Multiplicity counting from fission chamber signals in the current mode
Journal article, 2016

In nuclear safeguards, estimation of sample parameters using neutron-based non-destructive assay methods is traditionally based on multiplicity counting with thermal neutron detectors in the pulse mode. These methods in general require multi-channel analysers and various dead time correction methods. This paper proposes and elaborates on an alternative method, which is based on fast neutron measurements with fission chambers in the current mode. A theory of “multiplicity counting” with fission chambers is developed by incorporating Böhnel's concept of superfission [1] into a master equation formalism, developed recently by the present authors for the statistical theory of fission chamber signals [2], [3]. Explicit expressions are derived for the first three central auto- and cross moments (cumulants) of the signals of up to three detectors. These constitute the generalisation of the traditional Campbell relationships for the case when the incoming events represent a compound Poisson distribution. Because now the expressions contain the factorial moments of the compound source, they contain the same information as the singles, doubles and triples rates of traditional multiplicity counting. The results show that in addition to the detector efficiency, the detector pulse shape also enters the formulas; hence, the method requires a more involved calibration than the traditional method of multiplicity counting. However, the method has some advantages by not needing dead time corrections, as well as having a simpler and more efficient data processing procedure, in particular for cross-correlations between different detectors, than the traditional multiplicity counting methods.

nuclear safeguards

neutron multiplicity counting

fission chamber

fissile material assay

master equation

Kolmogorov equation

Author

Imre Pazsit

Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Lénárd Pál

Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Lajos Nagy

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

0168-9002 (ISSN)

Vol. 839 92-101

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Subatomic Physics

Areas of Advance

Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.048

More information

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7/6/2021 2