Recent Developments at Los Alamos for the Measurement of alpha Contaminated Waste

摘要

A comprehensive program is currently in progress for the development of sensitive, practical nondestructive assay techniques for the quantification of low level transuranics in bulk solid wastes. This program encompasses a broad range of nuclear and nonnuclear techniques including sophisticated passive gamma-ray and passive neutron detection systems, isotopic neutron source-based active interrogation systems, pulsed portable neutron generator active interrogation systems, electron accelerator based techniques and laser spectroscopy techniques. The mix of techniques ranges in development maturity from the well established (MEGAS, Shuffler, Passive 4 pi neutron counters) through the proof-of-principle stage (pulsed neutron generator techniques) to the under investigation stage (electron linac and laser spectroscopy techniques). Matrix compensation methods are being developed to improve the accuracy of waste screening and assay measurements. Specific detection systems have been designed to operate in the high level beta-gamma backgrounds associated with some commercial reactor wastes. The techniques being developed can be used with either low level or high level beta-gamma wastes in either low density or high density matrices. (ERA citation 05:025366)