Engineering topics

Pierson, Bruce

Publications and source records attributed to Pierson, Bruce.

8 records

DOE OSTI2024

Godiva IV central cavity neutron environment characterization with threshold neutron detectors

Godiva IV is a cylindrical fast burst reactor comprised of approximately 65 kg of highly enriched uranium that is operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory and sited at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center at the Nevada National Security Site in Nevada in the United States. Godiva IV is typically operated at delayed critical and in the regime spanning from sub-prompt to super-prompt bursts. Godiva IV is used for sample irradiations, criticality safety demonstrations, dosimetry studies, and for studying super-prompt behavior. In preparation for both an upcoming experiment to reduce uncertainties in the prompt fission spectrum for 235U using threshold neutron detectors, and for future research using Godiva IV, it was desired to exercise the process of the selection of threshold neutron detectors/activation foils, radiation metrology, and the subsequent adjustment of the neutron spectrum. For this exercise, nine high purity threshold neutron detectors/activation foils were irradiated in a Godiva IV burst. The foils were then analyzed using a high-purity germanium detector in the NCERC counting laboratory to determine end of irradiation specific activities for available IRDFF-II reactions. This work summarizes the Godiva IV foil irradiation, radiation metrology results, and adjusted neutron spectrum. The results of this exercise ultimately characterized the neutron environment inside the sample irradiation cavity inside Godiva IV to a higher degree than previously performed, informed decisions for the upcoming larger scale experiment, and will inform future neutron spectrum characterizations at NCERC.

Whitman, Nicholas H.↗

DOE OSTI2024

New constraint on the Np 237 ( n , γ ) Np 238 integral cross section using the Godiva-IV critical assembly

Accurate knowledge of the 237 Np(n, γ) 238 Np cross section at fast neutron energies is important for applied nuclear science. The presently available experimental data has large disagreements in the fast neutron region. Perform a model-independent measurement of the 237 Np(n, γ) 238 Np integral cross section using a well characterized fast neutron source and compare the result with previous measurements and current nuclear data evaluations. Provide an integral measurement that can be used as a benchmark for current evaluations. Multiple samples of 237 Np were irradiated in the Godiva-IV critical assembly. Following the irradiation, the samples placed in a γ-ray counting setup and the γ-rays emitted from the decay of 238 Np were measured over a time period of approximately 7 days. Multiple γ-ray decay branches of 238 Np were observed. The observed activity of 238 Np was used to calculate the amount of 238 Np produced during the irradiation via the 237 Np(n, γ) 238 Np reaction and an integral cross section of 342(11) mb was measured for the Godiva-IV neutron spectrum. Further, the 238 Np half-life has been measured with a result of 50.31(5) hours. The 237 Np(n, γ) 238 Np integral cross section measured in this work is in agreement with overlapping 1σ error bands to ENDF/B-VIII.0. However, the measured value is 3σ away from the calculated integral cross section using JENDL-5. This measurement offers a reliable benchmark for future 237 Np(n, γ) 238 Np cross section evaluations.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Time interval distributions of nuclear events in a digital spectrometer

This study compares the theoretical formula for time interval density distributions (TIDs) in counters with pileup rejection to TIDs measured using a digital spectrometer with trapezoid filtering. The TIDs were derived from successive time stamps of 60 Co and 133 Ba γ rays detected with a HPGe spectrometer. The results demonstrate that the theoretical formula is applicable up to 40% count loss and can be used to retrospectively deduce the incident event rate.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2023

Godiva IV Burst Reproducibility and Diagnostic Testing

Godiva IV is a fast burst critical assembly located at the Nation Criticality Experiment Research Center (NCERC) in the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). It is constructed of approximately 65 kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel alloyed with 1.5% molybdenum for strength. The assembly can be operated at delayed critical or can be used to perform super-prompt critical bursts with temperature rises of up to 250 °C. Several projects with the objective of characterizing Go diva IV are ongoing including characterizations of its radiation emission and thermomechanics. One of the characterization projects is a study of the variability in the relative source emission (or fluence in absolute terms) between bursts that are nominally the same size. There is some inherent variation in the number of fissions, or "size" of the burst, even for bursts where the operators perform identical processes. The source of the variation can be attributed to several factors. The largest contributor is the precision with which the operators are able to determine delayed critical (DC). Operators find DC for every burst operation. The impact of being slightly above or below DC can change the super-prompt critical reactivity and therefore the source term. The temperature of the fuel is another factor. Establishing delayed critical prior to performing a burst act as a control of the bulk temperature coefficient of reactivity.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Templates of expected measurement uncertainties

The covariance committee of CSEWG (Cross Section Evaluation Working Group) established templates of expected measurement uncertainties for neutron-induced total, (n,γ), neutron-induced charged-particle, and (n,xn) reaction cross sections as well as prompt fission neutron spectra, average prompt and total fission neutron multiplicities, and fission yields. Templates provide a list of what uncertainty sources are expected for each measurement type and observable, and suggest typical ranges of these uncertainties and correlations based on a survey of experimental data, associated literature, and feedback from experimenters. Information needed to faithfully include the experimental data in the nuclear-data evaluation process is also provided. These templates could assist (a) experimenters and EXFOR compilers in delivering more complete uncertainties and measurement information relevant for evaluations of new experimental data, and (b) evaluators in achieving a more comprehensive uncertainty quantification for evaluation purposes. This effort might ultimately lead to more realistic evaluated covariances for nuclear-data applications. In this topical issue, we cover the templates coming out of this CSEWG effort–typically, one observable per paper. This paper here prefaces this topical issue by introducing the concept and mathematical framework of templates, discussing potential use cases, and giving an example of how they can be applied (estimating missing experimental uncertainties of 235 U(n,f) average prompt fission neutron multiplicities), and their impact on nuclear-data evaluations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Quantifying Burst Repeatability for Godiva IV

The minimum resolvable relative change in the neutron source emission of Godiva IV between bursts, i.e., burst repeatability, was quantified using a combination of activation monitors and a resistance temperature detector (RTD). Measurements support changes in the neutron source emission between bursts can be determined with a precision of 2.7%. The measurements were performed during a series of twelve Godiva IV bursts and were a collaborative effort between Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Gold, iron, nickel, and sulfur activation monitors were positioned in a sample holder in the central cavity of Godiva IV for each burst. The RTD is part of the Godiva burst diagnostic system and is in a fixed location in the safety block of Godiva IV. It is used to determine the temperature rise of the burst, i.e., the difference between the maximum temperature recorded during the burst and the initial temperature prior to the burst. Differences in either the specific activity of the activation monitor reactions, or the temperature rise can be used to determine the relative change in the neutron source emission for separate bursts, but historic results have proven that each method is susceptible to various sources of biases which generally cannot be isolated using a single method. We address this issue by applying both measurement methods and analyzing the correlation between them. The results presented in this work will be used to support future experiments with Godiva IV at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC).

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Stacked target irradiations and radiochemical separations for simultaneous production of short-lived Ni and Ir isotopes

A method was developed for simultaneous production of neutron-deficient Ni and Ir isotopes by irradiation of stacked targets with a 50.5 MeV proton beam, followed by radiochemical separations to remove excess target material. The target, irradiation configuration, and post-irradiation radiochemical separations were developed and tested in a proof-of-principle irradiation. Radiochemical yields and purity of the products are discussed. Finally, the stacked target method, developed herein, can be used to produce other isotope pairs with appropriate beam tailoring.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

DOE OSTI2023

Godiva IV Central Cavity Neutron Environment Characterization with Threshold Neutron Detectors

Godiva IV is a cylindrical fast burst reactor comprised of approximately 65 kg of highly enriched uranium that is operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory and sited at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center at the Nevada National Security Site in Nevada in the United States. Godiva IV is typically operated at delayed critical and in the regime spanning from sub-prompt to super-prompt bursts. Godiva IV is used for sample irradiations, criticality safety demonstrations, dosimetry studies, and for studying super-prompt behavior. In preparation for both an upcoming experiment to reduce uncertainties in the prompt fission spectrum for 235 U using threshold neutron detectors, and for future research using Godiva IV, it was desired to exercise the process of the selection of threshold neutron detectors/activation foils, radiation metrology, and the subsequent adjustment of the neutron spectrum. For this exercise, nine high purity threshold neutron detectors/activation foils were irradiated in a Godiva IV burst. The foils were then analyzed using a high purity germanium detector in the NCERC counting laboratory to determine end of irradiation specific activities for available IRDFF-II reactions. This work summarizes the Godiva IV foil irradiation, radiation metrology results, and adjusted neutron spectrum. The results of this exercise ultimately characterized the neutron environment inside the sample irradiation cavity inside Godiva IV to a higher degree than previously performed, informed decisions for the upcoming larger scale experiment, and will inform future neutron spectrum characterizations at NCERC.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗