Apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating total fissile and total fertile nuclide content in samples

摘要

Simultaneous photon and neutron interrogation of samples for the quantitative determination of total fissile nuclide and total fertile nuclide material present is made possible by the use of an electron accelerator. Prompt and delayed neutrons produced from resulting induced fissions are counted using a single detection system and allow the resolution of the contributions from each interrogating flux leading in turn to the quantitative determination sought. Detection limits for .sup. 239 Pu are estimated to be about 3 mg using prompt fission neutrons and about 6 mg using delayed neutrons.