Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera
| DWPI Title: Method for resolving sources of neutrons, involves repeating separation distance process until neutron sources are spatially resolved |
| Abstract: An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of neutron detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned either much closer together or further apart. However, by doubling the separation distance between the 2 planes from 20 cm to a distance of 40 cm we improved the angular resolution of the detector from about 12° to about 10°. A further doubling of the separation distance to 80 cm provided an addition improvement in angular resolution of the detector to about 6° without adding additional detectors or ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration, therefore, is increased at the expanse of detection sensitivity. However, the diminished sensitivity may be acceptable for those applications where the detector is able to interrogate a particular site for an extended period. |
| Use: Method for resolving sources of neutrons from special nuclear material source using neutron scatter camera. |
| Advantage: The separation distance process is repeated until the neutron sources are spatially resolved, so that the fission neutrons can be accurately detected so as to provide an image of the source of the fission neutrons and the location in space. |
| Novelty: The method involves providing a neutron detector assemblies in groups mounted onto struts to form plane arrays of neutron detector assemblies. A pulse discrimination module is provided in electrical communication with each neutron detector assemblies. The plane array is moved relative to the other plane array. The point sources of neutrons are detected for a period of time interval to provide a neutron map. The separation distance is increased by a fixed increment. The distance separation process is repeated until the neutron sources are spatially resolved. |
| Filed: 8/31/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010872700A |
| Tech ID: SD 11765.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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