A1 Journal article (refereed)
Improving the Confidence Associated with Passive Total Neutron Counting in the Nuclear Weapon Disarmament Verification Process (2023)

Bogdanoff, V., & Peräjärvi, K. (2023). Improving the Confidence Associated with Passive Total Neutron Counting in the Nuclear Weapon Disarmament Verification Process. ESARDA Bulletin, 65, 2-9. https://doi.org/10.3011/ESARDA.IJNSNP.2023.1

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Bogdanoff, Ville; Peräjärvi, Kari

Journal or series: ESARDA Bulletin

ISSN: 0392-3029

eISSN: 1977-5296

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 28/03/2023

Volume: 65

Pages range: 2-9

Publisher: ESARDA; European Commission

Publication country: Italy

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3011/ESARDA.IJNSNP.2023.1

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/86578

Abstract

Passive total neutron counting is an important tool in the nuclear weapon disarmament monitoring and verification process proposed by the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV). In the process, neutron measurements of given treaty accountable items (TAIs) are repeated multiple times in different locations and environments, and the measured neutron count rates are expected to remain unchanged. However, neutrons are heavily scattered in the environment, and the change in location or geometry of the environment can produce varying results in neutron measurements which can deteriorate the confidence of passive total neutron counting. In this paper, we have studied different kinds of neutron detection instruments and methods in various environments to determine the effects of the environment on passive total neutron counting and to develop recommendations and procedures to minimize and take these environmental factors into account. As a result, the moderated 3He proportional counter was the most promising type of instrument in terms of how the change in an environment impacted the measured neutron count rates. However, even with the 3He counter, the environmental influence increased rapidly with the source to- detector distance (SDD). For example, with one-meter, two-meter, and three-meter SDDs, the maximum difference in count rates between outdoor and indoor measurements was 10.06(7) percent, 18.6(3) percent, and 28.1(5) percent, respectively. To mitigate the impact of the measurement environment, we propose to use a bare 252Cf reference source measured in the same geometries as the nuclear TAIs to estimate the influence of the environment on the measured neutron count rates. Using this technique in the same conditions as above produces indoor predictions that differ by 2.55(3) percent with a one-meter SDD, 0.334(5) percent with two-meter SDD and 1.93(4) percent with a three-meter SDD from the actual indoor measurements.

Keywords: nuclear weapons; disarmament; arms control; monitoring; detectors; neutrons; background radiation; radiation physics; inspection of weights and measures

Free keywords: nuclear disarmament; IPNDV; neutron counting; neutron scattering

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 0