Calibration technique and sample measurement database for material decomposition imaging using a compact deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fast neutron generator

摘要

This work aims to describe experimental efforts to further development of an energy-selective based interrogation technique using a deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fast neutron generator. In this approach, elemental decomposition of a sample can be performed. Limitations of the technique include uncertainties related to the neutron spectrum and the actual elemental cross-section data. To circumvent these challenges, a calibration method using well-characterized homogeneous reference samples has been implemented. For this procedure, twenty-two reference samples were used to produce setup-specific reference data which can afterwards be used for elemental decomposition measurements using fast neutrons. Data for individual elements were obtained by measuring pure elemental samples or by subtracting elemental sample data from compound samples. Ultimately full cross-section characterization was obtained for nineteen individual elements. Although limitations to this approach were found, the general agreement between simulation and experiment was good. This technique, the measured results, and how it can be used for fast neutron elemental decomposition are described.