness of 6.5 mm and a 150deg window angle for the rotating hollow cylinder and 5.0 mm in thickness of fixed neutron absorber. (author)

Multi-Wavelength Polarimetry of Isolated Neutron Stars

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Roberto P. Mignani

2018-03-01

Full Text Available Isolated neutron stars are known to be endowed with extreme magnetic fields, whose maximum intensity ranges from 10 12 – 10 15 G, which permeates their magnetospheres. Their surrounding environment is also strongly magnetized, especially in the compact nebulae powered by the relativistic wind from young neutron stars. The radiation from isolated neutron stars and their surrounding nebulae is, thus, supposed to bring a strong polarization signature. Measuring the neutron star polarization brings important information about the properties of their magnetosphere and of their highly magnetized environment. Being the most numerous class of isolated neutron stars, polarization measurements have been traditionally carried out for radio pulsars, hence in the radio band. In this review, I summarize multi-wavelength linear polarization measurements obtained at wavelengths other than radio both for pulsars and other types of isolated neutron stars and outline future perspectives with the upcoming observing facilities.

Calorimetric dosimetry in neutron and charged particle beams

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McDonald, J.C.; Ma, I.C.; Laughlin, J.S.

1978-01-01

A portable tissue-equivalent (TE) calorimetric, constructed of A-150 plastic, has been employed for the measurement of absorbed dose in several neutron radiotherapy fields. Comparisons of spherical, cylindrical, and thimble shaped TE ionization chambers have been carried out using either air, or a flow of TE gas in the chamber

Neutrons characterization of the nuclear reactor Ian-R1 of Colombia

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gonzalez P, L. X.; Martinez O, S. A.; Vega C, H. R.

2014-08-01

By means of Monte Carlo methods, with the code MCNPX, the neutron characteristics of the research nuclear reactor Ian-R1 of Colombia, in power off but with the neutrons source in their start position, have been valued. The neutrons spectra, the total flow and their average power were calculated in the irradiation spaces inside the graphite reflector, as well as in the cells with air. Also the spectra, the total flow and the absorbed dose were calculated in several places distributed along the radial shaft inside the water moderator. The neutrons total flow was also considered to the long of the axial shaft. The characteristics of the neutrons spectra vary depending on their position regarding the source and the material that surrounds to the cell where the calculation was made. (Author)

Development and qualification of reference calculation schemes for absorbers in pressured water reactor; Elaboration et qualification de schemas de calcul de reference pour les absorbants dans les reacteurs a eau pressurisee

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blanc-Tranchant, P

2001-07-01

The general field in which this work takes place is the field of the accuracy improvement of neutronic calculations, required to operate Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) with a better precision and a lower cost. More specifically, this thesis deals with the calculation of the absorber clusters used to control these reactors. The first aim of that work was to define and validate a reference calculation route of such an absorber cluster, based on the deterministic code APOLLO2. This calculation scheme was then to be checked against experimental data. This study of the complex situation of absorber clusters required several intermediate studies, of simpler problems, such as the study of fuel rods lattices and the study of single absorber rods (B4C, AIC, Hafnium) isolated in such lattices. Each one of these different studies led to a particular reference calculation route. All these calculation routes were developed against reference continuous energy Monte-Carlo calculations, carried out with the stochastic code TRIPOLI4. They were then checked against experimental data measured during French experimental programs, undertaken within the EOLE experimental reactor, at the Nuclear Research Center of Cadarache: the MISTRAL experiments for the study of isolated absorber rods and the EPICURE experiments for the study of absorber clusters. This work led to important improvements in the calculation of isolated absorbers and absorber clusters. The reactivity worth of these clusters in particular, can now be obtained with a great accuracy: the discrepancy observed between the calculated and the experimental values is less than 2.5 %, and then slightly lower than the experimental uncertainty. (author)

Development of neutron shielding material using metathesis-polymer matrix

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sakurai, Yoshinori E-mail: ysakurai@rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Sasaki, Akira; Kobayashi, Tooru

2004-04-21

A neutron shielding material using a metathesis-polymer matrix, which is a thermosetting resin, was developed. This shielding material has characteristics that can be controlled for different mixing ratios of neutron absorbers and for formation in the laboratory. Additionally, the elastic modulus can be changed at the hardening process, from a flexible elastoma to a mechanically tough solid. Experiments were performed at the Kyoto University Research Reactor in order to determine the important characteristics of this metathesis-polymer shielding material, such as neutron shielding performance, secondary gamma-ray generation and activation. The metathesis-polymer shielding material was shown to be practical and as effective as the other available shielding materials, which mainly consist of thermoplastic resin.

Time-of-flight spectrometer for slow neutrons in use at the reactor in Saclay. Its application for the study of the inelastic diffusion of cold neutrons; L'appareillage de spectrometrie a temps-de-vol pour neutrons lents en service a la pile de Saclay. Son application a l'etude de la diffusion inelastique des neutrons froids

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jacsot, B; Netter, F [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires; Galula, M [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

1955-07-01

The time-of-flight spectrometers is constituted of a mechanic swivel obturator which absorbs neutrons until energies above 1 KeV, a mechanic filter which allow to retain only high wave length components and a delayed pulses selector with 100 channels. Its main application field is the thermic region where it allowed to measure the inelastic scattering of neutrons using various materials as H{sub 2}O, D{sub 2}O, Be, BeO, etc... (M.P.)

Applicability of thermoluminescent dosimeters in X-ray organ dose determination and in the dosimetry of systemic and boron neutron capture radiotherapy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aschan, C.

1999-01-01

The main detectors used for clinical dosimetry are ionisation chambers and semiconductors. Thermoluminescent (TL) dosimeters are also of interest because of their following advantages: (i) wide useful dose range, (ii) small physical size, (iii) no need for high voltage or cables, i.e. stand alone character, and (iv) tissue equivalence (LiF) for most radiation types. TL detectors can particularly be used for the absorbed dose measurements performed with the aim to investigate cases where dose prediction is difficult and not as part of a routine verification procedure. In this thesis, the applicability of TL detectors was studied in different clinical applications. Particularly, the major phenomena (e.g. energy dependence, sensitivity to high LET radiation, reproducibility) affecting on the precision and accuracy of TL detectors in the dose estimations were considered in this work. In organ dose determinations of diagnostic X-ray examinations, the TL detectors were found to be accurate within 5% (1 S.D.). For in viva studies using internal irradiation source, i.e. for systemic radiation therapy, a method for determining the absorbed doses to organs was introduced. The TL method developed was found to be able to estimate the absorbed doses to those critical organs near the body surface within 50%. In the mixed neutron-gamma field of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), TL detectors were used for gamma dose and neutron fluence measurements. They were found able to measure the neutron dose component with the accuracy of 16%, and therefore to be a useful addition to the activation foils in BNCT neutron dosimetry. The absorbed gamma doses can be measured with TL detectors within 20% in the mixed neutron-gamma field, which enables in viva measurements at BNCT beams with approximately the same accuracy. In this study, the uncertainties of TL dosimeters were found to be high but not essentially greater than those in other measurement techniques used for clinical dosimetry

Geiger-Mueller counter for mixed neutron-gamma beam dosimetry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McDonald, J.C.; Ma, I.-C.

1978-01-01

A Geiger-Mueller (G-M) dosimeter has been constructed and employed to measure the gamma-ray component of absorbed dose in a cyclotron produced fast neutron field. This instrument is waterproof for measurements in a liquid medium, and read-out is accompanied with any standard scaler. (Auth.)

Utilization of boron irradiation filters in reactor neutron activation via epithermal (n,γ) and fast neutron reactions

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chisela, F.

1986-01-01

The technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis based on irradiation with reactor epithermal and fast neutrons has been described and evaluated. Important characteristics of boron neutron absorbers used to remove thermal neutrons from the reactor neutron spectrum have been examined and compared with those of cadmium. Three boron compound shields, have been designed and constructed at the BER II 5MW reactor for use in epithermal neutron activation analysis of biological materials. The major advantages offered by these filters in this application include the flexibility of varying the filter thickness, the low radioactivity induced in the filters during irradiation, ease of fabrication and the relatively low cost of the filter materials. The radiation heating due to the 10 B(n,α) 7 Li-reaction has been experimentally investigated for the filters used and the results obtained confirm the necessity for efficient cooling of these filters during irradiation. Three irradiation facilities have been characterized with respect to the neutron flux density and the flux spatial distribution. An experiment has been designed and carried out to compensate the flux inhomogeneity in two irradiation positions of the DBV facility caused by the reactor geometry. Several biological samples including well characterized reference materials have been analysed after epithermal activation and the results compared with those obtained with the classical thermal neutron activation method. Improved sensitivity of determination has been found for elements with high resonance integral to thermal neutron cross section ratios (RI/σ 0 ). The range of elements that can be determined instrumentally is extended and the time scale of analysis is considerably reduced. (orig.) [de

New detectors of neutron, gamma- and X-radiations

CERN Document Server

Lobanov, N S

2002-01-01

Paper presents new detectors to record absorbed doses of neutron, gamma- and X-ray radiations within 0-1500 Mrad range. DBF dosimeter is based on dibutyl phthalate. EDS dosimeter is based on epoxy (epoxide) resin, while SD 5-40 detector is based on a mixture of dibutyl phthalate and epoxy resin. Paper describes experimental techniques to calibrate and interprets the measurement results of absorbed doses for all detectors. All three detectors cover 0-30000 Mrad measured does range. The accuracy of measurements is +- 10% independent (practically) of irradiation dose rates within 20-2000 rad/s limits under 20-80 deg C temperature

Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Fast Neutron Spectra

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Van Dam, H.; Kleijn, H. R. [Reactor Instituut, Delft (Netherlands)

1968-04-15

The reactor physics division of the Inter-Academic Reactor Institute at Delft is concentrating its efforts in the field of fast reactor physics on problems of a more fundamental nature. The object of the programme is to determine experimentally a number of microscopic reactor physics parameters such as conversion potentials, fission ratios and Doppler coefficients for simple geometries and material compositions. Because of the extreme importance of knowledge of the neutron spectrum for the interpretation of the results, attention has initially been concentrated on both the measurement and the calculation of fast neutron spectra. The transport of neutrons in absorbing and non-absorbing heavy atom materials is studied by solving the Boltzmann equation. Both isotropic and anisotropic scattering are considered. Anisotropic scattering is treated by the P{sub n}-approximation, while flux-anisotropy is handled with the S{sub N}-method. In the code FAST-DELFT, scattering is treated up to the P{sub 4} component, a further extension of which is useless because of the lack of available cross-section data. By using this method, the effect of scattering anisotropy on the spectrum formation has been studied. In addition the influence of group cross-section inaccuracies was determined. The experimental work has been concentrated on methods to determine in-core spectra. Using home-made proportional counters with gamma-ray discrimination provisions fast neutron spectra have been measured in simple geometries. These experiments were complemented by foil measurements in the lower energy region. The results of this work are presented in this paper. (author)

Quantitative phase analysis by neutron diffraction

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lee, Chang Hee; Song, Su Ho; Lee, Jin Ho; Shim, Hae Seop [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon (Korea)

1999-06-01

This study is to apply quantitative phase analysis (QPA) by neutron diffraction to the round robin samples provided by the International Union of Crystallography(IUCr). We measured neutron diffraction patterns for mixed samples which have several different weight percentages and their unique characteristic features. Neutron diffraction method has been known to be superior to its complementary methods such as X-ray or Synchrotron, but it is still accepted as highly reliable under limited conditions or samples. Neutron diffraction has strong capability especially on oxides due to its scattering cross-section of the oxygen and it can become a more strong tool for analysis on the industrial materials with this quantitative phase analysis techniques. By doing this study, we hope not only to do one of instrument performance tests on our HRPD but also to improve our ability on the analysis of neutron diffraction data by comparing our QPA results with others from any advanced reactor facilities. 14 refs., 4 figs., 6 tabs. (Author)

Cadmium depletion impacts on hardening neutron spectrum for advanced fuel testing in ATR

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chang, Gray S.

2011-01-01

For transmuting long-lived isotopes contained in spent nuclear fuel into shorter-lived fission products effectively is in a fast neutron spectrum reactor. In the absence of a fast spectrum test reactor in the United States of America (USA), initial irradiation testing of candidate fuels can be performed in a thermal test reactor that has been modified to produce a test region with a hardened neutron spectrum. A test region is achieved with a Cadmium (Cd) filter which can harden the neutron spectrum to a spectrum similar (although still somewhat softer) to that of the liquid metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR). A fuel test loop with a Cd-filter has been installed within the East Flux Trap (EFT) of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). A detailed comparison analyses between the cadmium (Cd) filter hardened neutron spectrum in the ATR and the LMFBR fast neutron spectrum have been performed using MCWO. MCWO is a set of scripting tools that are used to couple the Monte Carlo transport code MCNP with the isotope depletion and buildup code ORIGEN-2.2. The MCWO-calculated results indicate that the Cd-filter can effectively flatten the Rim-Effect and reduce the linear heat rate (LHGR) to meet the advanced fuel testing project requirements at the beginning of irradiation (BOI). However, the filtering characteristics of Cd as a strong absorber quickly depletes over time, and the Cd-filter must be replaced for every two typical operating cycles within the EFT of the ATR. The designed Cd-filter can effectively depress the LHGR in experimental fuels and harden the neutron spectrum enough to adequately flatten the Rim-Effect in the test region. (author)

Fault Detection for Automotive Shock Absorber

Science.gov (United States)

Hernandez-Alcantara, Diana; Morales-Menendez, Ruben; Amezquita-Brooks, Luis

2015-11-01

Fault detection for automotive semi-active shock absorbers is a challenge due to the non-linear dynamics and the strong influence of the disturbances such as the road profile. First obstacle for this task, is the modeling of the fault, which has been shown to be of multiplicative nature. Many of the most widespread fault detection schemes consider additive faults. Two model-based fault algorithms for semiactive shock absorber are compared: an observer-based approach and a parameter identification approach. The performance of these schemes is validated and compared using a commercial vehicle model that was experimentally validated. Early results shows that a parameter identification approach is more accurate, whereas an observer-based approach is less sensible to parametric uncertainty.

Evaluation of Aluminum-Boron Carbide Neutron Absorbing Materials for Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, Lumin; Wierschke, Jonathan Brett

2015-01-01

The objective of this work was to understand the corrosion behavior of Boral® and Bortec® neutron absorbers over long-term deployment in a used nuclear fuel dry cask storage environment. Corrosion effects were accelerated by flowing humidified argon through an autoclave at temperatures up to 570°C. Test results show little corrosion of the aluminum matrix but that boron is leaching out of the samples. Initial tests performed at 400 and 570°C were hampered by reduced flow caused by the rapid build-up of solid deposits in the outlet lines. Analysis of the deposits by XRD shows that the deposits are comprised of boron trioxide and sassolite (H 3 BO 3 ). The collection of boron- containing compounds in the outlet lines indicated that boron was being released from the samples. Observation of the exposed samples using SEM and optical microscopy show the growth of new phases in the samples. These phases were most prominent in Bortec® samples exposed at 570°C. Samples of Boral® exposed at 570°C showed minimal new phase formation but showed nearly the complete loss of boron carbide particles. Boron carbide loss was also significant in Boral samples at 400°C. However, at 400°C phases similar to those found in Bortec® were observed. The rapid loss of the boron carbide particles in the Boral® is suspected to inhibit the formation of the new secondary phases. However, Material samples in an actual dry cask environment would be exposed to temperatures closer to 300°C and less water than the lowest test. The results from this study conclude that at the temperature and humidity levels present in a dry cask environment, corrosion and boron leaching will have no effect on the performance of Boral® and Bortec® to maintain criticality control.

The effect of strongly anisotropic scattering on the critical size of a slab in one-speed neutron transport theory: Modified UN method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Öztürk, Hakan

2014-01-01

Highlights: • The criticality problem for one-speed neutrons in homogeneous slab is investigated. • A combination of forward–backward and linear anisotropy is used. • The effect of the strongly anisotropic scattering on the critical size is analyzed. - Abstract: The criticality problem for one-speed neutrons in a uniform finite slab is studied in the case of a combination of forward and backward scattering with linearly anisotropic scattering using U N method based on the Chebyshev polynomials of second kind. The effect of the linear anisotropy on the critical thickness of the slab is investigated. The critical slab thicknesses are calculated by using Marshak boundary condition for various values of the anisotropy parameters and they are presented in the tables. In comparison to the results obtained by other methods, the results of this study are in compatible with the former ones

Aligned metal absorbers and the ultraviolet background at the end of reionization

Science.gov (United States)

Doughty, Caitlin; Finlator, Kristian; Oppenheimer, Benjamin D.; Davé, Romeel; Zackrisson, Erik

2018-04-01

We use observations of spatially aligned C II, C IV, Si II, Si IV, and O I absorbers to probe the slope and intensity of the ultraviolet background (UVB) at z ˜ 6. We accomplish this by comparing observations with predictions from a cosmological hydrodynamic simulation using three trial UVBs applied in post-processing: a spectrally soft, fluctuating UVB calculated using multifrequency radiative transfer; a soft, spatially uniform UVB; and a hard, spatially uniform `quasars-only' model. When considering our paired high-ionization absorbers (C IV/Si IV), the observed statistics strongly prefer the hard, spatially uniform UVB. This echoes recent findings that cosmological simulations generically underproduce strong C IV absorbers at z > 5. A single low/high ionization pair (Si II/Si IV), by contrast, shows a preference for the HM12 UVB, whereas two more (C II/C IV and O I/C IV) show no preference for any of the three UVBs. Despite this, future observations of specific absorbers, particularly Si IV/C IV, with next-generation telescopes probing to lower column densities should yield tighter constraints on the UVB.

A proposed method of measuring the electric-dipole moment of the neutron by ultracold neutron interferometry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Freedman, M.S.; Peshkin, M.; Ringo, G.R.; Dombeck, T.W.

1989-08-01

The use of an ultracold neutron interferometer incorporating an electrostatic accelerator having a strong electric field gradient to accelerate neutrons by their possible electric dipole moment is proposed as a method of measuring the neutron electric dipole moment. The method appears to have the possibility of extending the sensitivity of the measurement by several orders of magnitude, perhaps to 10 -30 e-cm. 9 refs., 3 figs

Activación del topacio natural irradiado por neutrones en el núcleo del reactor RP-10

OpenAIRE

Gómez, J.; Parreño, Fernando; Lázaro, Gerardo; Vela, Mariano

2003-01-01

Se obtuvieron cristales de topacio activados al ser irradiados con neutrones dentro del núcleo del reactor RP-10. La activación depende del flujo de neutrones, por ello se desarrolló portamuestras (canes de irradiación) para absorber que son los causantes de la activación

Measurement of anomalous neutron from deuterium/solid system

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhu Rongbao; Wang Xiaozhong; Lu Feng; Luo Longjun; He Jianyu; Ding Dazhao; Menlove, H.O.

1991-01-01

A series of experiments on both D 2 O electrolysis and thermal cycle of deuterium absorbed Ti Turnings are designed to examine the anomalous phenomena in Deuterium/Solid System. A neutron detector containing 16 BF 3 tubes with a detection limit of 0.38 n/s for two hour counting is used for electrolysis experiments. No neutron counting rate statistically higher than detection limit is observed from Fleischmann and Pons type experiments. An HLNCC-II neutron detector equipped with 18 3 He tubes and JSR-11 shift register unit with a detection limit of 0.20 n/s for a two hour run are employed to study the neutron signals in D 2 gas experiments. Ten batches of dry fusion samples are tested, among them, seven batches with neutron burst signals occur roughly at the temperature from -100 degrees centigrade to near room temperature. In the first four runs of a typical sample batch, seven neutron bursts are observed with neutron numbers from 15 to 482, which are 3 and 75 times, respectively, higher than the uncertainty of background. However, no bursts happened for H 2 dummy samples running in-between and afterwards and for sample batch after certain runs

Measurement of integrated coefficients of ultracold neutron reflection from solid surfaces

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Golikov, V.V.; Kulagin, E.N.; Nikitenko, Yu.V.

1985-01-01

The method of measurement of the integrated coefficients of ultracold neutrons (UCN) reflection from solid surfaces is reported. A simple formula is suggested which expresses the integrated coefficients of UCN reflection from a given sample through the measured counting rate of the detector with and without strong absorber (polyethelene). The parameters are determined describing anisotropic and inhomogeneity properties of UCN reflection from Al, Mg, Pb, Zn, Mo, stainless steel, T and V are measured. The thickness of oxide layers is determined within the 5-10A accuracy limits from the experimental coefficients of UCN reflection from metals having on their surfaces the oxides with boundary velocity larger than that for the metal. It has been determined that the density of 5000 A layer of heavy ice freezed on aluminium is 0.83 +- 0.05 from the crystal ice density

Shock absorber

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Housman, J.J.

1978-01-01

A shock absorber is described for use in a hostile environment at the end of a blind passage for absorbing impact loads. The shock absorber includes at least one element which occupies the passage and which is comprised of a porous brittle material which is substantially non-degradable in the hostile environment. A void volume is provided in the element to enable the element to absorb a predetermined level of energy upon being crushed due to impact loading

Neutron detection using a current biased kinetic inductance detector

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shishido, Hiroaki; Miyajima, Shigeyuki; Ishida, Takekazu; Narukami, Yoshito; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Oku, Takayuki; Arai, Masatoshi; Hidaka, Mutsuo; Fujimaki, Akira

2015-01-01

We demonstrate neutron detection using a solid state superconducting current biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID), which consists of a superconducting Nb meander line of 1 μm width and 40 nm thickness. 10 B-enriched neutron absorber layer of 150 nm thickness is placed on top of the CB-KID. Our neutron detectors are able to operate in a wide superconducting region in the bias current–temperature diagram. This is in sharp contrast with our preceding current-biased transition edge detector, which can operate only in a narrow range just below the superconducting critical temperature. The full width at half maximum of the signals remains of the order of a few tens of ns, which confirms the high speed operation of our detectors

Method of manufacturing neutron protecting materials

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kakibana, Hidetake; Okamoto, Masazane; Fujii, Yasuhiko; Koguchi, Noboru; Takesute, Morihito; Miyamatsu, Tokuhisa

1985-06-03

Purpose: To manufacture neutron protecting materials which are highly flexible and can be shaped with ease at a good workability. Method: In this invention, natural lithium, natural boron such as Li-6 or B-10 or enriched isotope thereof with a great neutron absorption cross section is fixed to fibers. As a specific example, lumps of copolymer fibers are fabricated into weave sheets in a carding machine and applied with needle punching to prepare felt-like products. They are conditioned to OH or H type, which are respectively immersed in saturated aqueous boric acid or 1M-aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide and then dewatered and dried. As a result, boric acid type anion exchange fibers and lithium type cation exchange fibers can be obtained from the former and the latter respectively. In this way, blankets or cloths which are light in weight, flexible and have high neutron absorbing performance can be shaped. They are also in good fitting contact to a human body. (Kamimura, M.).

A Neutron Sensitive Microchannel Plate Detector with Cross Delay Line Readout

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Berry, Kevin D.; Bilheux, Hassina Z.; Crow, Lowell; Diawara, Yacouba; Feller, W. Bruce; Iverson, Erik B.; Martin, Adrian; Robertson, J. Lee

2012-01-01

Microchannel plates containing neutron absorbing elements such as boron and gadolinium in the bulk glass are used as the sensing element in high spatial resolution, high rate neutron imaging systems. In this paper we describe one such device, using both 10 B and natural Gd, which employs cross delay line signal readout, with time-of-flight capability. This detector has a measured spatial resolution under 40 m FWHM, thermal neutron efficiency of 19%, and has recorded rates in excess of 500 kHz. A physical and functional description is presented, followed by a discussion of measurements of detector performance and a brief survey of some practical applications.

EPR dosimetry in a mixed neutron and gamma radiation field.

Science.gov (United States)

Trompier, F; Fattibene, P; Tikunov, D; Bartolotta, A; Carosi, A; Doca, M C

2004-01-01

Suitability of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for criticality dosimetry was evaluated for tooth enamel, mannose and alanine pellets during the 'international intercomparison of criticality dosimetry techniques' at the SILENE reactor held in Valduc in June 2002, France. These three materials were irradiated in neutron and gamma-ray fields of various relative intensities and spectral distributions in order to evaluate their neutron sensitivity. The neutron response was found to be around 10% for tooth enamel, 45% for mannose and between 40 and 90% for alanine pellets according their type. According to the IAEA recommendations on the early estimate of criticality accident absorbed dose, analyzed results show the EPR potentiality and complementarity with regular criticality techniques.

Fluence-to-absorbed-dose conversion coefficients for neutron beams from 0.001 eV to 100 GeV calculated for a set of pregnant female and fetus models

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Taranenko, Valery; Xu, X George

2008-01-01

Protection of fetuses against external neutron exposure is an important task. This paper reports a set of absorbed dose conversion coefficients for fetal and maternal organs for external neutron beams using the RPI-P pregnant female models and the MCNPX code. The newly developed pregnant female models represent an adult female with a fetus including its brain and skeleton at the end of each trimester. The organ masses were adjusted to match the reference values within 1%. For the 3 mm cubic voxel size, the models consist of 10-15 million voxels for 35 organs. External monoenergetic neutron beams of six standard configurations (AP, PA, LLAT, RLAT, ROT and ISO) and source energies 0.001 eV-100 GeV were considered. The results are compared with previous data that are based on simplified anatomical models. The differences in dose depend on source geometry, energy and gestation periods: from 20% up to 140% for the whole fetus, and up to 100% for the fetal brain. Anatomical differences are primarily responsible for the discrepancies in the organ doses. For the first time, the dependence of mother organ doses upon anatomical changes during pregnancy was studied. A maximum of 220% increase in dose was observed for the placenta in the nine months model compared to three months, whereas dose to the pancreas, small and large intestines decreases by 60% for the AP source for the same models. Tabulated dose conversion coefficients for the fetus and 27 maternal organs are provided

Hot deformation behaviors and processing maps of B{sub 4}C/Al6061 neutron absorber composites

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Yu-Li [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University Of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Wang, Wen-Xian, E-mail: Wangwenxian@tyut.edu.cn [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University Of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Zhou, Jun [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University Of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA 16563 (United States); Chen, Hong-Sheng [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University Of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China); Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024 (China)

2017-02-15

In this study, the hot deformation behaviors of 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 neutron absorber composites (NACs) have been investigated by conducting isothermal compression tests at temperatures ranging from 653 K to 803 K and strain rates from 0.01 to 10 s{sup −1}. It was found that, during hot compression, the B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs exhibited a steady flow characteristic which can be expressed by the Zener-Hollomon parameter as a hyperbolic-sine function of flow stress. High average activation energy (185.62 kJ/mol) of B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs is noted in current study owing to the high content of B{sub 4}C particle. The optimum hot working conditions for B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs are found to be 760–803 K/0.01–0.05 s{sup −1} based on processing map and microstructure evolution. Typical material instabilities are thought to be attributed to void formation, adiabatic shear bands (ASB), particle debonding, and matrix cracking. Finally, the effect of the plastic deformation zones (PDZs) on the microstructure evolution in this 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 composite is found to be very important. - Highlights: •The hot deformation behavior of the 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs was first analyzed. •The 3D efficiency map and the instability map are developed. •The optimum hot working conditions were identified and validated by SEM and TEM. •The hot deformation schematic diagram of 30 wt.% B{sub 4}C/Al6061 NACs is developed.

Effect of different materials in soil on the neutron moisture gauge readings

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Abdul-Majid, S.

1991-01-01

Neutron moisture gauges that depend on scattering and thermalization of neutrons have been in use for a long time. The hydrogen in water is the effective element in thermalizing the neutrons coming from a neutron source, where they are detected by neutron detector such as B F 3 counter or boron lined counter. The high cross-section of boron for thermal neutrons makes detectors containing boron ideal for this application. There are always some possibility that some materials exist in soil other than water which can moderate and hence introduce false results in moisture contents measurements. For example, materials such as hydrocarbons, asphalt, wood, etc., contain both hydrogen and carbon. These elements are good neutron moderators. The effects of the existence of such materials in the soil on the gauge readings were examined. Elements of high neutron cross-section such as boron can be a source of large error as well, since they absorb thermal neutrons giving low moisture content value. The effect of such materials as part of the soil constituent on the gauge reading was also examined.3 fig

High pressure sample container for thermal neutron spectroscopy and diffraction on strongly scattering fluids

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Verkerk, P.; Pruisken, A.M.M.

1979-01-01

A description is presented of the construction and performance of a container for thermal neutron scattering on a fluid sample with about 1.5 cm -1 macroscopic cross section (neglecting absorption). The maximum pressure is about 900 bar. The container is made of 5052 aluminium capillary with inner diameter 0.75 mm and wall thickness 0.25 mm; it covers a neutron beam with a cross section of 9 X 2.5 cm 2 . The container has been successfully used in neutron diffraction and time-of-flight experiments on argon-36 at 120 K and several pressures up to 850 bar. It is shown that during these measurements the temperature gradient over the sample as well as the error in the absolute temperature were both less than 0.05 K. Subtraction of the Bragg peaks due to container scattering in diffraction experiments may be dfficult, but seems feasible because of the small amount of aluminium in the neutron beam. Correction for container scattering and multiple scattering in time-of-flight experiments may be difficult only in the case of coherently scattering samples and small scattering angles. (Auth.)

Study on the neutron dosimetric characteristics of Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nunomiya, T.; Kim, E.; Kurosawa, T.; Taniguchi, S.; Nakamura, T. [Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan). Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center; Tsujimura, N.; Momose, T.; Shinohara, K. [Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Inst., Environment and Safety Division, Tokai Works, Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan)

1999-03-01

The neutron dosimetric characteristics of TEPC (Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter) has been investigated under a cooperative study between Tohoku University and JNC since 1997. This TEPC is a spherical, large volume, single-wire proportional counter (the model LETSW-5, manufactured by Far West Technology, Inc.) and filled with a tissue equivalent gas in a spherical detector of the A-150 tissue equivalent plastic. The TEPC can measure the spectra of absorbed dose in LET and easily estimate the tissue equivalent dose to neutron. This report summarizes the dosimetric characteristics of TEPC to the monoenergetic neutrons with energy from 8 keV to 15 MeV. It is found that TEPC can estimate the ambient dose equivalent, H*(10), with an accuracy from 0.9 to 2 to the neutron above 0.25 MeV and TEPC has a good counting efficiency enough to measure neutron doses with low dose rate at the stray neutron fields. (author)

Estimate of neutrons event-by-event in DREAM

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hauptman, John

2009-01-01

We have measured the contribution of neutrons to hadronic showers in the DREAM module event-by-event as a means to estimate the event-by-event fluctuations in binding energy losses by hadrons as they break up nuclei of the Cu absorber. We make a preliminary assessment of the consequences for hadronic energy resolution in dual-readout calorimeters.

Determination of nuclear friction in strongly damped reactions from prescission neutron multiplicities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wilczynski, J.; Siwek-Wilczynska, K.; Wilschut, H.W.

1996-01-01

Nonfusion, fissionlike reactions in collisions of four heavy systems (well below the fusion extra-push energy threshold), for which Hinde and co-workers had measured the prescission neutron multiplicities, have been analyzed in terms of the deterministic dynamic model of Feldmeier coupled to a time-dependent statistical cascade calculation. In order to reproduce the measured prescission multiplicities and the observed (nearly symmetric) mass divisions, the energy dissipation must be dramatically changed with regard to the standard one-body dissipation: In the entrance channel, in the process of forming a composite system, the energy dissipation has to be reduced to at least half of the one-body dissipation strength (k s in ≤0.5), and in the exit channel (from a mononucleus shape to scission) it must be increased by a factor ranging for the studied reactions from k s out =4 to k s out =12. These results are compared with the temperature dependence of the friction coefficient, recently deduced by Hofman, Back, and Paul from data on the prescission giant dipole resonance emission in fusion-fission reactions. The combined picture of the temperature dependence of the friction coefficient, for both fusion-fission and nonfusion reactions, may indicate the onset of strong two-body dissipation already at a nuclear temperature of about 2 MeV. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society

Determination of the response function for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant criticality accident alarm system neutron detectors

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tayloe, R.W. Jr.; Brown, A.S.; Dobelbower, M.C.; Woollard, J.E.

1997-03-01

Neutron-sensitive radiation detectors are used in the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant's (PORTS) criticality accident alarm system (CAAS). The CAAS is composed of numerous detectors, electronics, and logic units. It uses a telemetry system to sound building evacuation horns and to provide remote alarm status in a central control facility. The ANSI Standard for a CAAS uses a free-in-air dose rate to define the detection criteria for a minimum accident-of-concern. Previously, the free-in-air absorbed dose rate from neutrons was used for determining the areal coverge of criticality detection within PORTS buildings handling fissile materials. However, the free-in-air dose rate does not accurately reflect the response of the neutron detectors in use at PORTS. Because the cost of placing additional CAAS detectors in areas of questionable coverage (based on a free-in-air absorbed dose rate) is high, the actual response function for the CAAS neutron detectors was determined. This report, which is organized into three major sections, discusses how the actual response function for the PORTS CAAS neutron detectors was determined. The CAAS neutron detectors are described in Section 2. The model of the detector system developed to facilitate calculation of the response function is discussed in Section 3. The results of the calculations, including confirmatory measurements with neutron sources, are given in Section 4

Neutron effects on living things

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

1964-01-01

Scientific interest in neutrons and protons - two fundamental particles of the atomic nucleus - has grown in recent years as the technology of peaceful uses of atomic energy has progressed. Such interest also has increased because both protons and neutrons are encountered in outer space. However, only recently has a thorough study of the biological effects of neutrons and protons become possible, as a result of progress in making physical measurements of the radiation dose absorbed in biological systems (of plants and animals, for example). Reports of work in that field were presented in December 1962, when IAEA sponsored at Harwell Laboratory in the United Kingdom the first international symposium on detection dosimetry (measurement) and standardization of neutron radiation sources. The Harwell meeting was followed in October 1963 at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York, by the first scientific meeting sponsored by IAEA in the U. S. Entitled 'Biological Effects of Neutron Irradiations', the Symposium continued the review of problems of measuring radiation absorption in living things and provided in addition for several reports dealing with the effects of radiation on living organisms - plant, animal and human - and with delayed consequences of exposure to radiation, such as: change in life span; tumour incidence; and fertility. Eighteen countries were represented. Although much has been learned about X-ray and gamma-ray effects, comparatively little is known about the biological effects of neutrons, and therefore many of the Symposium papers reviewed the various aspects of neutron experimentation. Similarly, since there is increasing interest in the biological effects of protons, papers were given on that related subject.

Effect of absorber rods on the space-energy distribution of thermal neutrons in water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hussein, A.Z.; Eid, Y.; Hamouda, I.

1975-01-01

Thermal neutron spectra have been measured in a vectorial direction with respect to cadmium, boron-filled and copper rod elements. The rods are infinite cylinders, of 21 mm diameter, each separately immersed in an infinite water moderator fed with neutrons from the ET-RR-1 research reactor. Measurement of spectra has been carried out, in the vicinity of the rod elements, at several distances by the time-of-flight method using a chopper and also by intergral flux activation method. The measured spectra near the copper rod were compared with transport calculations of the position-dependent spectrum. The calculations, based on a realistic kernel for water, were found to yield reasonable agreement with experiment. (orig.) [de

Neutron thermalization in absorbing infinite homogeneous media: theoretical methods; Methodes theoriques pour l'etude de la thermalisation des neutrons dans les milieux absorbants infinis et homogenes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cadilhac, M [Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique, Saclay (France). Centre d' Etudes Nucleaires

1963-11-15

After a general survey of the theory of neutron thermalization in homogeneous media, one introduces, through a proper formulation, a simplified model generalizing both the Horowitz model (generalized heavy free gas approximation) and the proton gas model. When this model is used, the calculation of spectra is reduced to the solution of linear second order differential equations. Since it depends on two arbitrary functions, the model gives a good approximation of any usual moderator for reactor physics purposes. The choice of these functions is discussed from a theoretical point of view; a method based on the consideration of the first two moments of the scattering law is investigated. Finally, the possibility of discriminating models by using experimental informations is considered. (author) [French] Apres un passage en revue de generalites sur la thermalisation des neutrons dans les milieux homogenes, on developpe un formalisme permettant de definir et d'etudier un modele simplifie de thermaliseur. Ce modele generalise l'approximation proposee par J. HOROWITZ (''gaz lourd generalise'') et comporte comme cas particulier le modele ''hydrogene gazeux monoatomique''. Il ramene le calcul des spectres a la resolution d'equations differentielles lineaires du second ordre. Il fait intervenir deux fonctions arbitraires, ce qui lui permet de representer les thermaliseurs usuels de facon satisfaisante pour les besoins de la physique des reacteurs. L'ajustement theorique de ces fonctions est discute; on etudie une methode basee sur la consideration des deux premiers moments de la loi de diffusion. On envisage enfin la possibilite de discriminer les modeles d'apres des renseignements d'origine experimentale. (auteur)

Shock absorbing structure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kojima, Naoki; Matsushita, Kazuo.

1992-01-01

Small pieces of shock absorbers are filled in a space of a shock absorbing vessel which is divided into a plurality of sections by partitioning members. These sections function to prevent excess deformation or replacement of the fillers upon occurrence of falling accident. Since the shock absorbing small pieces in the shock absorbing vessel are filled irregularly, shock absorbing characteristics such as compression strength is not varied depending on the direction, but they exhibit excellent shock absorbing performance. They surely absorb shocks exerted on a transportation vessel upon falling or the like. If existing artificial fillers such as pole rings made of metal or ceramic and cut pieces such as alumium extrusion molding products are used as the shock absorbing pieces, they have excellent fire-proofness and cold resistance since the small pieces are inflammable and do not contain water. (T.M.)

A portable and wide energy range semiconductor-based neutron spectrometer

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hoshor, C.B. [Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO (United States); Oakes, T.M. [Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States); Myers, E.R.; Rogers, B.J.; Currie, J.E.; Young, S.M.; Crow, J.A.; Scott, P.R. [Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO (United States); Miller, W.H. [Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States); Missouri University Research Reactor, Columbia, MO (United States); Bellinger, S.L. [Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (United States); Sobering, T.J. [Electronics Design Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (United States); Fronk, R.G.; Shultis, J.K.; McGregor, D.S. [Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (United States); Caruso, A.N., E-mail: carusoan@umkc.edu [Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO (United States)

2015-12-11

Hand-held instruments that can be used to passively detect and identify sources of neutron radiation—either bare or obscured by neutron moderating and/or absorbing material(s)—in real time are of interest in a variety of nuclear non-proliferation and health physics applications. Such an instrument must provide a means to high intrinsic detection efficiency and energy-sensitive measurements of free neutron fields, for neutrons ranging from thermal energies to the top end of the evaporation spectrum. To address and overcome the challenges inherent to the aforementioned applications, four solid-state moderating-type neutron spectrometers of varying cost, weight, and complexity have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The motivation of this work is to introduce these novel human-portable instruments by discussing the fundamental theory of their operation, investigating and analyzing the principal considerations for optimal instrument design, and evaluating the capability of each of the four fabricated spectrometers to meet the application needs.

A portable and wide energy range semiconductor-based neutron spectrometer

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hoshor, C.B.; Oakes, T.M.; Myers, E.R.; Rogers, B.J.; Currie, J.E.; Young, S.M.; Crow, J.A.; Scott, P.R.; Miller, W.H.; Bellinger, S.L.; Sobering, T.J.; Fronk, R.G.; Shultis, J.K.; McGregor, D.S.; Caruso, A.N.

2015-01-01

Hand-held instruments that can be used to passively detect and identify sources of neutron radiation—either bare or obscured by neutron moderating and/or absorbing material(s)—in real time are of interest in a variety of nuclear non-proliferation and health physics applications. Such an instrument must provide a means to high intrinsic detection efficiency and energy-sensitive measurements of free neutron fields, for neutrons ranging from thermal energies to the top end of the evaporation spectrum. To address and overcome the challenges inherent to the aforementioned applications, four solid-state moderating-type neutron spectrometers of varying cost, weight, and complexity have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The motivation of this work is to introduce these novel human-portable instruments by discussing the fundamental theory of their operation, investigating and analyzing the principal considerations for optimal instrument design, and evaluating the capability of each of the four fabricated spectrometers to meet the application needs.

Study of ceramic mixed boron element as a neutron shielding

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ismail Mustapha; Mohd Reusmaazran Yusof; Md Fakarudin Ab Rahman; Nor Paiza Mohamad Hasan; Samihah Mustaffha; Yusof Abdullah; Mohamad Rabaie Shari; Airwan Affandi Mahmood; Nurliyana Abdullah; Hearie Hassan

2012-01-01

Shielding upon radiation should not be underestimated as it can causes hazard to health. Precautions on the released of radioactive materials should be well concerned and considered. Therefore, the combination of ceramic and boron make them very useful for shielding purpose in areas of low and intermediate neutron. A six grades of ceramic tile have been produced namely IMN05 - 5 % boron, IMN06 - 6 % boron, IMN07 - 7 % boron, IMN08 - 8 % boron, IMN09 - 9 % boron, IMN10 - 10 % boron from mixing, press and sintered process. Boron is a material that capable of absorbing and capturing neutron, so that neutron and gamma test were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of boron material in combination with ceramic as shielding. From the finding, percent reduction number of count per minute shows the ceramic tiles are capable to capture neutron. Apart from all the percentage of boron used, 10 % is the most effective shields since the percent reduction indicating greater neutron captured increased. (author)

Detector for imaging and dosimetry of laser-driven epithermal neutrons by alpha conversion

Science.gov (United States)

Mirfayzi, S. R.; Alejo, A.; Ahmed, H.; Wilson, L. A.; Ansell, S.; Armstrong, C.; Butler, N. M. H.; Clarke, R. J.; Higginson, A.; Notley, M.; Raspino, D.; Rusby, D. R.; Borghesi, M.; Rhodes, N. J.; McKenna, P.; Neely, D.; Brenner, C. M.; Kar, S.

2016-10-01

An epithermal neutron imager based on detecting alpha particles created via boron neutron capture mechanism is discussed. The diagnostic mainly consists of a mm thick Boron Nitride (BN) sheet (as an alpha converter) in contact with a non-borated cellulose nitride film (LR115 type-II) detector. While the BN absorbs the neutrons in the thermal and epithermal ranges, the fast neutrons register insignificantly on the detector due to their low neutron capture and recoil cross-sections. The use of solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD), unlike image plates, micro-channel plates and scintillators, provide safeguard from the x-rays, gamma-rays and electrons. The diagnostic was tested on a proof-of-principle basis, in front of a laser driven source of moderated neutrons, which suggests the potential of using this diagnostic (BN+SSNTD) for dosimetry and imaging applications.

High temperature ductility of austenitic alloys exposed to thermal neutrons

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Watanabe, K.; Kondo, T.; Ogawa, Y.

1982-01-01

Loss of high temperature ductility due to thermal neutron irradiation was examined by slow strain rate test in vacuum up to 1000 0 C. The results on two heats of Hastelloy alloy X with different boron contents were analyzed with respect to the influence of the temperatures of irradiation and tensile tests, neutron fluence and the associated helium production due to nuclear transmutation reaction. The loss of ductility was enhanced by increasing either temperature or neutron fluence. Simple extrapolations yielded the estimated threshold fluence and the end-of-life ductility values at 900 and 1000 0 C in case where the materials were used in near-core regions of VHTR. The observed relationship between Ni content and the ductility loss has suggested a potential utilization of Fe-based alloys for seathing of the neutron absorber materials

Transportable type neutron level indicators

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Khatskevich, M.V.; Kalinin, O.V.; Moskovkin, V.N.; Molchanov, A.V.; Bobkov, A.D.; Rabotnov, Yu.A.

1979-01-01

Some peculiarities of designing level neutron converters (LNC) for portable indicators or level neutron relays are considered. The effect of the LNC geometry and other factors on measurement errors has been studied. Calibration results of the LNC with a neutron reflector and without it are presented. It is shown that the problem of level monitoring with the help of portable indicators can be solved practically for any volume, provided two LNC modifications with reflectors are available: the NPU-G modification with horizontal location of a counter for large volumes and the NPU-V with vertical location of a counter for lesser volumes. A possibility of perfecting LNC performances by shielding the counter with thermal neutron absorbers has been studied. The design of the NPU-V modification for the NIUP-2 level indicator is described. It is intended for tubes and cylinders 30-100 mm in diameter. Measurements carried out on different steel and aluminium vessels with a diameter ranging from 300 to 100 mm and a wall thickness of up to 16 mm with the help of the NPU-V and NPU-G modifications proved the efficiency of the LNC to control a variety of products (kerosine, gasoline, oils, acids, alkalis) [ru

Quality factor calculations for neutron spectra below 4 MeV

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Borak, T.B.; Stinchcomb, T.G.

1979-01-01

A method is described for computing the distribution of absorbed dose, D(L), as a function of linear energy transfer, L, for any neutron spectrum with energies below 4 MeV. The results are used to determine the average quality factor for two distinctly different neutron spectra using the ICRP recommended values of the quality factor, Q(L). A comparison is made between the calculations and measurements of D(L) using a spherical tissue equivalent proportional counter. Heavy ion recoil contributions to the average quality factor are examined in detail. (author)

SYNCHROTRON HEATING BY A FAST RADIO BURST IN A SELF-ABSORBED SYNCHROTRON NEBULA AND ITS OBSERVATIONAL SIGNATURE

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yang, Yuan-Pei; Dai, Zi-Gao; Zhang, Bing

2016-01-01

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are mysterious transient sources. If extragalactic, as suggested by their relative large dispersion measures, their brightness temperatures must be extremely high. Some FRB models (e.g., young pulsar model, magnetar giant flare model, or supra-massive neutron star collapse model) suggest that they may be associated with a synchrotron nebula. Here we study a synchrotron-heating process by an FRB in a self-absorbed synchrotron nebula. If the FRB frequency is below the synchrotron self-absorption frequency of the nebula, electrons in the nebula would absorb FRB photons, leading to a harder electron spectrum and enhanced self-absorbed synchrotron emission. In the meantime, the FRB flux is absorbed by the nebula electrons. We calculate the spectra of FRB-heated synchrotron nebulae, and show that the nebula spectra would show a significant hump in several decades near the self-absorption frequency. Identifying such a spectral feature would reveal an embedded FRB in a synchrotron nebula

Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Mathematical Methods for Calculating Absorbed Dose in Radiation Processing Applications

CERN Document Server

American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia

2010-01-01

1.1 This guide describes different mathematical methods that may be used to calculate absorbed dose and criteria for their selection. Absorbed-dose calculations can determine the effectiveness of the radiation process, estimate the absorbed-dose distribution in product, or supplement or complement, or both, the measurement of absorbed dose. 1.2 Radiation processing is an evolving field and annotated examples are provided in Annex A6 to illustrate the applications where mathematical methods have been successfully applied. While not limited by the applications cited in these examples, applications specific to neutron transport, radiation therapy and shielding design are not addressed in this document. 1.3 This guide covers the calculation of radiation transport of electrons and photons with energies up to 25 MeV. 1.4 The mathematical methods described include Monte Carlo, point kernel, discrete ordinate, semi-empirical and empirical methods. 1.5 General purpose software packages are available for the calcul...

SYNCHROTRON HEATING BY A FAST RADIO BURST IN A SELF-ABSORBED SYNCHROTRON NEBULA AND ITS OBSERVATIONAL SIGNATURE

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yang, Yuan-Pei; Dai, Zi-Gao [School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Zhang, Bing, E-mail: zhang@physics.unlv.edu [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154 (United States)