EURATOM EXPERIENCE IN NUCLEAR MATERIAL VERIFICATION USING NEUTRON NDA TECHNIQUES

Year
1989
Author(s)
B. G. R. Smith - Commission of the European Communities
G. P. D. Verrecchia - Commission of the European Communities
R. Schenkel - Commission of the European Communities
Abstract
The Euratom Safeguards Directorate has over the past five years evaluated, field-tested, purchased, calibrated and introduced in to routine inspection activities a large number of modern relatively sophisticated instruments. Many of these instruments are oriented towards non-destructive assay (NDA) and in particular neutron detection of special nuclear materials. This paper focuses on NDA instrumentation for neutron measurements and their use for routine inspection purposes.The paper will cover some of the principal neutron detectors used, present typical measurement data obtained and try to address the problem of evaluating the overall \"performance\" of the different systems. The paper will also mention the problem areas that the Euratom Safeguards Directorate has identified with respect to the continued application of the techniques.