Título
10B+ZnS(Ag) as an alternative to 3 He-based detectors for Radiation Portal Monitors
Autor
HECTOR RENE VEGA CARRILLO
Nivel de Acceso
Acceso Abierto
Materias
Resumen o descripción
Typical radiation portal monitor systems, RPM, deployed to detect illicit trafficking of radioactive materials include a set of gamma-ray detectors and neutron detectors. Usually the employed neutron detectors are pressurized 3 He-based neutron detectors tubes. Due the shortage of 3 He reported since 2009, the amount of 3 He available for use in gas proportional counter neutron detectors has become limited, while the demand has significantly increased, especially for homeland security applications. For this reason, many different alternatives are being investigated for its use in RPM systems. The aim of this work is to study a scintillation detector ZnS(Ag) mixed with highly enriched 10B, 10B+ZnS(Ag). Using Monte Carlo methods, MCNPX code, the response of two neutron detectors based on 10B+ZnS(Ag), manufactured by BridgePort Instruments LLC with different geometries, were estimated by calculating the number of 10B(n,α) 7Li reactions for 29 monoenergetic neutron sources.
Measurements and models were made, and both detectors were compared. The importance of the
distance with respect to the ground was studied. The response with a 252Cf moderated neutron source
(0.5 cm lead and 2.5 cm polyethylene) was calculated in order to compare with other studied
alternatives in the USA by Pacific National Northwest Laboratory, PNNL. With these results we
conclude that neutron detectors using 10B+ZnS(Ag) are an interesting alternative for replacing 3
He detectors. From the analysis with MCNPX we propose an improvement in the detector design.
Producción Científica de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas UAZ
Fecha de publicación
25 de septiembre de 2017
Tipo de publicación
Artículo
Recurso de información
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application/pdf
Idioma
Inglés
Audiencia
Público en general
Repositorio Orígen
Repositorio Institucional Caxcán
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