Subcritical Measurements Using the 252Cf Source-driven Neutron Noise Analysis Method

Download or read book Subcritical Measurements Using the 252Cf Source-driven Neutron Noise Analysis Method written by and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper describes recent measurements of the subcritical neutron multiplication factor using the 252Cf source-driven neutron noise analysis method. This work was supported by a program of collaboration between the United States Department of Energy and the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan related to the development of fast breeder technology. The experiment reported consists of a configuration of two interacting tanks of uranyl nitrate aqueous solution with different uranium concentrations in each tank. The 252Cf-source-driven neutron noise analysis method obtains the subcriticality from the signals of three detectors: the first, a parallel plate ionization chamber with 252Cf electroplated on one of its plates that is located in or near the system containing the fissile material, and produces an electrical pulse for every spontaneous fission that occurs and thereby serves as a timed source of fission neutrons; and the second and third detectors that are placed in or near the system containing fissile material and serve to detect particles from the fission chain multiplication process. 9 refs.