Neutron scatter camera for improved neutron detection
| DWPI Title: Neutron scatter camera for detecting nuclear material e.g. plutonium in bulk cargo container, has rigid frames that are held in parallel alignment with respect to each other and with plane of rigid cage height and width |
| 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 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 much closer together. Allowing the 2 planes to be placed closer together has been shown to provide up to about a ˜170% improvement in detection efficiency without adding additional detectors and 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 is diminished but this loss of resolution may be acceptable for those applications where only modest directionality is sufficient to identify a threat. |
| Use: Neutron scatter camera for detecting fissile material and nuclear material such as plutonium or highly enriched weapons-grade uranium (HEU) in bulk cargo container, railroad rail car, boat, ocean vessel, plane and highway vehicle. |
| Advantage: By using rigid frames with the rigid cage, the two detector planes can be moved closer together. Thus, the overall neutron detection efficiency can be increased. The particle identification can be achieved through pulse shape discrimination. The distance between planes can be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear-or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. |
| Novelty: The camera (100) has a photomultiplier tube coupled to rear face of liquid scintillator cell. The detector assemblies are located in respective groups and are mounted onto struts. The struts are interconnected to form rigid frames (120,130). A pulse discrimination module is electrically connected with detector assemblies. The rigid frames are placed with rigid cage (160), and are held in parallel alignment with respect to each other and with plane (P) of rigid cage height and width. One movable unit is aligned to move rigid frames relative to each other within rigid cage. |
| Filed: 2/8/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010701669A |
| Tech ID: SD 11567.0 |
| 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. |
| Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Clarivate content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Clarivate. Clarivate and its logo, as well as all other trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners and used under license. |