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At least 343 records · Page 19

Induction of Micronuclei in Human Fibroblasts from the Los Alamos High Energy Neutron Beam

The space radiation field includes a broad spectrum of high energy neutrons. Interactions between these neutrons and a spacecraft, or other material, significantly contribute to the dose equivalent for astronauts. The 15 degree beam line in the Weapons Neutron Research beam at Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center generates a neutron spectrum relatively similar to that seen in space. Human foreskin fibroblast (AG1522) samples were irradiated behind 0 to 20 cm of water equivalent shielding. The cells were exposed to either a 0.05 or 0.2 Gy entrance dose. Following irradiation, micronuclei were counted to see how the water shield affects the beam and its damage to cell nuclei. Micronuclei induction was then compared with dose equivalent data provided from a tissue equivalent proportional counter.

Cox, Bradley↗

Trace-element analysis of 1000 environmental samples per year using instrumental neutron activation analysis

The technology and methods developed at the Plum Brook Reactor to analyze 1000 samples per year and report data on as many as 56 elements are described. The manpower for the complete analysis of 20 to 24 samples per week required only 3 to 3.5 hours per sample. The solutions to problems encountered in sample preparation, irradiation, and counting are discussed. The automation of data reduction is described. Typical data on various sample matrices are presented.

Sheibley, D. W.↗

Single-Volume Scatter Camera (Final Report)

This document serves as a comprehensive final report for the Single-Volume Scatter Camera (SVSC) project. Most of the work over the course of this project has been documented in journal articles, conference papers, and other reports. We therefore reference those materials for detailed presentation of our technical results. The most recent efforts on the project have not been published and are presented in detail here. We present characterizations of two neutron scatter camera prototypes; one using a monolithic geometry, and one using an optically segmented geometry. Both detectors employ plastic scintillator with SiPM-based readout. For the monolithic prototype, we present calibrations of several detector parameters made using a set of dark counts. In particular, we employ a coincidence analysis to characterize the distribution external optical crosstalk, along with the relative timing of the different SiPMs. For the optically segmented prototype we present the results of calibrations made using a tagged 22 Na source, as well as the results of an imaging measurement made using a tagged AmBe source.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Bldg. 7930 Cell G Neutron Detector New Electronics Testing

The Cell G neutron assay system within 7930 provides an important function in the production of Californium-252 in the quantitative determination of the amount of Cf-252 present in a sample. The assay system consists of a Uranium-238 fission chamber coupled to the necessary counting electronics including preamplifier, amplifier, discriminator and counter/timer. The original electronics date back to the 1970s but were replaced back in 2011 with little documentation detailing the testing and replacement efforts. This work focused on procuring a new spare set of electronics, their subsequent testing as a backup in case any of the currently in use electronics were to fail and documentation of the existing and new setups.

Taylor, Neil [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)↗

Benchmark of Neutron Thermalization in Graphite Using a Pulsed Slowing-Down-Time Experiment

A benchmark has been developed using a pulsed slowing-down-time experiment to isolate the thermalization process in graphite. The experiment was conducted at the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and it measured the time spectrum of neutrons leaking from a graphite pile during slowing down and thermalization within graphite. Simulations of the benchmark experiment were performed using the MCNP6.1 Monte Carlo code and the ENDF/B-VII.1 and ENDF/B-VIII.0 cross-section databases. The benchmark provides a time spectrum (i.e., time-dependent counts in a detector) that allows for validation of the graphite thermal scattering libraries (TSLs). The impact on the simulations using a suite of graphite TSLs was compared with the experimental results. Given the density of nuclear graphite, the TSL corresponding to graphite with 30% porosity, as implemented in ENDF/B-VIII.0, was found to most accurately represent the measured time spectrum corresponding to the thermal energy range with an average deviation of ±1.7%.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Inferring small-sample-reactivity worth from oscillation experiment with auto-corrected local flux

To estimate reactivity changes as a function of time from the signal of detectors count rates, one usually uses point kinetic equations. However, when detectors are located inside the core, it is often necessary to compute a correction factor to account for the flux-shape deformation (i.e. the change of detector efficiency that may have been induced by neutron absorbers movements). Various simulation methods have been developed depending on transients observed. They range from the resolution of static equations up to full-time-dependent neutron transport in 3D. However, those methods require high computational-cost calculations of local reaction rates that rely on nuclear data evaluations. Therefore, a 'measured' reactivity is never determined through pure measurements. Taking advantage of the known oscillation movement of a small sample at the center of the MINERVE reactor, the innovative algorithm presented in this paper derives the correction factor needed to get no time drift on reactivity steps. Derived correction factors are in good agreement with those obtained independently with TRIPOLI-4 through sensitivity analysis. Low sensitivity to the sample composition and moderate sensitivity to the detectors position reinforce the reliability of those results. This application paves the way to almost pure nuclear data reactivity measurements. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Tomographic Image Reconstruction for the Parallel-Slit Ring Collimator Fast Neutron Emission Tomography System

For the past three years, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been developing a passive fast-neutron emission tomography capability. The goal of this development is the ability to quantify the neutron source strength of individual fuel pins (rods) in spent nuclear fuel assemblies. Such a system could be used to measure the burnup of each fuel pin in a spent fuel assembly in order to take burnup credit when loading dry storage casks or to count individual fuel pins in spent fuel assemblies for safeguards purposes. At present, a laboratory prototype imager is under construction. The purpose of this prototype is to demonstrate imaging capability sufficient to resolve individual fuel pins in spent fuel assemblies. This report documents the development of the iterative reconstruction code used to perform tomographic image reconstruction, the imager response calculation used by the reconstruction code, and the results of reconstructions of simulated tomographic imaging measurements for the prototype imager design.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Feedback on Forty-year Long Clean-up Operations of a Contaminated Soil for Environmental Purpose - 20026

One of the CEA facilities in France is the place of miscellaneous mapping and clean-up operations since the 1980's. The final purpose of the conducted work deals with the environmental remediation of the building. In France, the absence of a regulatory framework for the management of sites polluted by radioactive substances, especially as the lack of release thresholds, has led to develop different approaches of soil radiological characterization. The geostatistical approach is part of them. Preliminary investigations are an unavoidable step prior to clearance and remediation. First, historical analysis enables to define site perimeters to investigate as well as to precisely locate expected contaminated parts. For radioactive pollutants, the media (water, soil, air) and transfer routes participate in the definition of the investigation perimeter and thus also need to be identified through a geological study. At the same time, functional analysis leads to choose the best measurement means which could provide useful information when combined with visual inspection. An equipment well adapted to easy-to-measure radionuclides as gamma emitters, such as gamma probe or on-site gamma spectrometry, is usually selected as a non-destructive assay. Coupled with spatial positions, processed on-site radiological data can be mapped. Data processing consists in mapping and kriging before a geostatistical analysis in order to identify the zones of interest to be targeted. Selected zones are not only linked to high level count rates but also to low level ones so that a pollution-free reference is known in the area. This data processing also enables to categorize waste types according to their origin and contamination levels. An expected volume of different waste then follows as well as the waste characterization equipments. In-depth investigations, e.g. core drillings and samplings, naturally ensue to aim at remediation optimization through the assessment of environmental impact. After clean-up operations, non-destructive assays as well as destructive samplings enable to check the effective clearance. Following this methodology in the present remediation work, results of the first non-destructive assay campaign highlighted a long-lived transuranic radionuclides contamination in the concrete flagstone. Successive non-destructive assays were then performed in the defined zones of interest. Count rates measured with a surface probe were first mapped. The best localization of destructive assays, i.e. core drillings at a 1 meter depth, came from this surface mapping followed by a geostatistical analysis. The concrete flagstone was totally removed. Then, the depth of soil to remove under the flagstone was optimized from the results of radiological activities measured in core drillings samples. A new surface mapping was then drawn after this partial soil excavation. The sand and demolition rubble samples, homogeneously constituted from the flagstone fragments, were analyzed by gamma spectrometry. Meanwhile, waste drums and other containers were also measured by gamma spectrometry and passive neutron measurement devices. All these results have brought miscellaneous pieces of information. In this context, major issues appear in terms of physical constraints such as the premises tininess as well as of soil sampling techniques and in terms of measurement performances assessment and the representativeness of homogeneous samples. The choice of radiological soil and waste characterization devices is described in the light of enhanced performances by keeping in mind radiation protection requirements and a willing to always optimize waste categories (very low level waste) and volume. The improvement of the characterization methods appears through this forty-year long work while sharing the feedback of encountered difficulties. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Delayed Development of Cool Plasmas in X-Ray Flares from the Young Sun-like Star κ1 Ceti

The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray observatory observed two powerful X-ray flares equivalent to superflares from the nearby young solar-like star κ 1 Ceti in 2019. NICER follows each flare from the onset through the early decay, collecting over 30 counts s −1 near the peak, enabling a detailed spectral variation study of the flare rise. The flare in September varies quickly in ∼800 s, while the flare in December has a few times longer timescale. In both flares, the hard-band (2–4 keV) light curves show typical stellar X-ray flare variations with a rapid rise and slow decay, while the soft X-ray light curves, especially of the September flare, have prolonged flat peaks. The time-resolved spectra require two temperature plasma components at kT ∼0.3–1 and ∼2–4 keV. Both components vary similarly, but the cool component lags by ∼200 s with a four to six times smaller emission measure (EM) compared to the hot component. A comparison with hydrodynamic flare loop simulations indicates that the cool component originates from X-ray plasma near the magnetic loop footpoints that mainly cools via thermal conduction. The time lag represents the travel time of the evaporated gas through the entire flare loop. The cool component has a several times smaller EM than its simulated counterpart, suggesting a suppression of conductive cooling, possibly by the expansion of the loop cross-sectional area or turbulent fluctuations. The cool component's time lag and EM ratio provide important constraints on the flare loop geometry.

main sequence stars↗

ResNet and CycleGAN for pulse shape discrimination of He-4 detector pulses: Recovering pulses conventional algorithms fail to label unanimously

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) capable detectors, such as He-4, that respond to neutron and gamma-ray 7 interactions have a threshold deposited energy value below which n/γ discrimination vanishes when using 8 conventional PSD algorithms. Recent attempts in applying supervised learning based artificial neural 9 networks for PSD use the pulses in the separated regions to train the networks so they can be used to classify 10 another set of separated pulses. In doing so, pulses previously indistinguishable are not recovered for 11 classification, which would have increased the number of neutron and gamma-ray pulses that could be used 12 for further analysis. Assuming the reason why conventional PSD algorithms have unseparated regions is 13 because the parameter space of the algorithms fail to capture the intrinsic (but subtle) distinguishing 14 behavior of some of the neutron and gamma-ray pulses, a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network 15 (CycleGAN) was trained to amplify those differences and extract well separated neutron and gamma-ray 16 clusters. Results show that, once the network is trained with pulses from separated and unseparated regions, 17 it was able to transform the pulses in the unseparated region to improve the PSD. Subsequent n/γ 18 classification was performed using deep residual network (ResNet) that takes pulses with 512 data points 19 as an input. Two different ResNets were explored – simple ResNet and modified ResNet which takes 20 segmented pulse inputs in the first layer and the corresponding time axis values in the last hidden layer. 21 The later approach enables the network to extract time correlated pulse features to enhance its ability to 22 capture the pulse behaviors relevant for PSD. Although it achieves slightly lower accuracy, 99.41% versus 23 99.89%, based on simply counting the number of correct n/γ labels assigned, compared to the simple 24 ResNet, the modified ResNets architecture was able to decreases the cross-entropy loss function by half, 25 which implies that the correct n/γ labels assigned are less likely to be accidental. PSD parameter 26 distributions based on n/γ classification by ResNet before and after transforming unseparated pulses using 27 CycleGAN show that by enhancing the separation between neutrons and gamma-rays, the transformation 28 helps improve the performance of classifier networks that are trained using labeled dataset. The 29 enhancement of neutron and gamma-ray separation by the CycleGAN increased the PSD figure of merit 30 (FOM) by up to 70% in some regions. Here, the results show that, if a given detector achieves clear separation 31 between neutron and gamma-ray pulses in any energy region, such neural network approaches can help 32 lower the energy threshold for the separation and increasing the number of neutron and gamma-ray pulses 33 that can be used for further analysis.

4He↗

TREAT Fuel Motion Summary Report. SETH A-E Experiments

In support of the Accident Tolerant Fuels program, experiment devices are being developed to enable transient testing of pressurized water reactor (PWR) type fuel specimens. In fiscal year 2019 several fueled tests were conducted in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) using the Separate Effects Test Holder (SETH). Five different SETH capsules (SETH A-E) were assembled, each holding a 10-pellet rodlet with 4.9% enriched, commercially-produced fresh UO2 pellets in zirconium alloy cladding with pellet dimensions having typical PWR radial dimensions and a total pellet stack length measuring 10.16 cm. The rodlet’s length allows the specimen to be axially positioned in the center of the core with minimal flux variation over the height of the rodlet. The fuel motion monitoring system (FMMS) is located on the north side of the TREAT reactor. Having direct line-of-sight of the core enables the FMMS to collect spatially-resolved data for fast neutrons generated due to fission occurring in experiment specimens. The FMMS contains 360 channels that make up a 10 (horizontal) by 36 (vertical) array of viewing slots; for the SETH A-E test series 96 proton-recoil scintillator (PRS) detectors were installed in the system. The fast neutrons are detected in the PRS detectors from light produced by the recoil of protons interacting with ZnS(Ag) grains in each detector's scintillator button. This report focuses on the FMMS data captured in the SETH A-E experiments, with multiple transients varying in reactivity addition and length. The first three experiments had a total reactor energy of 101 MJ each and were critical in understanding the FMMS field of view, lead shielding, and other TREAT data acquisition systems. SETH-B2 and C had a reactivity addition of almost double the previous transients and served as a demonstration of the detector array behavior under increased reactor energy. The final two SETH experiments (D and E) were aimed at reaching cladding melting temperatures with a reactor energy over 500 MJ for each test. In preparation for the higher energy transients, the FMMS lead shielding was reduced to 0.5 inches from the 6 inches used in SETH A-C. This was expected to saturate the detectors at the peak of the transient in exchange for higher sensitivity at lower energies after the peak, when the motion was expected. SETH-D was clipped at approximately 3 seconds, which was too early for the FMMS to capture any rodlet motion. SETH-E had the same reactivity addition as SETH-D but the transient time was extended to 18 seconds. The FMMS captured the downward motion of the rodlet in SETH-E as the count rate significantly changed for the detectors viewing the specimen. Snapshots taken throughout the transient helped identify the approximate time at which the motion initiated. Further analysis of the individual detector data captured on a per-millisecond time basis resulted in a determination that the approximate time for the onset of the downward motion was 2.84 ± 0.02 seconds. Neutron radiographs confirmed that downward motion occurred for SETH-D and SETH-E. Motion in SETH-D could also have been captured by the FMMS if the transient time had been longer for SETH-D. Ultimately, these final two tests served to demonstrate the FMMS's ability to track fuel motion during transient experiments at TREAT.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

High Resolution Spectroscopy And Timing Of The Isolated Neutron Star RBS 1774

The 2004 May 31 XMM-Newton observation was reprocessed using SASv6.0.0 and times of high background were filtered out. The net exposure time remaining was 23 ks. The source was clearly detected in MOS1, MOS2 and PN chips. We performed both timing and spectroscopic analysis on the data. We performed a spectral analysis by fitting data from the three EPIC detectors simultaneously, finding that the broadband spectrum can be represented by a single absorbed blackbody, with kT = 0.10 keV. The fitting revealed the presence of an absorption feature at 0:7 keV, but the data did have enough resolution to allow us to discriminate between an absorption line and an edge. We also tested magnetized models of Pavlov et a1 and Zavlin et al, but found that fits with these models were considerably worse than with a blackbody. For the timing analysis, we extracted the counts within a 3000 radius aperture in both PN and MOS 1 and MOS2 but with the aperture truncated by a chord where it approached the edge of the CCD window in each case: this maximized the counts while avoiding any edge effects. We analyzed PN, MOSl and MOS2 data both individually and combined using the Maximum Likelihood Periodogram technique of Zane et al. (2002) and Cropper et al. (2004). Periods from 10000 s to 30 ms were searched, ensuring that in each case the period grid was 2.5 times better sampled than the Nyquist frequency. The search revealed a significant period at 9.437s. Taken overall, we found the characteristics of RBS 1774 to be remarkably similar to those of another X-ray faint isolated neutron stars. These results were written up for the Astrophysical Journal, and the paper has recently been accepted for publication.

Mushotzky, Richard↗

127 Xe quantification method development and intercomparison exercise

Monitoring of the atmosphere for fission products ( 131m Xe, 133m Xe, 133 Xe, and 135 Xe) is performed by various laboratories to detect nuclear explosions. Quantification of 127 Xe is not routinely performed by laboratories measuring atmospheric radioxenon because it is not a fission product. 127 Xe was recently detected by a ground-based beta-gamma air monitoring system. When measured using beta-gamma coincidence detector systems, such as those in use on the International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 127 Xe can interfere with the quantification of fission product radioxenon due to overlap of the 127 Xe beta-gamma coincidence signatures with those of fission product radioxenon. Here, this work demonstrates quantification of 127 Xe at different laboratories with different measurement techniques. Production and purification of 127 Xe was performed by neutron activation of enriched 126 Xe. The purified 127 Xe was then split between laboratories, and detection and quantification methods were developed. At Idaho National Laboratory, a quantification method involving high purity germanium detectors was devised that included self-attenuation correction. At AWE, a beta-gamma coincidence counting method, as used in support of the IMS, was modified to enable the measurement and analysis of the 127 Xe samples. Corrections were made for self-attenuation, which showed a strong xenon volume dependency, for some coincidence signatures. The gas sample activity concentration was used as the comparison metric and it showed excellent agreement between the methods.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

The high intensity diffractometer for residual stress analysis (HIDRA), a third generation residual stress mapping neutron diffractometer at the high flux isotope reactor

This paper describes the hardware and software upgrades, operation, and performance of the high intensity diffractometer for residual stress analysis (HIDRA) instrument, a residual stress mapping neutron diffractometer located at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge Tennessee, USA. Following a major upgrade in 2018, the new instrument has a single 3 He multiwire 2D 30 × 30 cm 2 position sensitive detector, yielding a field of view of 17° 2θ. Further, the increase in the field of view (from 4° 2θ) from the previous model instrument has contributed to the tremendous improvement in the out of plane solid angle such that the 3D count rate could be obtained easily. Accordingly, the hardware, software, Data Acquisition System (DAS), and so on have also been updated. Finally, all these enhanced features of HIDRA have been ably demonstrated by conducting multi directional diffraction measurements in the quenched 750-T74 aluminum, and the evolved and improved strain/stress mappings are presented.

3D printing↗

Correlation-aware binning for small-angle neutron scattering via Gaussian-process inference

Binning in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is typically performed empirically, with fixed parameters chosen for convenience rather than statistical optimality. Such practices often fail to balance statistical precision and spatial resolution, leading to inconsistencies across instruments and datasets. Here we establish a correlation-aware framework that determines the optimal bin width from first principles by extending the classical Freedman–Diaconis (FD) rule to account for inter-bin correlations with a Gaussian process. In this formulation, the scattering intensity is treated as a smooth stochastic field whose statistical coherence is described by a covariance matrix. Analytical expressions of errors derived from this model yield closed-form criteria that separate the total deviation into contributions from counting noise, aliasing distortion and curvature-dependent correlation effects. Expressed in reduced variables, the resulting dimensionless error surface reveals a continuous transition from the uncorrelated FD regime to the correlation-dominated limit, providing a unified description of noise suppression and resolution control. Because the formulation depends only on the profile characteristics of scattering intensity I(Q), specifically its average intensity and first- and second-order derivatives, it applies generally to any SANS measurement regardless of sample, instrument or geometry. Experimental validation using small- and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering data confirms the predicted scaling behavior, demonstrating that correlation-aware inference systematically reduces mean-squared error and enables information-efficient reproducible data reduction across materials and instruments.

Tung, Chi-Huan [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000221972074)↗

Reduction of detection limit and quantification uncertainty due to interferent by neural classification with abstention

Many measurements in the physical sciences can be cast as counting experiments, where the number of occurrences of a physical phenomenon informs the prevalence of the phenomenon's source. Often, detection of the physical phenomenon (termed signal) is difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring phenomena (termed background). In this case, the discrimination of signal events from background can be performed using classifiers, and they may range from simple, threshold-based classifiers to sophisticated neural networks. These classifiers are often trained and validated to obtain optimal accuracy, however we show that the optimal accuracy classifier does not generally coincide with a classifier that provides the lowest detection limit, nor the lowest quantification uncertainty. Here, we present a derivation of the detection limit and quantification uncertainty in the classifier-based counting experiment case. We also present a novel abstention mechanism to minimize the detection limit or quantification uncertainty a posteriori. We illustrate the method on two data sets from the physical sciences, discriminating Ar-37 and Ar-39 radioactive decay from non-radioactive events in a gas proportional counter, and discriminating neutrons from gammas in an inorganic scintillator and report results therefrom.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

REDC Process Instrumentation Modernization Project

Critical electronics used for isotopes production have become outdated and difficult to manufacture. In particular the alpha-particle and neutron detection electronics (commonly referred to as Q2809A-9 and -11) which are used to monitor effluent activity in ORNL Building 7920 were designed and deployed in 1966-67. These electronics are still used but some parts are no longer available for purchase. In addition, the printed circuit boards used in the Count Rate Monitor (CRM) module have no fabrication files or quality assurance documentation. In light of this, a project to modernize the modules for ability to manufacture with modern parts was undertaken. Both the preamplifier and CRM were modernized with new printed circuit boards and parts which are current catalog parts. In addition, QA documentation was generated which allows the manufacturer to assure proper operation prior to delivery.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Characteristics of the persistent emission of SGR 1806-20

Earlier, using the X-ray satellite ASCA, we had identified the soft gamma-ray burst repeater (SGR) 1806-20 with a persistent X-ray source, AX 1805.7-2025 which is located close to the center of the radio supernova remnant G10.0-0.3. A burst seen by Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) was shown to be centered on G10.0-0.3. Here we report detailed temporal and spectral analysis of the persistent source. We find that AX 1805.7-2025 is a very compact source, size less than 30 sec in diameter, with a power-law spectrum. The count rate from AX 1805.7-2025 is steady on timescales of minutes, days, and 1 week. Most supernova remnants have extended X-ray emission ascribed to shocked gas. We set an upper limit to an extended X-ray emission both in continuum and line emission. We conclude that an isolated neutron star, most likely a pulsar, powers the radio remnant G10.0-0.3. Finally, we note that the persistent spectrum appears to be less absorbed than the burst spectrum.

Sonobe, T.↗