A TWO-FOLD REDUCTION IN MEASUREMENT TIME FOR NEUTRON ASSAY: INITIAL TESTS OF A PROTOTYPE DUAL-GATED SHIFT REGISTER *

Year
1996
Author(s)
James E. Stewart - Los Alamos National Laboratory
M. Krick - Los Alamos National Laboratory
S.C Bourret - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abstract
Neutron coincidence counting (NCC) is used routinely around the world for nondestructive mass assay of uranium and plutonium in many forms, including waste. Compared with other methods, NCC is generally the most flexible, economic, and rapid. Many applications of NCC would benefit from a reduction in counting time required for a fixed random error. We have developed and tested the first prototype of a dual-gated, shift-register-based electronics unit that offers the potential of decreased measurement time for all passive and active NCC applications.