Research and Development Program on Nondestructive Measurement of Isotopes by Using Laser Compton Scattered Gamma-rays

In the last INMM meeting, we proposed a new nondestructive assay (NDA) method for U-235, Pu-239, and minor actinides in spent nuclear fuel assembly in a water pool, where nuclear fuel materials are detected using nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) with laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma-rays generated by collision of high energy electrons and laser photons [1-3]. For developing the LCS-NRF NDA method, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (“ISCN”, hereafter) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) recently launched a research program supported by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan. In the program, we plan to demonstrate generation of LCS gamma-rays at the Compact ERL, a test facility of energy-recovery linac for future light sources [4]. The Compact ERL is now under construction and will be completed in FY2012 to provide a 35-MeV electron beam at the initial operation. We also have a future plan to reinforce the electron beam energy by additional accelerator structures and the second recirculation loop. For the generation of LCS gamma-ray, we install a laser super cavity [5] at the recirculation loop of the Compact ERL. The LCS gamma-ray is transported to an experimental station to make an experimental demonstration of NDA using an isotope which has a resonance within available LCS gamma-ray energies. In the present paper, we describe the experimental plan and the current R&D statu