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Buckles, Robert

Publications and source records attributed to Buckles, Robert.

Neutron time-of-flight detectors (nTOF) used at Sandia’s Z-Machine

Neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detectors have been used on Sandia National Laboratories’ Z-Machine for inertial confinement fusion and magnetized liner fusion experiments to infer physics parameters including the apparent fuel-ion temperature, neutron yield, the magnetic-radius product (BR), and the liner rho-r. Single-paddle, dual-paddle, and co-axial scintillation nTOF detectors are used in axial lines-of-sight (LOS) and LOS that are 12° from the midplane. Detector fabrication, characterization, and calibration are discussed.

Chandler, G. A. (ORCID:0000000219640927)↗

Yield and PDV Measurements of the Godiva-IV Critical Assembly (Preliminary Report)

A high dynamic range, scinillator based detector, the MHD-240, was used to measure the gamma and neutron flux of several prompt critical bursts of the Godiva-IV assembly. The measurements provided the alpha and FWHM for several different burst temperatures. Calibrations of the MHD240 gamma and neutron sensitivity along with MCNP based simulation of the Godiva-IV assembly will allow us to also determine the total fission yield of the burst integrated over approximately 5 ms. Work is ongoing to check the calibrations of the MHD-240, and improve the MCNP simulations. This is a preliminary report, and the fission yields reported here are not final and are likely inaccurate. The measured alpha and FWHM are not impacted by the calibration issues and are considered final.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Yield and PDV Measurements of the Godiva-IV Critical Assembly

A high dynamic range, scinillator based detector, the MHD-240, was used to measure the gamma and neutron flux of several prompt critical bursts of the Godiva-IV assembly. The measurements provided the alpha and FWHM for several different burst temperatures. Calibrations of the MHD240 gamma and neutron sensitivity along with MCNP based simulation of the Godiva-IV assembly allowed us to also determine the total fission yield of the burst integrated over approximately 5 ms. In addition a Photo Doppler Velocimetry measurement was conducted to determine the surface motion vibrational frequency of Godiva-IV assembly during the bursts. The combined data were collected to be used as input to multi-physics simulation of the Godiva-IV assembly. This is a preliminary report, there is an ongoing effort to update the MCNP simulations used in the analysis and develop a correction for the room return component of the measured signal.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Photo Doppler Velocimetry and Gamma/Neutron Yield Measurements of Godiva-IV Critical Assembly

The purpose of this experiment was to collect data for a dynamic benchmark of the Godiva-IV burst assembly. Data were taken using two different measurement systems. The gamma & neutron flux was measured using a calibrated, high-dynamic-range scintillator detector, the MHD-240. The measurement will be used to determine the total fission yield and alpha throughout the burst and shutdown sequence of Godiva-IV. The Photon Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) measurement detected the surface motion of the burst assembly as a function of time. The combined data will be used in a multi-physics simulation of the Godiva-IV burst assembly.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗