IPAC2013 - List of Authors (Petit, O.)

Paper	Title	Page
THPWA002	Optimization of the Photoneutron Flux Emitted by an Electron Accelerator for Neutron Interrogation Applications using MCNPX and TRIPOLI-4 Monte Carlo Codes	3630
	A. Sari, F. Carrel CEA/DRT/LIST, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France C. Jouanne, A. Lyoussi, O. Petit CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
	Various applications require neutron interrogation to detect special nuclear material. In a previous study, we demonstrated the feasibility of this technique using the photoneutron flux emitted by a 16 MeV linear electron accelerator. This approach enables to reach average emission intensity on the order of one decade beyond the one produced by deuterium-tritium neutron generators traditionally used for such applications. Higher average emission intensities of the photoneutron flux would enable to expand boundaries of neutron interrogation. This new study aims at optimizing the photoneutron flux emitted by an electron accelerator. In order to ensure accuracy and reliability of our results, two Monte Carlo particle transport codes were used in parallel in this study: MCNPX developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, and TRIPOLI-4 developed by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Potential discrepancies between results obtained with the two codes were investigated. Furthermore, careful attention was given to minimize the high-energy photon beam contained in the photoneutron flux in order to reduce spurious photofission reactions during measurements. A. Sari et al., IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., vol. 59, no.3, pp. 605-611, 2012.

Paper

Title

Page

Optimization of the Photoneutron Flux Emitted by an Electron Accelerator for Neutron Interrogation Applications using MCNPX and TRIPOLI-4 Monte Carlo Codes

3630

A. Sari, F. Carrel
CEA/DRT/LIST, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
C. Jouanne, A. Lyoussi, O. Petit
CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

Various applications require neutron interrogation to detect special nuclear material. In a previous study*, we demonstrated the feasibility of this technique using the photoneutron flux emitted by a 16 MeV linear electron accelerator. This approach enables to reach average emission intensity on the order of one decade beyond the one produced by deuterium-tritium neutron generators traditionally used for such applications. Higher average emission intensities of the photoneutron flux would enable to expand boundaries of neutron interrogation. This new study aims at optimizing the photoneutron flux emitted by an electron accelerator. In order to ensure accuracy and reliability of our results, two Monte Carlo particle transport codes were used in parallel in this study: MCNPX developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, and TRIPOLI-4 developed by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Potential discrepancies between results obtained with the two codes were investigated. Furthermore, careful attention was given to minimize the high-energy photon beam contained in the photoneutron flux in order to reduce spurious photofission reactions during measurements.
*A. Sari et al., IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., vol. 59, no.3, pp. 605-611, 2012.