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Neutron Sources Overview and Types

The document discusses different types of neutron sources: 1) Spontaneous fission sources using transuranic nuclides like Californium-252, which emit neutrons through spontaneous fission. Radioisotope alpha-neutron sources like Radium-beryllium that generate neutrons via alpha particles striking beryllium. 2) Photoneutron sources that produce neutrons through gamma ray absorption in certain target nuclei. 3) Reaction-based neutron sources using accelerated charged particles to generate neutrons through various nuclear reactions. The key neutron source types - spontaneous fission, radioisotope alpha-neutron, and photoneutron sources - are introduced along with some of their

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Mahmoud Al Samaheen
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164 views12 pages

Neutron Sources Overview and Types

The document discusses different types of neutron sources: 1) Spontaneous fission sources using transuranic nuclides like Californium-252, which emit neutrons through spontaneous fission. Radioisotope alpha-neutron sources like Radium-beryllium that generate neutrons via alpha particles striking beryllium. 2) Photoneutron sources that produce neutrons through gamma ray absorption in certain target nuclei. 3) Reaction-based neutron sources using accelerated charged particles to generate neutrons through various nuclear reactions. The key neutron source types - spontaneous fission, radioisotope alpha-neutron, and photoneutron sources - are introduced along with some of their

Uploaded by

Mahmoud Al Samaheen
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPSX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Neutron sources

By
Mahmopud samahin

NEUTRON SOURCES
Neutron emission
Excited energy > B.E(n)

Nuclear reactor Spontaneous fission A. Spontaneous fission Transuranic heavy nuclide Thick container Fast neutron ; gamma ray. Most spontaneous fission by Californium-252 (2.65 y) Alpha emission rate is about 32 times spontaneous fission. Neutron yield=0.116n/s per Bq ( 2.23 Mn/s per microgram ;unit
mass basis)

Very small size 3.8 average neotron /fission 9.7 average gamma photons 1.3 MeV >85% prompt gamma ray in first nanosecond

B. Radioisotope(,n) source:
*Alpha decay (from convenient nuclides) Self-contained neutron source

Q-value=5.71Mev Max neutron yield Using thick target : Most alpha particles react with are stopped beryllium

Be

1/10000
*Inimate mixture of alpha particle emitter and berylium *Homogeneously *Small relative concetration

Alpha emitter
226

Actinide elements (89-103)

Ra

and

227

Ac

Stable alloy MBe


13

*long chain of daughter products *contribute alarge alpha-ray background

Ra-Be Ac-Be

More elaborate handling procedures because biological hazard of alpha radiation. Alphabackgroun d is much lower

Without any intermediate energy loss

The remaining radioisotopes

availabilaty Cost Half-life

Physical size of sources : no longer negligible ( but hlaf life short as possible ) Specific activity of emitter is high

226

Ra /Be

Most widley used

About 16 g of material1 Ci Few cms in dimension10^7n/s

To increase the neutron yield without increasing the physical size ,alpha emitter with higher specific activites must be subistituted Sources incorporating
241

Am+Pn

238

Widley used High neutron yield

244

Cm

Represent near ideal compromise between activity and source life-time Not always widely available

Small variations depend on alpha energies

Small source spectrum same (,n) reaction Larger sources secondery prosses (scattering,(n,2n) reactions in (Be) ,(n,fission) plotounium ,actinidde (introduce some dependence on source size)

Because large activity of actinide


Origonal radioisotopes Alpha Decay of precursor (other plotunium)

Safely materials

Tow stanless cylenders ( expantion space helium gas)

241

Pu

241

Am +

Neutron yield increase with time

Growth rate 2% /y

Alpha- decay Significant (half-life=13.2 y) Small lower n-yield

Q-value

Li(,n) usefull Q=-2.79

c. Photoneutron sources
Absorpation of gamma Only two target nuclie
(practical significent)

Free neutron emissiom

Neutron energy

D. Reaction from accelerated charged particles

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