MPACT Fast Neutron Multiplicity System Prototype Development

D.L. Chichester ; S.A. Pozzi ; J.L. Dolan ; M.T. Kinlaw ; S.J. Thompson ; A.C. Kaplan ; M. Flaska ; A. Enqvist ; J.T. Johnson ; S.M. Watson

关键词: Neutron Multiplicity Counting;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1111016
RP-ID  :  INL/EXT-13-30279
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1111016

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

This document serves as both an FY2103 End-of-Year and End-of-Project report on efforts that resulted in the design of a prototype fast neutron multiplicity counter leveraged upon the findings of previous project efforts. The prototype design includes 32 liquid scintillator detectors with cubic volumes 7.62 cm in dimension configured into 4 stacked rings of 8 detectors. Detector signal collection for the system is handled with a pair of Struck Innovative Systeme 16-channel digitizers controlled by in-house developed software with built-in multiplicity analysis algorithms. Initial testing and familiarization of the currently obtained prototype components is underway, however full prototype construction is required for further optimization. Monte Carlo models of the prototype system were performed to estimate die-away and efficiency values. Analysis of these models resulted in the development of a software package capable of determining the effects of nearest-neighbor rejection methods for elimination of detector cross talk. A parameter study was performed using previously developed analytical methods for the estimation of assay mass variance for use as a figure-of-merit for system performance. A software package was developed to automate these calculations and ensure accuracy. The results of the parameter study show that the prototype fast neutron multiplicity counter design is very nearly optimized under the restraints of the parameter space.