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The project concerns the outgoing international mobility of block-release apprentices preparing the Master's degree in Instrumentation, Measurement, Metrology of the Filière Instrumentation (Physics Department of the Science Faculty). It targets universities and research centers involved in nuclear energy and is based on ongoing partnerships with CFA Epure–Méditerranée (apprenticeship center), EDF, and CEA thanks to on a solid research background in the LIMMEX laboratory run jointly by CEA and AMU (IM2NP) and dedicated to Instrumentation and Measurements under EXtreme conditions, on the ANIMMA international conference and the EFMMIN Franco-Moroccan school. This has led to the development of a useful network of operators (partners involved in the project) in priority geographical areas for AMU's international strategy: Nuclear Reactor Laboratory at MIT, Moroccan Nuclear Center and Mohammed V University, Polish Nuclear Center, Slovenian Jožef Stefan Institute, Belgian Nuclear Center. The project will consist in sending a group of block-release apprentices for one week per year to a partner site who will propose visits to reactors, laboratories and companies, and participation in seminars, short courses, experimental projects and workshops together with local students. They will visit cultural places and prepare an activity report in English. When the project is completed its possible extension to other block-release courses at AMU will be examined because international mobility is a real advantage in terms of employability for young-people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DISCOMS project, which stands for "DIstributed Sensing for COrium Monitoring and Safety", considers the potential of distributed sensing technologies, based on remote instrumentations and Optical Fiber Sensing cables embedded into the concrete floor under the reactor vessel, to monitor the status of this third barrier of confinement. This paper focuses on the selection and testing of singlemode (SM) optical fibers with limited RIA (Radiation Induced Attenuation) to be compliant with remote distributed instruments optical budgets, the ionizing radiation doses to sustain, and their reduction provided by the concrete basemat shielding. The tests aimed at exposing these fibers and the corresponding sensitive optical cables, to the irradiation doses expected during the normal operation of the reactor (up to 60 years for the European Pressurized Reactor), followed by a severe accident. Several gamma and mixed (neutron-gamma) irradiations were performed at CEA Saclay facilities: POSÉÏDON irradiator and ISIS reactor, up to a gamma cumulated dose of about 2 MGy and fast neutron fluence (E > 1 MeV) of 6 x 1015 n/cm2. The first gamma test permitted to assess the RIA at various optical wavelengths, and to select three radiation tolerant singlemode fibers (RIA < 5 dB/100 m, at 1550 nm operating wavelength). The second one was performed on voluminous strands of sensitive cables encapsulating the selected optical fibers, up to approximately the same accumulated dose, at two temperatures: 30°C and 80°C. A significant increase of the RIA, without any saturation tendency, appeared for fibers inserted into cables, correlated with the increase of the hydroxyl attenuation peak at 1380 nm. Molecular hydrogen generated by the radiolysis of compounds of the cable is at the origin of this phenomenon. A third gamma irradiation run permitted to measure the radiolytic hydrogen production yield of some compounds of a dedicated temperature cable sample. The efficiency of a carbon coating layer over the silica cladding, acting as a barrier against hydrogen diffusion, was also successfully confirmed. Finally, the efficiency of this carbon coating layer has also been tested under neutron irradiation, then qualified as a protection barrier against hydrogen diffusion in the optical fiber cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a few years, simulation codes were built at CEA Cadarache to predict the signal of ionisation chambers and taylor detectors for specific applications. It is proposed here to present COSICAF, a tool developed for mainly academic purpose and rapid fission chamber prototyping. This numerical simulation, mostly based on semi-empirical models and Monte-Carlo method will help students to understand how ionisation chambers work. Through the paper, models and their numerical implementation will be discussed. A focus is made on recently implemented features like charge multiplication and correlated source which make the simulation of proportional counter possible. To demonstrate the interest of the code, simulations of a planar fission chamber is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year States report to IAEA loss, theft or out of regulatory control radioactive materials. Most incidents are minor, but material is potentially available for criminal acts. Measures to reduce the radiological and nuclear threat are many-faceted. An important component is the ability to detect illicit transport of radioactive material. Spectroscopic Radiation Portal Monitors are deployed around the world to detect illegal radioactive material traffic. A combination of experimental data collected during testing campaigns and simulations is a good way to study the performance of Spectroscopic Radiation Portal Monitors in realistic conditions. The paper presents a process to evaluate the performances of a portal, based on a combination of experimental data and MCNP simulations to calculate the detection probability and the false alarm rate. IRSN developed platforms for testing Spectroscopic Radiation Portal Monitors for pedestrian control. Experimental data were collected from an available commercial Spectroscopic Radiation Portal Monitor, tested in the framework of the Illicit Trafficking Radiation Assessment Program phase II Round Robin Test. Many scenarios were tested with different sources using realistic setups and many experimental data were collected. The tested equipment was then simulated with MCNP only based on the data provided in the user manual and the standards found in the industry. To get a realistic idea of the uncertainty, all the variables inherent in the measurement were considered, their relative contributions were identified and quantified, then propagated to predict an overall uncertainty. The combination of experimental data, numerical simulations and uncertainty evaluation showed good agreement with experimental assays. The results were used to test the sensitivity of a Spectroscopic Radiation Portal Monitor to special nuclear materials for different alarm thresholds. This process applied to different scenarios according to defined targets should help in the selection of operating characteristics of the portal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radioactivity workshop and hands-on demonstrations in Milan Čopič Nuclear Training Centre enable us to effectively transfer some basic information about radioactivity, radiation and radiation effects to our young visitors. This activity has been well accepted and praised by teachers, who are aware of the subject importance for education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the irradiation of glycerol and ethylene glycol by either mixed (neutron-γ) or γ-only (γ) fields at the TRIGA reactor of the Jožef Stefan Institute is described. This is highly relevant to future applications of fission reactor systems to produce useful feedstock derivatives from organic waste, beyond the production of heat and power. Samples of glycerol and ethyl glycol have been exposed to neutron-gamma radiation with fast neutron fluxes ranging from 7.7×1010 to 3×1012 cm−2s−1 and gamma-only irradiation at maximum dose-rates of 492 and 10 kGy hr−1, respectively. A study of the dependence of product yield versus absorbed dose has been conducted, for total dose ranges of 1 to 100 kGy. The products of these exposures have been identified through Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Analysis comparing neutron-gamma irradiated samples of ethylene glycol and glycerol with gamma-irradiated samples shows no detectable qualitative difference between either irradiation type. Although, additional radiolysis products were detected when compared with available literature; ethyl acetate from ethylene glycol and solketal from glycerol. Quantitatively, neutron-gamma irradiation seems to be less effective at producing acetaldehyde from ethylene glycol, compared with gamma-only which can be explained through neutron moderation and consequent heating effects due to the borosilicate vials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioisotope imaging is a powerful tool to understand the biological mechanisms in-vivo, especially in the brain of small animals, providing a significant model to study the human brain. In this context, we have developed and built a pixelated intracerebral positron probe to be embedded on awake and freely moving small animals, typically rats. This pixelated probe will represent a key instrument for neuroscientists to study neural mechanisms and correlate them to behavioral experiments. We describe in this paper the simulations carried out to design the intracerebral sensor, its architecture, and the detection of positrons in a volume with a couple of sensors assembled back-to-back. We also depict the architecture of the wireless acquisition system. Finally, we present the first measurements performed in real-time by this miniaturized probe with sealed radioactive sources and a 18F solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of online radiation monitoring systems has been observed in the case of Fukushima nuclear accident. As the tsunami destroyed 23 of the 24 status monitoring points, almost no relevant radiation dose measurements data were available. A rapid deployment of a mobile radiological unit that can quickly determine the activity and direction of the radioactive cloud spread on the ground or in the air can prevent unnecessary deaths and related financial losses. Although the design of the current generation of NPPs incorporates features that minimize the risk of large radioactive releases outside the reactor, it is still important to focus on the development of systems that can mitigate the consequences of such events. In situations when the level of radiation does not permit the personal to perform the required measurements, online unmanned radiation monitoring systems may come to the play. For such a purpose the RMS-00x radiation monitoring system could be used, which is a modular system covering the functionality of dose rate measurement, air sampling and radiation map creation without requiring the human personnel to be present at the measurement site. The main purpose of the RMS-00x radiation monitoring system is the rapid deployment of unmanned monitoring devices to reduce the radiation burden on workers and on public. The system can be applied in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant (NPP) or at any location, where source of ionizing radiation could be present. Before this system is used in real conditions, its components must be thoroughly calibrated, based on certified measurement equipment and state-of-art simulation tools. This paper deals with the description of the RMS-00X sensor modules and demonstrates their functionality in combination with UAV. In addition, demonstration of the use of the developed technology was carried out as part of the regular emergency planning and preparedness of EBO NPP on 26th October 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the frame of a partnership between CEA and VINCI, various measurement techniques are applied to soil analysis and tested in different laboratories located at CEA Saclay (France). This paper deals with two nuclear measurement techniques assessed in this project. More specifically, this paper presents the feasibility study carried out for two non-destructive active methods: photon activation and neutron activation. First, some atomic nuclides are activated either by photons or neutrons. Secondly, gamma-rays of specific energies are emitted by activated nuclides and gamma-ray spectrometry enables to identify these activated nuclides. Calibration of the full measurement system with reference samples would enable to quantify the mass of activated nuclides. Irradiations performed for photon activation measurements were conducted using a linear electron accelerator (linac) as the latter enables to generate high-energy photons by Bremsstrahlung thanks to its conversion target. Furthermore, irradiations performed for neutron activation measurements were also conducted with a linac. Indeed, photons may be converted to neutrons by photonuclear reactions using a secondary target. In the frame of this project, experiments were carried out at the SAPHIR platform (CEA Saclay) with a Linatron-M9 VARIAN linac. The electron energy was either 6 or 9 MeV. For neutron activation measurements, a secondary target made of heavy water has been used as neutron source and a polyethylene cell enabled to thermalize neutrons and increase the number of reactions of interest. In this paper, we present the different experimental setups and the measurement protocols established for this feasibility study. We show experimental results obtained with raw material samples coming from three construction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DISCOMS project (Distributed Sensing for Corium Monitoring and Safety) aimed at providing innovative solutions not requiring local electrical power supplies, for remote monitoring of a severe nuclear accident. The solutions are based on both long length SPNDs (Self Powered Neutron Detectors) and on distributed OFSs (Optical Fibre Sensors) capable to detect the onset of a severe accident, the corium pouring on the containment building concrete basemat, and its interaction with the concrete floor under the reactor vessel, until it spreads in the core catcher (EPR case). This paper mainly focuses on these last three detection targets achievable with distributed OFSs. It is based on the results of a Molten Core & Concrete Interaction (MCCI) experiment, namely VULCANO, held in June 2018 with a concrete crucible equipped with overall ~ 180 m long optical fibre sensing cables. This small scale experiment (50 kg of prototypical corium) has demonstrated the ability of distributed OFSs to remotely provide useful data during the MCCI run: i) temperature profiles images up to about 580°C (single wavelength Raman DTS reflectometer) until cooling down to room temperature, ii) high spatial-resolution frequency shifts profiles, due to combined (non-selective) strain and temperature influences (Rayleigh OFDR and Brillouin reflectometers), and iii) cables lengths ablated by the corium on sections weakened by the temperature (Raman DTS, Rayleigh OFDR, telecom and photon counting reflectometers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents on the results of radiation studies for three commonly used wireless sensor nodes based on the following protocols: ZigBee, WirelessHART, ISA 100.11a, and network devices built with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The level of radiation considered is at par with that experienced at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the accident. An experimental setup is developed to monitor behaviors of each wireless device and network real-time under the 60Co gamma radiator at The Ohio State University Nuclear Reactor Lab (OSU-NRL). The experimental results have indicated that the performance of the communication channels and wireless signal parameters do not degrade significant under such radiation. However, all the tested devices and networks can only survive for several hours under the high dose rate condition (20 K Rad/h). The results of these experimental studies have provided useful references to those who design and manufacture COTS-based wireless monitoring systems for use in high level radiation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and configuration of a multi-layered imaging system with the ability to detect thermal neutrons, fast neutrons and gamma rays has been developed and its efficacy demonstrated. The work presented here numerically determines the systems efficiency and spatial resolution, using 252Cf and 137Cs as a case study. The novelty of this detection system lies in the use of small form factor detectors in a three-layer design, which utilises neutron elastic scattering and Compton scattering simultaneously. The current configuration consists of 10 mm thick natural lithium glass (GS10) scintillator integrated with a 20 mm thick plastic scintillator (EJ-204) in the first layer, a 15 mm thick lithium glass (GS10) scintillator in the second and a 30 mm thick CsI(Tl) scintillator forming the final layer. Each of these layers is backed with an 8 x 8 silicon photomultiplier diode (SiPM) array. The overall size of the imaging system is 27 mm x 27 mm x 135 mm. MCNPv6.1 and Geant4-10.04 were alternatively used to optimise the overall configuration and to investigate detection modalities. Results show promising performance with high precision source localisation and characterization abilities. Measurements were virtually obtained of two gamma-ray sources within steel enclosures at angles of 15°, 30° and 50° separation in order to test spatial resolution ability of the system. With the current active size of the system and the 8x8 SiPM configuration, the results estimate the spatial resolution to be close to 30°. The ability of the system to characterise and identify sources based on the type and energy of the radiation emitted, has been investigated and results show that for all radiation types the system can identify the source energy within the energy range of typical reported sources in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of in-vessel retention (IVR) strategy in order to better assess the risk of reactor vessel failure, the knowledge related to the kinetics of immiscible liquid phases stratification phenomenon needs to be further improved. So far, only one medium-scale experiment (MASCA-RCW, in the frame of the OECD MASCA program) gives direct information regarding the transient relocation of metal below the oxide phase through post-mortem measurements. No experimental characterization of the stratification inversion kinetics when heavy metal becomes lighter and relocates at the top exists. Further investigation of these hydrodynamic and thermochemical processes could be made possible thanks to on line instrumentation enabling to follow displacement of oxidic and metallic phases into the corium pool. At CEA Cadarache, studies are under progress to set up innovative technologies for corium stratification monitoring which would be integrated to a cold crucible induction melting furnace. Based on space and time resolution specifications, three on-line measurements techniques were selected and studied. The first one is an ultrasonic technique using a refractory material waveguide and based on a time-of-flight measurement. We present the feasibility approach with the preliminary results obtained during experiments at high temperature on VITI facility. The second method consists in electromagnetic characterization of the corium pool thanks to an excitation by a magnetic field induced by surroundings coils and measurement of magnetic response by sensors placed around the crucible. A modelling study has enabled to define an appropriate experimental configuration. An experimental set up has also been tested to verify the calculation results. The third technique is 2D X-rays imaging. A feasibility study for a real-time X-ray imagingwith a framerate of 1 image/s has been performed using home-made simulation software MODHERATO, accounting forscattering, based on corium behavior previsions. Results on thedetection of interfaces between different type of corium phases(oxide, light metal, heavy metal) are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to now, predicting accurately the Fission Gas Release (FGR) from high burn up UO2 and/or MOX (Mixed Oxide) fuels at off-normal conditions, such as power transient, reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) and loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), is still a significant and very challenging task. For this purpose, different R&D programs have been carried out in France, as well as in other countries. This has been done with a specific emphasis on mechanisms which promote the FGR under accidental conditions. These studies can be performed thanks to dedicated integral experiments conducted in-pile (i.e. in Materials Testing Reactor) with the corresponding cost and constraints, or at the laboratory scale with annealing tests which allow to be representative of specific parameters (thermal history for instance). During these annealing tests under well-known conditions (temperature, atmosphere), both the absolute level and the time dependence of the released gases should be monitored, together with the corresponding fuel micro-structural changes, since experimental knowledge of fission gas release alone is not efficient enough. This approach requires more and more accurate on-line measurements. This corresponds to the driving force of the present work. In this contribution, we will present our progress in developing an experimental platform that can submit nuclear fuel and cladding samples to annealing tests involving very high temperatures (up to 2500°C) and very fast temperature ramp (up to thousands of °C/s) with controlled thermal gradients and temporal dynamics. This new platform implements innovative instrumentation, such as optical diagnostics to measure fuel fragmentation kinetics and infrared pyrometry for temperature monitoring. This experiment is based on a high-power laser (1.5kW) coupled to an experimental chamber with controlled atmosphere (Ar, N2, or vacuum) and specific optical components. Based on the spatial beam profile and temporal power function of the laser, it is possible which such a system to produce complex spatio-temporal temperature gradients, relevant for addressing different research needs. It provides access to extreme conditions that are very difficult to reach with other means. Particularly, one of main objectives of this work is to investigate conditions of Reactivity Initiated Accident (RIA). The first experiments performed on inactive materials, non-irradiated uranium dioxide, is presented in order to highlight the capabilities of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, the "E-SiCure" project (standing for Engineering Silicon Carbide for Border and Port Security), funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, was launched. The main objective is to combine theoretical, experimental and applied research towards the development of radiation-hard SiC-based detectors of special nuclear materials (SNM), and by that way, to enhance border and port security barriers. Along the plan, material modification processes are employed firstly to study, and secondly to manipulate the most severe electrically active defects (which trap or annihilate free charge carriers), by specific ion implantation and defect engineering. This paper gives an overview of the experimental activities performed at the JSI TRIGA reactor in the framework of the E-SiCure project. Initial activities were aimed at obtaining information on the radiation hardness of SiC and at the study of the energy levels of the defects induced by neutron irradiation. Several Schottky barrier diodes were fabricated out of nitrogen-doped epitaxial grown 4H-SiC, and irradiated under Cd filters in the PT irradiation channel in the JSI TRIGA reactor with varying neutron fluence levels. Neutron-induced defects in the material were studied using temperature dependent current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and Deep-Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements. Our prototype neutron detectors are configured as 4H-SiC-based Schottky barrier diodes for detection of secondary charged particles (tritons, alphas and lithium atoms) which are result of thermal neutron conversion process in 10B and 6LiF layers above the surface of the 4H-SiC diodes. For field testing of neutron detectors using a broad beam of reactor neutrons we designed a standalone prototype detection system consisting of a preamplifier, shaping amplifier and a multichannel analyser operated by a laptop computer. The reverse bias for the detector diode and the power to electronic system are provided by a standalone battery-powered voltage source. The detector functionality was established through measurements using an 241Am alpha particle source. Two dedicated experimental campaigns were performed at the JSI TRIGA reactor. The registered pulse height spectra from the detectors, using both 10B and 6LiF neutron converting layers, clearly demonstrated the neutron detection abilities of the SiC detector prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron detection systems utilize statistical alarm techniques where a measured false alarm rate (FAR) can vary drastically from the FAR predicted by a theoretical model. The ability to set an alarm threshold that results in a practically controlled FAR is crucial to characterize detector sensitivity with both accuracy and precision. A generalized and automated method is presented to statistically evaluate FAR performance by assuming that the FAR itself is not deterministic, but a normal stochastic process over a specific parameter to be corrected that will hereafter be referred to as the correction. In this manner, a specific correction results in not only a point estimate of FAR, but also a confidence interval. The central objective is focused exclusively on characterization assuming that experiments are executed in a tightly controlled environment so that an accurate comparison is enabled across detectors. Once a correction is calculated, the estimated FAR is only assumed accurate in a similar environment for sensitivity evaluation. Initially, the calculated correction factor was used to compare FARs across various distributions including normal, corrected normal, Poisson, and a simplified normal distribution. Later verification data sets were used to empirically demonstrate the rate of containment of measured confidence coefficients using two detectors of different technology. A second application uses the correction method to improve the signal-to-noise ratio metric to agree more with dynamic sensitivity results. Finally, a third application studies the effect of altering the duration of background acquisition on FAR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two earlier papers [1], [2] we investigated the possibility of extracting traditional multiplicity count rates from the cumulants of fission chamber signals in current mode. It was shown that if all neutrons emitted from the sample simultaneously are also detected simultaneously, the multiplicity rates can be retrieved from the first three cumulants of the currents of up to three detectors, but the method breaks down if the detections of neutrons of common origin take place with a time delay spread wider than the pulse shape. To remedy these shortcomings, in this work we extended the theory to two- and three-point distributions (correlations). It was found thatthe integrals of suitably chosen two- and three-point moments with respect to the time differences become independent of the probability density of the time delays of detections. With this procedure, the multiplicity rates can be retrieved from the detector currents for arbitrary time delay distributions. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed method, a measurement setup was designed and built. The statistics (shape and amplitude distribution) of the detector pulse were investigated as important parameters of the theoretical model. Simulations were performed to estimate the expected value of the multiplicity rates in the built setup. Measurements were performed and two types of moments (the mean and the covariance function) of the recorded detector signals were calculated. Values of singles rates were successfully recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new types of detectors and the increased performance of the electronics have paved the way for developing advanced systems for the measurement and identification of radioactive material that can be involved, for example, in illicit trafficking. Radioactive isotope identifiers are today commercially available. Nowadays those systems make use of inorganic scintillators as Sodium Iodide (NaI(Tl)) or, for enhanced resolution, Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3) to identify the gamma emitters through their characteristic gamma lines. The most complete systems usually include an additional 3He proportional counter for neutron detection and counting. The performances of such devices are compliant with standards as the IEC 62327 Hand Held Instruments for the Detection and Identification of Radionuclides. This paper presents a new type of portable radioactive isotope identifier. This device, based on an organic liquid scintillator with excellent Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) proprieties for the simultaneous detection of gamma rays and neutrons, detects radioactive source as Special Nuclear Material (SNM), medical, industrial and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material. The exclusive feature of this instrument is the identification of neutron sources with discrimination between fission sources (like Californium 252Cf) and alpha-n type sources (like Americium Beryllium Am-Be) from Plutonium and Uranium through an innovative dedicated algorithm. Individual thresholds for neutron and gamma counts are calculated to allow detection with 95% detection probability for a dose rate on the front face of the scintillator of at least 50 nSv/h. Alarms are triggered separately when the respective rate exceed these thresholds. The neutron source detection has also been proved in a gamma ray field up to 100 μSv/h. The electronics is equipped with two analog inputs and two high voltage power supplies in a small form factor thus becoming an enabling technology for higher performance yet portable radioactive isotope identifier devices, which can include more detectors and perform data fusion analysis. The addition of a second detector allows to detect a masked neutron source through the PSD algorithm performed by the liquid scintillator detector while the added inorganic scintillator identifies the masking gamma emitters. The inorganic scintillator allows also the calculation of Pu and U enrichment grade through characteristic gamma emission line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6LiF:ZnS(Ag) micro-particle neutron detectors are a promising technology to further improve neutron detection capabilities for a variety of applications. Specifically, we have been investigating 6LiF micro-particles coated with ZnS(Ag) to increase the neutron detection efficiency, light production, and light collection efficiency when compared to the existing powder-based technology (EJ-426 from Eljen Technology). Extensive radiation and light transport simulations with single micro-particles have been performed to find the optimal 6LiF diameter and ZnS(Ag) coating thickness. Full-scale multi-particle simulations also have been performed to determine the optimal pitch (particle-to-particle distance) and detector thickness. Randomizations of 6LiF radius, ZnS(Ag) coating thickness, position of particles, as well as shape of particles and partial coating have been performed to account for possible manufacturing imperfections. EJ-426 sheets have been modeled for reference purposes by defining spherical grains of 6LiF and ZnS(Ag) and compared against experiments. The simulation results show that the coated micro-particles should dramatically increase the neutron detection efficiency, light production, and light collection efficiency when compared to the existing EJ-426 technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of some ways to improve spectroscopy characteristics of the CdZnTe quasi-hemispherical detectors when working in high gamma radiation fluxes are presented. It was shown that the use of IR illumination with a wavelength of 1050 nm or 1200 nm or at slight warm-up of the detector to +30°C ... +40°C can significantly improve spectroscopy performance of the CdZnTe detectors of size 3.5 mm × 3.5 mm × 1.75 mm when operating in a tested gamma-radiation field with a dose rate up to 590 mGy/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased sensitivity to nuclear safety and security issues has prompted public entities and private institutions to maximize their capability to rapidly assess risks and intervene in the case of accident or threat. Quick intervention and response are achieved through nuclear measurements via airborne, land, and underwater systems. A network of cohesive, well-integrated and easy deployable radiation monitoring systems combined with real-time analysis of data is essential to facilitate and enhance the decision-making process during these most critical moments enhancing the quality of the management plan. The presented radiation monitoring systems can be integrated in several form factors which depend mainly on operational needs and internal battery for autonomous operation. Compact ARM based computers is embedded, which can store large amount of data in their non-volatile memory, run automatic data analysis and trigger alarms in case of exceeding radiation levels. All the systems can communicate with redundant interfaces in failover configuration and upload the acquired environmental information in a central database. The same monitoring systems can alert the emergency response personnel on the field as well, through wireless connection to common tablets or cellphone or SMS, guaranteeing a prompt response in case an illicit transportation of radiological or nuclear material is detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of nuclear security, uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) play an important role: they are traded in large quantities and this makes their use "out of regulatory control" a possible scenario. Once an incident of illicit trafficking o f n uclear m aterial is detected, an understanding of its origin and production process is required; this implies the necessity to use analytical techniques able to measure characteristic parameters (e.g. physical, chemical, isotopic characteristics of the nuclear materials) which are referred to, in the field o f t he n uclear f orensics, a s signatures. The present study investigates the potential of image texture analysis (i.e. the angle measure technique), combined with the spectrophotometric determination of colours for the evaluation of the origin of several UOCs. The use of different multivariate statistical techniques allows the categorization of about 80 different samples into a few groups of UOCs powders, which makes this approach a promising method complementing the already established methods in nuclear forensics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limitations of fast neutron radiography include low detection efficiency and poor spatial resolution. D-T neutron radiography is one compact fast neutron radiography method. Based on D-T associated alpha particle method and coded source imaging method, we indicate one new method to improve resolution of D-T neutron radiography. This method could get distribution of D-T neutrons by detecting alpha particles. Without real coded mask, the D-T radiography structure is considered as coded source imaging of fast neutrons. With reconstruction method, the real object could be reconstructed from projections. One prospect setup of D-T associated alpha neutron source has been carried out with Monte-Carlo simulation. The projection images of two different situations are collected and reconstruction results show that it's possible to improve image quality of D-T neutron radiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep geological repository system provides long-term protection against the undesirable effects of ionizing radiation on the population and the environment. An important part of the long-term safety strategy is development of a monitoring program that collects information about the behaviour of the deep geological repository throughout its whole lifetime. A simplified model of the disposal system, geosphere, and biosphere was developed using the GoldSim simulation tool to demonstrate the behaviour of the hypothetical deep geological repository located in crystalline rocks. Also an initial model of the reference biosphere was created based on the scenario of an agricultural habitation (normal evolution scenario) and it was developed based on the recommendations provided in the BIOMASS methodology. After a significant period of time, disposal containers will be degraded and evolution changes in the repository system will occur. Several important parameters appear in the annual effective dose calculation for an individual from critical exposure group within the reference biosphere model. One of them are, for example, distribution coefficients and so-called translocation factors that define the transported rate of released radionuclides into the environment. This paper provides a view into the selected part of the deep geological repository through the data obtained by monitoring during the selected period of time. Simulations describing changes in the repository system. The aim of this contribution is to evaluate the impact of selected changes on the annual effective dose for an adult individual from a critical exposure group while it is assumed, that the respondent consumes contaminated crops and animal products. This model includes various biosphere components and multiple exposure pathways such as inhalation, ingestion and external exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of a cylindrical tungsten target reactivity worth has been performed on the light water zero-power reactor of VENUS-II at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) in order to verify the neutron evaluated data related to the engineering design of Chinese initiative Accelerator Driven Systems (CiADS). The reactivity worth of the tungsten target was measured and processed as -1.234±0.114mk by a period method. The experimental result was compared with the simulation ones calculated by MCNP with five different libraries, i.e., ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0, CENDL-3.1 and JEFF-3.2. By comparing the results of experiment and simulation, the simulated results from ENDF/B-VII.0, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.2 are higher than the experimental result, however that from CENDL-3.1 is lower. The result from ENDF/B-VII.1 library shows better agreement with the experiment one and the relative deviation is less than 2%. Through the analysis of the differences of the results, non-tungsten elements cross sections in the ENDF/B-VII.1 mainly affect the tungsten radiation capture and elastic scattering reaction rates in the energy range of 10-9-10-7 MeV, which results in a better simulated tungsten target reactivity worth value. Therefore, it is recommended that the tungsten target reactivity worth should be calculated with the ENDF/B-VII.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a combined fast-neutron/γ-raybackscatter imaging technique is described. The aim of this work is to understand corrosion defects in pipelines by measuring differences in the scattered radiation flux, generated when different steel thicknesses are irradiated by a neutron and γ-ray focused beam. A californium-252 radiation source is used to produce fast neutron and γ rays, exploiting its spontaneousfission. This mixed radiation field is collimated and directed towards the steel samples. Backscattered neutrons and γ rays aremeasured as a function of the steel thickness using 4 liquid organic scintillation detectors linked to a real-time, pulse-shape discrimination system, which separates and retains the neutron and γ-ray event data. In this paper, we describe how, using asingle radiation source and detection system, it is possible to perform and combine two complementary imaging modalities. This research is validated by an MCNP6 computer simulation study. The backscatter imaging system developed for this research and the experimental results of the measurements carried out using the National Physical Laboratory neutron low-scatter facility are also presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decommissioning of nuclear fuel cycle facilities is inseparable from the problems of radioactive waste disposal. One of these problems is the categorization of a waste according to the content of beta- and alpha-emitters. Beta-emitters can be identified by existing technologies; however, the trouble arises when detecting alpha-emitting elements, primarily the long-lived members of the actinium chain with the specific activity of kBq/kg when they are spread inside a structural material. The report considers an application of an active neutron method-a differential die-away technology for reliable control of small quantities of FM. The essence of this method consists in sounding the interrogated item by pulsed thermal neutrons and recording the induced fission neutrons. The ratio of the number of fission neutrons to the number of source neutrons gives the normalized number of fission neutrons that is linked to the FM mass in the interrogated object. The work presents the scheme and principle of operation of an experimental device, as well as the results of measurement of concrete structures that contain internal traces of fissile materials. Analysis of the results shows that the proposed method allows the detection of ~ 6 mg of fissile material per kg of concrete with possible localization (cartogram) of the contaminated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for the non-destructive assay of nuclear waste drums are of great importance to the nuclear waste management community, especially where loss in continuity of knowledge about the content of drums happened or chemical processes altering the contents of the drums may occur. Muon scattering tomography has been shown to be a promising technique for the non-destructive assay of nuclear waste drums in a safe way. By measuring tracks of muons entering and leaving the probed sample and extracting scattering angles from the tracks, it is possible to draw conclusions about the contents of the sample and its spatial arrangement. Within the CHANCE project, a newly built large-scale mobile detector system for scanning and imaging the contents of nuclear waste drums using atmospheric muons is currently undergoing commissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its R&xD activities in the fields of radioactivewaste drum storage and homeland security, the NuclearMeasurement Laboratory of CEA Cadarache has started studiesrelated to the detection of induced delayed fission gamma rays asa signature of U/Pu presence either in radioactive wastes or incargo containers and luggage. The study described in the presentpaper explores the feasibility of detecting fission delayed gammarays of nuclear materials interrogated by a pulsed neutrongenerator. For this purpose, Monte Carlo simulations have beenperformed with ACT, the MNCP6 Activation Control Card.Simulated results have been compared with experimental data tovalidate the numerical model. Samples of uranium andplutonium have been irradiated for 2 hours with a pulsed D-Tneutron generator delivering 14 MeV neutrons with an averageemission of 8.107 n/s, which are thermalised in a graphite cellcalled REGAIN. At the end of irradiation, activated nuclearmaterials were placed in a low-background, high-resolutiongamma spectroscopy station in order to detect delayed gammarays emitted by fission products. Anomalies have been observedin the calculated time decay curve of fission delayed gamma rayswith MCNP6 ACT card, but the time behavior is correct for non-fission activated materials like aluminum or copper. On the otherhand, the number of counts recorded in the main simulatedgamma ray lines from activated nuclear material fission productsis consistent with the experimental results, thus validating thesimulation scheme in view of further studies on thecharacterization of radioactive waste drums or special nuclearmaterial detection in cargo containers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU-CHANCE project aims at the issue of the characterization of conditioned radioactive waste (CRW) and one objective of CHANCE is to focus on: Calorimetry as a comprising non-destructive technique to reduce uncertainties on the inventory of radwaste containing shielded and hidden material difficult to be measured by other means. A MCNP6-based numerical study comprising the particle flux out of a 200L mock-up drum in a Large Volume Calorimeter (LVC) currently manufactured by KEP Nuclear (France) will be presented and discussed. For the analyses, the particle flux and energy deposition in each layer of the calorimeter were determined. The results yield that a significant fraction of the radiation would leave the system and not contribute to the measurable heat deposition. The expected energy deposition is obtained and cumulated for each layer over the whole energy range revealing the fraction of particles actually escaping the LVC calorimeter. While this escape fraction needs and can be determined, the LVC is a very suitable apparatus for the anticipated experiments on large and heterogeneous waste drums that possibly contain deeply buried beta-emitters (e.g. Sr/Y-90) or shielded alpha-sources hidden inside the drum with a significant level of gamma and neutron radiation background radiation. The high-energy part of this gamma and neutron flux may even reach the reference chamber of the calorimeter and deposit some energy there, compromising the calibration and may cause a double-bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compton imaging is one of the main methods to localize radioactive hotspots, which emit high-energy gamma-ray photons, above 200 keV. Most of the Compton imaging systems are composed by at least two detection layers or one 3D position sensitive detector. In this study, we demonstrate the application of a new miniature pixelated single plane detector to Compton imaging. In this configuration, we do not have the information on interaction depth but we successfully test its ability to perform Compton localization by means of comparing different Compton reconstruction algorithms applied to real data measured with our single plane detection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a solution to identify the number of sources of radiation, as well as their respective intensities and locations based on data acquired by Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and affordable radiological sensors, such as Geiger-M¨uller counters (GMC). An optimization algorithm is required to minimize the estimation error in terms of location, intensity and number of sources of radiation given all the intensity measurements acquired in different locations, taking into account the sensors' models, background radiation intensity values and noise. Experimental results were achieved in a laboratory with controlled sources of radiation. The solution was also tested with real data gathered by a GMC connected to a mobile phone with a software application developed by the authors to synchronize the sensor readings with GPS data. The sensor and the mobile phone are attached to a quadcopter flying over the scenario with sources of radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha emitters are usually identified and quantified by alpha spectrometry measurements in a vacuum chamber performed in laboratory environments. This study shows that transuranic elements can be distinguished under ambient conditions using a grid collimator. The aim of this work was to use numerical simulations with the MCNP6 code to design a grid with a resolution high enough to differentiate the same radionuclide combinations as alpha spectrometry in a vacuum chamber, namely 239Pu + 240Pu, 241Am + 238Pu and 244Cm. Results show that a compromise is required to obtain the best performances in terms of energy resolution and detection efficiency, leading to the choice of two hexagonal grid collimators. The first has a collimation height of 0.5 cm and an apothem of 1 mm. Laboratory tests on electrodeposited sources show that the target radionuclides can be identified without prior deconvolution, with an energy resolution of about 70 keV and a detection efficiency of 0.74% at incident energies of 5–6 MeV. The second grid has the same collimation height but a coarser mesh with an apothem of 2 mm. In this case, the alpha peaks are still distinguishable, but with a lower resolution of 125 keV. The detection efficiency is three times higher however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]