Elemental analysis using temporal gating of a pulsed neutron generator
| DWPI Title: System for obtaining information regarding elemental composition of sample, has computing device that is configured to generate data which is indicative of elemental composition of sample based upon bin to which pulse is assigned |
| Abstract: Technologies related to determining elemental composition of a sample that comprises fissile material are described herein. In a general embodiment, a pulsed neutron generator periodically emits bursts of neutrons, and is synchronized with an analyzer circuit. The bursts of neutrons are used to interrogate the sample, and the sample outputs gamma rays based upon the neutrons impacting the sample. A detector outputs pulses based upon the gamma rays impinging upon the material of the detector, and the analyzer circuit assigns the pulses to temporally-based bins based upon the analyzer circuit being synchronized with the pulsed neutron generator. A computing device outputs data that is indicative of elemental composition of the sample based upon the binned pulses. |
| Use: System for obtaining information regarding elemental composition of sample. |
| Advantage: The analyzer circuit assigns the pulses to bins based upon when the leading edges of the pulses occur relative to when the pulsed neutron generator commenced emitting a most recent pulse of neutrons. The computing device can analyze the time-resolved pulses output by the detector and can generate and output an indication of elemental composition of the sample after the pulsed neutron generator has emitted several pulses of neutrons. The analyzer circuit can be configured to tag each incoming pulse from the detector with the arrival time of the pulse relative to when the neutron burst emitted by the pulsed neutron generator commenced. The computing device can be provided with the binned amplitudes by way of the wired or wireless connection between the analyzer circuit and the computing device. |
| Novelty: The system (100) has a pulsed neutron generator (102) that emits a burst of neutrons. A detector (106) outputs a pulse based upon a gamma ray that exits a sample (124) impinging upon detector. An analyzer circuit (108) assigns a pulse to a temporally-based bin. The bin is selected based upon a difference in time between when pulse is received at circuit, and when pulsed neutron generator is commenced emitting burst of neutrons. A computing device (114) generates data that is indicative based upon bin to which pulse is assigned, and generates data in situ. |
| Filed: 4/16/2015 |
| Application Number: US14688117A |
| Tech ID: SD 12711.1 |
| 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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