Application of a laser-wakefield driven monochromatic photon source to nuclear resonance fluorescence

W. J. Walsh, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, N. Cunningham, S. Banerjee, D. Umstadter

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Nuclear resonance fluorescence is of particular interest to the detection of special nuclear material (SNM) where isotopic characterization is paramount. In addition to photons emitted by resonance de-excitation, there will also be a significant amount of backscattered photons that will distort the NRF signal. The backscattered spectra must be characterized in order to design a detection system that maximizes the material identification probability. However, to our knowledge the cross-sections for nuclear resonance absorption do not exist in any version MCNP. Therefore, a novel method is applied here to reproduce the measured results from Bertozzi et al. using bremsstrahlung X-rays. The NRF signal this source was compared with the response from the University of Nebraska (UNL) quasi-monochromatic X-ray source to compare the performance on a per source photon basis. An absolute comparison of each source is left for future work. The results of the simulations show that the UNL source would have a higher efficiency on a per source photon basis by a factor of approximately 170.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009
Pages80-85
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009 - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: Oct 25 2009Oct 31 2009

Publication series

NameIEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
ISSN (Print)1095-7863

Other

Other2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period10/25/0910/31/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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