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In this paper we are proposing a re-evaluation of the thermal-neutron induced capture cross section of Nd-147. A unique measurement exists from which this cross section was calculated in 1974. This original calculation is based on an assumed value for a specific gamma-ray fraction (called F-2), taken from the neighboring nucleus Nd-145. With the availability of reaction codes such as TALYS, such fraction can nowadays be calculated using specific reaction models and parameters. The new value of F-2 indicates a decrease of the thermal cross section by 45%, leading to 243 barns, instead of the 440 barns previously reported. This new cross section impacts the calculation of the number density for the well-known burn-up indicator Nd-148, but as shown, the change is close to the usual experimental uncertainties for the 148Nd number densities, thus having a limited impact on burn-up calculation.

The Tagged Neutron Inspection System, which is the principle of the EURITRACK project, requires efficient and inexpensive gamma-ray detectors. For this purpose, properties of 3 x 3 and 5 x 5 cylindrical BGO and NaI(TI) scintillators and of a 5 x 5 x 10 rectangular NaI(TI) scintillator were determined. 14 Light yield, energy and time resolution of the investigated crystals at the energy of few MeVs of gamma-rays are emphasized. Additionally, the crystals efficiencies calculated with Monte Carlo simulations are compared to peak-to-total ratios obtained experimentally for various combinations of PMTs and the scintillators., QC 20100525

The EURopean Illicit TRAfficing Countermeasures Kit project is part of the 6th European Union Framework Program, and aims at developing a neutron inspection system for detecting threat materials (explosives, drugs, etc.) in cargo containers. Neutron interaction in the container produces specific gamma-rays used to determine the chemical composition of the inspected material. An associated particle sealed tube neutron generator is developed to allow precise location of the interaction point by direction and time-of-flight measurements of the neutrons tagged by alpha-particles. The EURITRACK project consists in developing: a transportable deuterium-tritium neutron generator including a position sensitive alpha detector (8×8 matrix of YAP:Ce crystals coupled to a multi-anode photomultiplier), fast neutron and gamma-ray detectors, front-end electronics to perform coincidence and spectroscopic measurements, and an integrated software which manages neutron generator and detectors positioning, data acquisition and analysis. Hardware components have been developed and tested by the consortium partners. Current status of this work and provisional performances of the system assessed by Monte Carlo calculations are presented., QC 20141125

One of the essential requirements of the Tagged Neutron Inspection System, which is the principle of the EURITRACK project, is an efficient and inexpensive gamma ray detector. For this purpose properties of cylindrical 3"×3" and 5"×5" BGO, and 3"×3", two different 5"×5", and a rectangular 5"×5" ×10" NaI(Tl) scintillators were explored. In this communication we report on light yield, energy and time resolution of the investigated crystals at high energies of γ-rays. Additionally, results of Monte Carlo simulations of the crystals' efficiencies are compared to peak-to-total ratios obtained experimentally for various combinations of PMTs and the scintillators., QC 20141215

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

info:eu-repo/semantics/published