PINS Variance study

The INL’s Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy

PINS-3X Operations

Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL’s) Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy System (PINS) non-intrusively identifies the chemical fill of munitions and sealed containers. The PINS-3X variant of the system is used to identify explosives and uses a deuterium-tritium (DT) electronic neutron generator (ENG) as the neutron source. Use of the system, including possession and use of the neutron generator and shipment of the system components requires compliance with a number of regulations. This report outlines some of these requirements as well as some of the requirements in using the system outside of INL

Explosive Detection and Identification by PGNAA

The goal of this project was to determine the feasibility of using field-portable prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) to detect and identify explosives in improvised nuclear devices (INDs). The studies were carried out using the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The model results were tested experimentally using explosive simulants and the PINS PGNAA system developed at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). The results of the MCNP calculations and PINS measurements are presented in this report. The calculations and measurements were in good agreement and indicate that most explosives are readily distinguishable from one another

A Study of 3He detectors for Active Interrogation

3He proportional counters have long been used as neutron detectors for both passive and active detection of Special Nuclear Material (SNM). The optimal configuration of these detectors as far as gas pressure, amount of moderating material, and size are concerned is highly dependent on what neutron signatures are being used to detect and identify SNM. We present here a parametric study of the neutron capture response of 3He detectors, based on Monte Carlo simulations using the MCNPX radiation transport code. The neutron capture response of the detectors has been modeled as a function of time after an incident neutron pulse

High-K isomers and rotational structures in W174

High-spin states in W174 (Z = 74) have been populated using the reaction Te128(Ti50, 4n)W174 at beam energies of 215 and 225 MeV. The Gammasphere array was used to detect the γ rays emitted by the evaporation residues. Four previously known collective band structures have been extended, and 16 new rotational sequences observed. Two are built upon isomeric states, one corresponding to a two-quasiparticle K = 8 isomer, the other to a four-quasiparticle K = 12 isomer, with the latter exhibiting strong K-violating ΔK=12 decays to the ground state band. Nucleonic configurations for the two- and four-quasiparticle excitations are proposed, and Woods-Saxon cranking calculations are presented to understand the rotational structures. Decay mechanisms of multi-quasiparticle K isomers are discussed in terms of the prevalent phenomenological models, with special emphasis on γ-tunneling calculations. Surprisingly, the latter underpredict the decay hindrance for the K = 12 isomer by three orders of magnitude, unlike all other isomer decays in this mass region

High-K isomers in neutron-rich hafnium nuclei at and beyond the stability line

Pulsed 238U and 208Pb beams have been used to populate multi-quasiparticle high-K isomers in neutron-rich hafnium isotopes at and beyond the line of b-stability, via inelastic excitation and transfer. Spectroscopic properties and configuration assignments of several new high-K isomers are compared with earlier theoretical predictions. A striking example of the robustness of the K quantum number is demonstrated by the observed competition between E1 and E3 decay modes in 180Hf, the heaviest stable isotope of the element

Octupole correlations in the pu isotopes: From vibration to static deformation?

In a series of measurements with Gammasphere, striking differences were found between the yrast and negative parity bands in 238-240Pu and those in 241-244Pu. These differences can be linked to variations with mass of the strength of octupole correlations. At the highest spins, 238-240Pu are found to exhibit properties associated with stable octupole deformation, suggesting that a transition with spin from a vibration to stable deformation may have occurred

Alignments in the odd-proton actinides 237Np and 241Am

High spin states in 237Np and 241Am have been studied with the "unsafe" Coulomb excitation technique. In each nucleus, signature partner rotational bands built on the [523]5/2- and [642]5/2+ orbitals of respective h9/2 and i13/2 parentage have been delineated. An additional pair of bands based on the [521]3/2- (f7/2) state was also observed in 241Am. New information on the even-even 236Pu and 242Cm transfer products is also presented. From the present data, the role of i13/2 protons in generating angular momentum in the even-even nuclei of the region is documented. A satisfactory description of the evolution of the rotational sequences with spin is achieved within the framework of the cranked shell model. Nevertheless, when combined with information on odd-neutron nuclei available from elsewhere, the data highlight significant shortcomings of the available theoretical predictions

PINS Measurements and Simulations for Stand-Off Detection of High Explosives

There has been some interest in the ability of Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy System's (PINS) ability to detect high explosives at a distance. In order to assess the system's ability to perform this task, laboratory experiments on simulated or mock explosives and Monte Carlo simulations using MCNP on both mock and real explosives have been performed. The simulations and experiments on mock explosives have essentially identical configurations, allowing the models to be confirmed with experiment. This provides greater confidence in the simulations on real explosives without the need for experiment on live explosives

PINS Measurements and Simulations for Stand-Off Detection of High Explosives

There has been some interest in the ability of Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy System's (PINS) ability to detect high explosives at a distance. In order to assess the system's ability to perform this task, laboratory experiments on simulated or mock explosives and Monte Carlo simulations using MCNP on both mock and real explosives have been performed. The simulations and experiments on mock explosives have essentially identical configurations, allowing the models to be confirmed with experiment. This provides greater confidence in the simulations on real explosives without the need for experiment on live explosives