Underwater detection of dangerous substances: status the SABAT project

The Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) plays an exceptional role in the modern nuclear engineering, especially in detection of hazardous substances. However, in the aquatic environment, there are still many problems to be solved for effective usage of this technique. We present status of SABAT (Stoichiometry Analysis By Activation Techniques), one of the projects aiming at construction of an underwater device for non-invasive threat detection based on the NAA

Monte Carlo N-Particle simulations of an underwater chemical threats detection system using neutron activation analysis

In this paper we present Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations of the system for underwater threat detection using neutron activation analysis developed in the SABAT project. The simulated system is based on a D-T neutron generator emitting 14~MeV neutrons without associated $\alpha$ particle detection and equipped with a LaBr$_3$:Ce scintillation detector offering superior energy resolution and allowing for precise identification of activation $\gamma$ quanta. The performed simulations show that using the neutron activation analysis method with the designed geometry we are able to identify $\gamma$-rays from hydrogen, carbon, sulphur and chlorine originating from mustard gas in a sea water environment. Our results show that the most efficient way of mustard gas detection is to compare the integral peak ratio for Cl and H.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure