System and method for fissionable material detection with a short pulse neutron source
US11867866B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21G4/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for detecting fissionable materials. In one embodiment the system may incorporate a neutron pulse generator configured to generate multiple short pulses of neutrons, or a single pulse of sufficient intensity, in a vicinity of an object of interest. The source pulse of neutrons includes neutrons which each have a full width half maximum time duration of less than about 100 ns and a peak energy level no greater than about 20 MeV. A fast response detector is used which is able to detect single neutron events indicative of fission neutrons having been produced by the source pulse of neutrons interacting with fissionable material associated with the object of interest, and which arrive at the fast response detector within a predetermined time window immediately before arrival of the source neutron pulses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.