FISSILE MATERIAL TRANSPARENCY TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION NEUTRON MULTIPLICITY COUNTING SYSTEM

Year
2001
Author(s)
Phillip A. Hypes - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Douglas R. Mayo - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Richard Siebelist - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Morag K. Smith - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Steven C. Bourret - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Diana C. Langner - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Martin R. Sweet - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abstract
The Fissile Material Transparency Technology Demonstration occurred at Los Alamos National Laboratory, August 14–17, 2000. The demonstration showed the determination of six attributes (Pu presence, Pu isotopics, Pu mass, absence of oxide, symmetry, and age) on unclassified plutonium samples and a US nuclear weapons component. The demonstrations showed that a six-attribute measurement system with information barrier could be fabricated and was capable of protecting classified information. In order to measure the six attributes, a high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy system and neutron multiplicity system were developed. This talk discusses the neutron multiplicity system, along with data taken on the unclassified samples.