Chapter 2
Recent Progress in Research
and Development in Neutron Resonance
Densitometry (NRD) for Quantification
of Nuclear Materials in Particle-Like Debris
M. Koizumi, F. Kitatani, H. Tsuchiya, H. Harada, J. Takamine, M. Kureta,
H. Iimura, M. Seya, B. Becker, S. Kopecky, W. Mondelaers,
and P. Schillebeeckx
Abstract To quantify special nuclear materials (SNM) in particle-like debris, a
technique named neutron resonance densitometry (NRD) has been proposed. This
method is a combination of neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) and
neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) or prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA).
In NRTA, neutron transmission rate is measured as a function of neutron energy
with a short flight path time-of-flight (TOF) system. Characteristic neutron transmission dips of Pu and U isotopes are used for their quantification. Materials in the
samples (H, B, Cl, Fe, etc.) are measured by the NRCA/PGA method. For the NRD
measurements, a compact TOF facility is designed. The statistical uncertainties of
the obtained quantities of the SNMs in a sample are estimated. A high-energyresolution and high-S/N γ-ray spectrometer is under development for NRCA/PGA.
Experimental studies of systematic uncertainties concerning the sample properties,
such as thickness and uniformity, are in progress at the TOF facility GELINA of
European Commission (EC), Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Reference
Materials and Measurements (IRMM).
Keywords Capture • Fukushima • GELINA • Neutron resonance densitometry
• NRD • Nuclear security • Severe accident • Transmission
M. Koizumi (*) • F. Kitatani • H. Tsuchiya • H. Harada • J. Takamine • M. Kureta • H. Iimura
Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai-mura,
Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
e-mail: koizumi.mitsuo@jaea.go.jp
M. Seya
Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security, Japan Atomic
Energy Agency, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1118, Japan
B. Becker • S. Kopecky • W. Mondelaers • P. Schillebeeckx
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials
and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, 2440, Geel, Belgium
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_2
13
Recent Progress in Research
and Development in Neutron Resonance
Densitometry (NRD) for Quantification
of Nuclear Materials in Particle-Like Debris
M. Koizumi, F. Kitatani, H. Tsuchiya, H. Harada, J. Takamine, M. Kureta,
H. Iimura, M. Seya, B. Becker, S. Kopecky, W. Mondelaers,
and P. Schillebeeckx
Abstract To quantify special nuclear materials (SNM) in particle-like debris, a
technique named neutron resonance densitometry (NRD) has been proposed. This
method is a combination of neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) and
neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) or prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA).
In NRTA, neutron transmission rate is measured as a function of neutron energy
with a short flight path time-of-flight (TOF) system. Characteristic neutron transmission dips of Pu and U isotopes are used for their quantification. Materials in the
samples (H, B, Cl, Fe, etc.) are measured by the NRCA/PGA method. For the NRD
measurements, a compact TOF facility is designed. The statistical uncertainties of
the obtained quantities of the SNMs in a sample are estimated. A high-energyresolution and high-S/N γ-ray spectrometer is under development for NRCA/PGA.
Experimental studies of systematic uncertainties concerning the sample properties,
such as thickness and uniformity, are in progress at the TOF facility GELINA of
European Commission (EC), Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Reference
Materials and Measurements (IRMM).
Keywords Capture • Fukushima • GELINA • Neutron resonance densitometry
• NRD • Nuclear security • Severe accident • Transmission
M. Koizumi (*) • F. Kitatani • H. Tsuchiya • H. Harada • J. Takamine • M. Kureta • H. Iimura
Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai-mura,
Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
e-mail: koizumi.mitsuo@jaea.go.jp
M. Seya
Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security, Japan Atomic
Energy Agency, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1118, Japan
B. Becker • S. Kopecky • W. Mondelaers • P. Schillebeeckx
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials
and Measurements, Retieseweg 111, 2440, Geel, Belgium
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_2
13