Reflections on NDA Measurement Uncertainty Compared to DA Uncertainty

Year
2010
Author(s)
James Sprinkle - Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. Venkataraman - Canberra Industries Inc.
Steven Goldberg - New Brunswick Laboratory
Peter Santi - Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. A. Dewberry - Savannah River National Laboratory
Lynn Preston - US Department of Energy Office of Security and Safety
G. Pfennigwerth - Y12 National Security Complex
Stephen Croft - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Saleem Salaymeh - Savannah River National Laboratory
Aaron Clare - Savannah River National Laboratory
Abstract
It is difficult to overestimate the importance that physical measurements performed with nondestructive assay instruments play throughout the nuclear fuel cycle. They underpin decision making in many areas of support: criticality safety, radiation protection, process control, safeguards, facility compliance, and waste measurements. No physical measurement is complete or indeed meaningful, without a defensible and appropriate accompanying statement of uncertainties and how they combine to define the confidence in the results. The uncertainty budget should also be broken down in sufficient detail suitable for subsequent uses to which the Non Destructive Assay (NDA) results will be applied.