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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

10 Boron-film-based gas detectors at ESS

The development of detectors for the European Spallation Source is an important parallel element to the effort put into the design and construction of the neutron source and instruments. The 10Boron-film-based detector developments that started over a decade ago as basic detector concepts have now reached technical maturity after intense prototyping work and numerous testing campaigns. Several of the ESS beamlines that will soon enter the commissioning phase started welcoming the detector systems built with the 10 B-film converter technology. The real-size demonstrators evolved in the last 2–3 years into a diverse suite of gas proportional counters for use in diffraction, reflectometry and small-angle scattering studies in spite of the operational complexity posed by the requirements for large-area coverage, low material budget and robustness for operation in the high-flux and high-radiation environment of ESS. The detectors are now being shipped to ESS or undergoing the last performance and calibration tests before being handed over to the instrument teams for installation in the host beamlines. A common feature of these detector systems is the very large number of readout channels that they are instrumented with in order to fulfill the demanding requirements for sensitivity, spatial resolution and count-rate capability. Across all of the detector types that will operate at ESS, the integration, testing and commissioning of the read-out technologies and software tools for data reduction, calibration and analysis are the focus of the detector and integration teams. These will yield a wealth of knowledge about their operation as well as initial results on the in-situ performance, a very important asset to ensure rapid commissioning of the detectors when neutrons from the ESS source become available. In this paper we will give an overview of the 10 B-film-based detector technologies included in the ESS detector suite that are currently facing the transition from the production phase to installation and integration with the other beamline components, which comes with its own specific challenges of both organizational and technical nature.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Isospin in halo nuclei: Borromean halo, tango halo, and halo isomers

It is shown that the wave functions for isobaric analog, double isobaric analog, configuration, and double configuration states may simultaneously have components corresponding to nn, np, and pp halos. The difference in the halo structure between the ground and excited states of a nucleus may lead to the formation of halo isomers. A halo structure of both Borromean and tango types can be observed for np configurations. The structure of ground and excited states with various isospins in halo-like nuclei is discussed. The reduced probabilities B(Mλ) and B(Eλ) for gamma transitions in {sup 6−8}Li, {sup 8−10}Be, {sup 8,10,11}B, {sup 10−14}C, {sup 13−17}N, {sup 15−17,19}O, and {sup 17}F nuclei are analyzed. Particular attention is given to the cases where the ground state of a nucleus does not have a halo structure, but where its excited state may have it.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeling Tungsten Boride Neutronics in ORIGEN for Z-Facility

ORIGEN is one of the main transmutation software packages used in nuclear engineering Modeling Tungsten Boride Neutronics in ORIGEN for Z-Facilityproblems. For the case of this study, tungsten borides are studied using a coupled framework between MCNP and the ORIGEN package of scale. The input used four compositions of tungsten boride: WB with natural boron- 10 abundance, WB with 80wt% B-10 per isotope of boron, WB4 with natural boron-10 abundance, and WB4 with 80wt% B-10 per isotope of boron. Isotopic inventories were produced for WB which show the time dependent change up to 2 years after a 6-Month irradiation. This will allow for further studies of the materials to assess things material composition changes, dose contribution, and waste management requirements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Enriched Boron-Doped Amorphous Selenium Based Position-Sensitive Solid-State Thermal Neutron Detector for MPACT Applications

High-efficiency thermal neutron detectors with compact size, low power-rating and high spatial, temporal and energy resolution are essential to execute non-proliferation and safeguard protocols. The demands of such detector are not fully covered by the current detection system such as gas proportional counters or scintillator-photomultiplier tube combinations, which are limited by their detection efficiency, stability of response, speed of operation, and physical size. Furthermore, world-wide shortage of 3 He gas, required for widely used gas detection method, has further prompted to design an alternative system. Therefore, a solid-state neutron detection system without the requirement of 3 He will be very desirable. To address the above technology gap, we had proposed to develop new room temperature solidstate thermal neutron detectors based on enriched boron ( 10 B) and enriched lithium ( 6 Li) doped amorphous Se (As- 0.52%, Cl 5 ppm) semiconductor for MPACT applications. The proposed alloy materials have been identified for its many favorable characteristics - a wide bandgap (~2.2 eV at 300 K) for room temperature operation, high glass transition temperature (t g ~ 85°C), a high thermal neutron cross-section (for boron ~ 3840 barns, for lithium ~ 940 barns, 1 barn = 10 -24 cm 2 ), low effective atomic number of Se for small gamma ray sensitivity, and high radiation tolerance due to its amorphous structure.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Continuous measurement of boron concentration in nuclear power plants: why is it essential for safe and efficient operation? - 318

As a neutron-absorber, Boron 10 plays a significant role in nuclear power plants as it is used in order to control reactivity in the core, together with control rods. For that reason; it is a key parameter that has to be controlled. In a similar way, it is crucial to be able to detect a boron dilution in the primary circuit, as it would causes severe damages if not detected and controlled. Thus, it comes as evidence that a boron concentration monitoring system is a key for every nuclear power plant. Consequently, it becomes important to provide plant operators with a boron concentration measurement issued by a reliable, redundant, classified and qualified system, with high accuracy and short response time. In order to cover this need, Rolls-Royce has designed Boronline{sup R}, the latest generation of boron meter, which provides nuclear power plant operators with a permanent record of boron concentration of primary circuit by way of continuous sampling and real-time measurements. Boronline takes part of a new generation of Advanced Sensors and Measurements Technologies. In this paper, boron meter role, main functions and measuring principles will be detailed, as well as technical characteristics of the new generation of boron meter will be presented. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Improvements in Boron Plate Coating Technology for Higher Efficiency Neutron Detection and Coincidence Counting Error Reduction

This informal report presents the measurement data and information to document the performance of the advanced Precision Data Technology, Inc. (PDT) sealed cell boron-10 plate neutron detector that makes use of the advanced coating materials and procedures. In 2015, PDT changed the boron coating materials and application procedures to significantly increase the efficiency of their basic corrugated plate detector performance. A prototype sealed cell unit was supplied to LANL for testing and comparison with prior detector cells. Also, LANL had reference detector slabs from the original neutron collar (UNCL) and the new Antech UNCL with the removable 3He tubes. The comparison data is presented in this report.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Boron-lined parallel-plate Collar

This report presents boron-lined parallel plate technology features, experimental benchmarking of initial MCNP model, and parallel-plate UNCL collar optimization.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Report on MPACT Deliverable M3FT-16LA040106035 (High Dose Evaluation of Improved PDT Detector Pod)

This report provides the results for the initial high gamma dose tests for the boron-10 plate detector that was fabricated by PDT, Inc. under contract to LANL The specifications for the detector were developed using MCNP code simulations and prior experimental tests at LANL. The goal in the development was to provide high neutron detection efficiency together with gamma-ray resistance at very high gamma dose levels that are characteristic of the electrochemical fuel processing activity.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1972

Boron-10 loaded inorganic shielding material

Shielding material containing Boron 10 and gadoliunium for neutron absorption has been developed to reduce interference from low energy neutrons in measurement of fission neutron spectrum using Li-6 fast neutron spectrometer.

Baker, S. I.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Advanced Neutron Spectrometer

Energetic neutron measurements remain a challenge for space science investigations and radiation monitoring for human exploration beyond LEO. We are investigating a new composite scintillator design that uses Li6 glass scintillator embedded in a PVT block. A comparison between Li6 and Boron 10 loaded scintillators are being studied to assess the advantages and shortcomings of these two techniques. We present the details of the new Li6 design and results from the comparison of the B10 and Li6 techniques during exposures in a mixed radiation field produced by high energy protons interacting in a target material.

Christl, Mark↗
DOE OSTI2016

High-Dose Neutron Detector Development Using 10 B Coated Cells

During FY16 the boron-lined parallel-plate technology was optimized to fully benefit from its fast timing characteristics in order to enhance its high count rate capability. To facilitate high count rate capability, a novel fast amplifier with timing and operating properties matched to the detector characteristics was developed and implemented in the 8” boron plate detector that was purchased from PDT. Each of the 6 sealed-cells was connected to a fast amplifier with corresponding List mode readout from each amplifier. The FY16 work focused on improvements in the boron-10 coating materials and procedures at PDT to significantly improve the neutron detection efficiency. An improvement in the efficiency of a factor of 1.5 was achieved without increasing the metal backing area for the boron coating. This improvement has allowed us to operate the detector in gamma-ray backgrounds that are four orders of magnitude higher than was previously possible while maintaining a relatively high counting efficiency for neutrons. This improvement in the gamma-ray rejection is a key factor in the development of the high dose neutron detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Unstable nuclei in dissociation of light stable and radioactive nuclei in nuclear track emulsion

A role of the unstable nuclei {sup 6}Be, {sup 8}Be and {sup 9}B in the dissociation of relativistic nuclei {sup 7,9}Be, {sup 10}B and {sup 10,11}C is under study on the basis of nuclear track emulsion exposed to secondary beams of the JINR Nuclotron. Contribution of the configuration {sup 6}Be + n to the {sup 7}Be nucleus structure is 8 ± 1% which is near the value for the configuration {sup 6}Li + p. Distributions over the opening angle of α-particle pairs indicate to a simultaneous presence of virtual {sup 8}Be{sub g.s}. and {sup 8}Be{sub 2+} states in the ground states of the {sup 9}Be and {sup 10}C nuclei. The core {sup 9}B is manifested in the {sup 10}C nucleus with a probability of 30 ± 4%. Selection of the {sup 10}C “white” stars accompanied by {sup 8}Be{sub g.s}. ({sup 9}B) leads to appearance in the excitation energy distribution of 2α2p “quartets” of the distinct peak with a maximum at 4.1 ± 0.3 MeV. {sup 8}Be{sub g.s}. decays are presented in 24 ± 7% of 2He + 2H events of the {sup 11}C coherent dissociation and 27 ± 11% of the 3He ones. The channel {sup 9}B + H amounts 14 ± 3%. The {sup 8}B{sub g.s}. nucleus is manifested in the coherent dissociation {sup 10}B → 2He + H with a probability of 25 ± 5% including 13 ± 3% of {sup 9}B decays. A probability ratio of the mirror channels {sup 9}B + n and {sup 9}Be + p is estimated to be 10 ± 1.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A multi-MeV alpha particle source via proton-boron fusion driven by a 10-GW tabletop laser

Nuclear fusion between protons and boron-11 nuclei has undergone a revival of interest thanks to the rapid progress in pulsed laser technology. Potential applications of such reaction range from controlled nuclear fusion to radiobiology and cancer therapy. A laser-driven fusion approach consists in the interaction of high-power, high-intensity pulses with H- and B-rich targets. We report on an experiment exploiting proton-boron fusion in CN-BN targets to obtain high-energy alpha particle beams (up to 5 MeV) using a very compact approach and a tabletop laser system with a peak power of ~10 GW, which can operate at high-repetition rate (up to 1 kHz). The secondary resonance in the cross section of proton-boron fusion (~150 keV in the center-of-mass frame) is exploited using a laser-based approach. The generated alpha particles are characterized in terms of energy, flux, and angular distribution using solid-state nuclear-track detectors, demonstrating a flux of ~10 5 particles per second at 10 Hz, and ~10 6 per second at 1 kHz. Hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell numerical simulations support our experimental findings. Potential impact of our approach on future spread of ultra-compact, multi-MeV alpha particle sources driven by moderate intensity (10 16 -10 17 W/cm 2 ) laser pulses is anticipated.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Study of the Involvement of {sup 8}Be and {sup 9}B Nuclei in the Dissociation of Relativistic {sup 10}C, {sup 10}B, and {sup 12}C Nuclei

The results obtained by estimating the contribution of 8Be and 9B nuclei to the coherent dissociation of {sup 10}C, {sup 10}B, and {sup 12}C relativistic nuclei in nuclear track emulsions (“white” stars) are presented. The selection of white stars accompanied by 9B leads to a distinct peak appearing in the distribution of the excitation energy of 2α2p ensembles and having a maximum at 4.1 ± 0.3 MeV. A 8Be nucleus manifests itself in the coherent-dissociation reaction {sup 10}B → {sup 2}He + H with a probability of (25 ± 5)%, (14 ± 3)% of it being due to 9B decays. The ratio of the branching fractions of the {sup 9}B + n and {sup 9}Be + p mirror channels is estimated at 6 ± 1. An analysis of the relativistic dissociation of {sup 12}C nuclei in a nuclear track emulsion revealed nine 3α events corresponding to the Hoyle state.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Yields of hydrogen isotopes in stopped-pion absorption by light nuclei

The spectra of p, d, and t charged particles produced in stopped-pion absorption by nuclei are analyzed. Respective measurements were performed for 17 nuclei by means of a semiconductor spectrometer. A phenomenological model developed previously for medium-heavy and heavy nuclei was applied to describing the spectra and yields of charged particles originating from light nuclei ({sup 6,7}Li, {sup 9}Be, {sup 10,11}B, and {sup 12}C). The contribution of intranuclear clusters (such as pp and {sup 3,4}He) to pion absorption was estimated.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

UO 2 + 5 vol% ZrB 2 nano composite nuclear fuels with full boron retention and enhanced oxidation resistance

The boron isotope ( 10 B) can be used as a neutron absorber in UO 2 to control the reactivity of nuclear fuel pellets, however, the boron source can react with oxygen source in UO 2 to form B 2 O 3 that vaporize readily at temperatures above 1200 °C. Unfortunately, the sintering of UO 2 fuel requires hours holding at high temperature (>1700 °C), resulting in an inevitable B loss during sintering and unpredictable B concentration in final product. It is challenging to incorporate boron through a conventional sintering method. In this work, we demonstrated that spark plasma sintering (SPS), a field assisted sintering technology, can effectively densify UO 2 + 5 vol% ZrB 2 composite fuel pellets by rapid consolidation at 1600 °C for a short duration of 5 min under an applied pressure of 40 MPa. Further, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements confirm that ZrB 2 is fully retained inside the composite fuel pellets. Inside the composite fuel pellets, nano sized ZrB 2 particles are uniformly distributed along the grain boundaries of the UO 2 matrix. The ZrB 2 particle transforms to a glassy B 2 O 3 phase covering the sample surface and grain boundaries of UO 2 matrix after a simple post-sintering annealing at 1000 °C in flowing Argon gas for 4 h. The formed glassy B 2 O 3 slows down the diffusion of oxygen ions and postpones the onset temperature for oxidation of UO 2 from 400 °C to 550 °C. This study demonstrates the capability of SPS, an advanced fuel manufacturing technique, to achieve a full retention of ZrB 2 in UO 2 oxide fuel and increase oxidation resistance through a simple post-sintering annealing. The reported work holds great engineering potential for development of advanced oxide fuel for nuclear application.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗