Using Electronic Neutron Generators in Active Interrogation to Detect Shielded Fissionable Material

Experiments have been performed at Idaho National Laboratory to study methodology and instrumentation for performing neutron active interrogation die-away analyses for the purpose of detecting shielded fissionable material. Here we report initial work using a portable DT electronic neutron generator with a ³He neutron detector to detect shielded fissionable material including enriched uranium and reactor grade plutonium. Measurements have been taken of bare material as well as of material hidden within a large plywood cube. Results from this work have demonstrated the efficacy of the die-away neutron measurement technique for quickly detecting the presence of special nuclear material hidden within plywood shields by analyzing the time dependent neutron signals in-between neutron generator pulses. Using a DT electronic neutron generator operating at 300 Hz with a yield of approximately 0.36 times 10⁸ neutrons per second, 2.2 kg of enriched uranium hidden within a 61 cm times 61 cm times 71 cm volume of plywood was positively detected with a measurement signal 2-sigma above the passive background within 1 second. Similarly, for a 500 second measurement period a lower detection limit approaching the gram level could be expected with the same simple set-up.