热中子分析探雷的中子源慢化装置设计与优化

与传统的地雷探测技术相比,热中子分析(Thermal Neutron Analysis,简称TNA) 探雷技术具有准确率高、虚警率低和对环境适应性强的特点,但探测速度较慢,制约了其广泛应用。为了提高地雷位置处的慢热中子通量,缩短探测时间,提出了一种基于252Cf 的中子源慢化装置设计构型,主要包含中子慢化层、中子反射层、本底 屏蔽层和侧向中子吸收层4 个部分。采用数值模拟的方法比较了4种常用中子慢化(反射) 材料的性能,优选高密度聚乙烯作为慢化材料,石墨作为反射材料。同时,为了满足辐射安全要求,对屏蔽材料的结构进行了优化计算。按照设计构型搭建了TNA 探雷实验平台。在104 n/s 中子源强下优化了慢化层和反射层的厚度,测试了装置慢化效能,在107 n/s 中子源强下评估了装置辐射安全性能。结果表明,采用该装置可使地雷位置处的慢热中子通量提升11 倍以上,并能有效保障辐射安全。Compared with the traditional landmine detection methods, Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA) landmine detection has the advantages of high accuracy, low false alarm rate and strong adaptability to the environmental change.But the long detection time restrict the wide application of this technology. In order to shorten the detection time, one possible design of neutron moderation device based on 252Cf neutron source is proposed to enhance the moderated neutronflux in mine position. The device consists of four parts, the neutron moderator, the neutron reflector, the background shield and the useless neutron absorbing layer. Then, the performance of four widely used materials in neutronics was compared with MCNP5 code, and HDPE was chosen as the neutron moderator material, graphite as the neutron reflector material. The thickness of the useless neutron absorbing layer was optimized at the same time. Finally, an experimental platform of 252Cf neutron moderation device was assembled on the basis of simulation results, and a series of experiments were carried out to optimize the geometric dimensions and evaluate the dose equivalent with two different strengths neutron source, 104 and 107 n/s. The results indicate that this device can effectively enhance the thermal neutron flux at mine position by more than 11 times and ensure the radiation safety.     

A Monte Carlo simulation and setup optimization of output ef f iciency to PGNAA thermal neutron using ~(252)Cf neutrons

We present the design and optimization of a prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis(PGNAA) thermal neutron output setup based on Monte Carlo simulations using MCNP5 computer code. In these simulations, the moderator materials, reflective materials, and structure of the PGNAA252 Cf neutrons of thermal neutron output setup are optimized. The simulation results reveal that the thin layer paraffin and the thick layer of heavy water moderating effect work best for the252 Cf neutron spectrum. Our new design shows a significantly improved performance of the thermal neutron flux and flux rate, that are increased by 3.02 times and 3.27 times, respectively,compared with the conventional neutron source design.     

(n,γ)反应实验研究中的中子屏蔽设计

用射线全吸收型装置(Gamma-ray Total Absorption Facility,GTAF),可以对中子俘获反应截面进行高精度测量。为了降低实验本底,实验中需要对源中子进行准直和屏蔽,还要对被样品散射的中子进行吸收以减少它们进入探测器后所形成的干扰。采用MCNP对中子的准直器、屏蔽体和中子吸收体进行了模拟设计,中子准直屏蔽体材料选用含硼聚乙烯(BC4 的质量分数为3%) 和铅。准直孔直径为13 mm,长度为500mm,经准直后样品处中子束斑坪顶直径为21 mm。中子吸收体材料选用聚乙烯和碳化硼,吸收体球壳内腔半径30 mm,聚乙烯壳层厚度60 mm,碳化硼壳层厚度10 mm,被样品散射的中子经吸收体后衰减93.7%。Neutron capture cross section can be measured by Gamma-ray Total Absorption Facility (GTAF) with high precision. To reduce the background of experiments, the neutron source must be collimated and shielded, and the neutrons scattered from the sample must be absorbed to minimise interference after they go into the detector. The shield, collimator and absorber were simulated and designed with MCNP code. Boron-ontainingpolyethylene with 3% BC4 and lead are used as the materials for the neutron collimator and shield. The diameter of the collimating aperture is 13 mm, and the length of the collimator is 500 mm. After being collimated, the diameter of neutron beam plateau at the sample position is 21 mm. The neutron absorber is made of polyethylene and BC4, and the thickness of polyethylene shell and BC4 shell are 60 and 10 mm, respectively. The simulated result shows that neutrons scattered from the sample can decay 93.7% through the neutron absorber.     

用于强流中子发生器的低能束流传输线的设计模拟

兰州大学设计研发的ZF-400强流中子发生器设计D-T中子产额6×1012 n/s,主要由ECR离子源、低能束流传输线（LEBT）、加速管、旋转靶等部分组成。LEBT负责将从离子源引出的束流进行分析聚焦并注入到加速管中。LEBT对束流的聚焦及分析的好坏程度决定了加速管中束流的损失程度、中子的产额以及靶的寿命。本工作就该强流中子发生器所需的低能传输线进行了设计。使用螺线管、分析磁铁和四极透镜组合的方案。利用TRACK软件对此方案进行模拟,得到符合要求的束流线及元件的参数。用TraceWin进行了验证模拟,验证结果符合要求。另外,通过软件模拟确定了杂质离子损失的位置,据此设计了束流管道冷却方案。通过模拟发现,这种透镜的组合方式可以让整个LEBT以较低的功率获得低损失、高纯度的打靶束流。The ZF-400 Intense Neutron Generator, which is designed by Lanzhou University with an expected neutron yield of 6×1012 n/s, is consist of ECR ion source, low energy beam transport (LEBT) line, accelerating tube and rotating target. The beam extracted from ECR source is analyzed and focused through LEBT, then, the beam is introduced into the accelerating tube. The focus and analysis ability of LEBT is very important for the beam loss, neutron yield and target's life. A LEBT line for intense neutron generator is designed in this paper, the project consisted of a solenoid, a bend magnet and three quadrupole lens. The qualified LEBT and its parameters have been got through the simulation with TRACK code. Then TraceWin program was employed to check this simulation and the result satisfied our requirement. Besides, the loss position of impurity ions was known through the simulation, and a project of beam line's cooling system was designed according to this result. Through the simulation, we find the optimal lens combination plan which can obtain lower beam loss and higher beam purity at low running power of LEBT.     

塑料闪烁体中子探测效率及相对发光产额的标定

利用加速器中子源研究了用于标定塑料闪烁体中子探测效率及相对发光产额的实验技术 ,在四川大学原子核科学技术研究所 2 .5MeV静电加速器上 ,利用T(p,n)和D(d ,n)核反应作为中子源 ,在 0 .6—5MeV中子能区对直径为 40mm ,厚度为 5mm的 1 42 1塑料闪烁体的中子探测效率及相对发光产额进行了测定.A method used for the calibration of neutron efficiency and the relative photo yield of plastic scintillator is studied. T(p,n) and D(d,n) reactions are used as neutron resources. The neutron efficiencies and the relative photo yields of plastic scintillators 1421 (40 mm in diameter and 5 mm in thickness) are determined in the neutron energy range of 0.655—5 MeV.     

基于D-T紧凑型中子源的快中子照相准直屏蔽体设计及中子束特性模拟研究

中子照相是一种重要的无损检测技术,它能用于火工产品、毒品和核燃料元件等的检测。基于紧凑型D-T中子发生器,完成了一个用于快中子照相的准直屏蔽体系统（BSA）的物理设计。根据D-T中子源的能谱和角分布建立了中子源模型,采用MCNP4C蒙特卡罗程序,模拟了准直屏蔽体系统中中子和γ射线的输运,准直中子束相对于单位源中子的中子注量可以达到9.30×10-6 cm-2,准直中子束中主要是能量大于10 MeV的快中子;在设置的样品平面直径14 cm的照射视野范围,准直束中子注量的不均匀度为4.30%,准直束中中子注量与γ注量的比值为17.20,中子通量和中子注量比值J/Φ为0.992,说明准直中子束有好的平行性;准直屏蔽体外的泄露中子注量率与准直束中子注量率相比降低了2个量级。所设计的准直屏蔽体能满足快中子照相的要求。Neutron radiography is an important nondestructive testing technique. It can be used to detect the explosive devices, drug and the nuclear fuel element, etc. A beam-shaping-assembly (BSA) based on a compact D-T neutron generator is designed for fast neutron radiography in this paper. D-T neutron source model is constructed based on the neutron energy spectrum and angular distribution data. The transportation of neutron and γ-ray in the BSA is simulated using MCNP4C code. The neutron fluence of the collimated neutron beam with respect to the neutron source of the unit source is 9.30×10-6 cm-2. The collimated neutron beams is mainly fast neutrons with energies greater than 10 MeV. In the irradiation field range with a diameter of 14 cm, the neutron fluence uniformity of the collimated beam is 4.3%, the ratio of the neutron fluence to the gamma fluence in the collimated beam is 17.20, and the neutron flux and the neutron fluence ratio (J/Φ) is 0.992 which indicates that the collimated neutron beam has good parallelism. The leakage neutron fluence in outside of BSA is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the collimated neutron beam. The designed BSA can meet the need of fast neutron radiography.     

影响DPF焦点装置中子稳定性的因素和改进措施

简要叙述了稠密等离子体聚焦装置作为中子发生器的工作原理，对影响稠密等离子体聚焦装置放电出中子产额及其稳定性的一些因素和改进措施进行了简单讨论．通过使用不同电极形状的场畸变开关很好地提高了焦点装置的运行，使装置输出中子的起伏得到明显的改善．通过对腔内电极的清洁，在不更换气体的条件下，聚焦装置放电出中子产额稳定.The principle of dense plasma focus(DPF) as neutron generator has been investigated in this paper. We have stated briefly some factors that mainly influnce the DPF s neutron yield and some methods improving the stability of neutron yields on the dense plasma focus. It is showed that the fluctuation of DPF output neutron becomes smaller by using different types of field-distortion elements. Over 100 consecutive shots without purging the test gas the neutron yields has no obvious change.     

Z-pinch中PF腔中子发射的产生机制

采用束 靶机制和热核机制,利用Maxwell分布,推导了等离子体焦点装置的中子产生机制、热核反应速率、中子平均能量及中子反映速率.Using the machanism of beam target and heat nuclics, the scaling relationship between the neutron yields of denser plasma focus and the PF plasma current is induced.The results of DPF .The principle is brief discussed with denser plasma focus(DPF) as the neutron generator.We have stated that some factors that influnce the DPF discharging to produce neutron yield and some methodsthat improve stability of neutron yields on the denser plasma focus(DPF).     

Simulation of the response functions of an extended rangeneutron multisphere spectrometer using FLUKA

In this paper, the distribution of radiation field in the CSNS spectrometer hall at Dongguan, China, was simulated by the FLUKA program. The results show that the radiation field of the high energy proton accelerator is dominated by neutron radiation, with a broad range of neutron energies, spanning about eleven orders of magnitude. Simulation and calculation of the response functions of four Bonner spheres with a simplified model is done with FLUKA and MCNPX codes respectively, proving the feasibility of the FLUKA program for this application and the correctness of the calculation method. Using the actual model, we simulate and calculate the energy response functions of Bonner sphere detectors with polyethylene layers of different diameters, including detectors with lead layers, using the FLUKA code. Based on the simulation results, we select eleven detectors as the basic structure for an Extended Range Neutron Multisphere Spectrometer (ERNMS).     

低能α粒子与中子耦合输运模拟

开发了低能α粒子与中子耦合输运程序，可以计算低能α粒子在各种介质中的输运、含氧介质中的（α，n）中子产额，跟踪次级中子。采用蒙特卡罗方法中带权重跟踪的技巧，通过大量小权重事件的模拟成功解决了低能（α，n）反应中子产额太低、无法直接模拟的困难。α粒子的射程与阻止本领用SRIM程序计算，（α，n）截面取自最新的JENDL带电粒子库，次级中子跟踪使用MCNP程序。A new code package of alpha-neutron coupled transportation is developed. It can be used to simulate the transportation of alpha particle in media, to compute the neutron yield in media contains oxygen and to track the history of the secondary neutrons. The secondary neutrons are simulated efficiently by tracking lots of neutrons with small weight, which is determined by the alpha-neutron yield. The stopping power and range of alpha particle in media are given by SRIM code, the alpha-neutron cross section is from charged particle library in JENDL, and the neutrons are treated by MCNP code.     

Neutron moderation in a bulk sample and its effects on PGNAA setup geometry

In a prompt gamma ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) setup, the neutron moderation in the bulk sample also plays a key role. This can even dominate the thermalization effects of the external moderator in some cases. In order to study the neutron moderation effect in the bulk sample, moderators with two different sizes of the sample were tested at the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) PGNAA facility. In these tests, the thermal neutron relative intensity and prompt gamma ray yield from the two moderators were measured using nuclear track detectors (NTDs) and NaI detector, respectively. As predicted by Monte Carlo simulations, the measured intensity of thermal neutron inside the large sample cavity due to the external moderator was smaller than that from the smaller sample cavity. Due to its larger size, additional thermalization of neutrons will take place in the larger sample. In spite of smaller thermal neutron yield from the external moderator at the large sample location, higher yield of the prompt gamma ray was observed as compared to that from the smaller sample. This confirms the significance of neutron moderation effects in the bulk sample and can thereby affect the PGNAA geometry size. This allows larger samples in conjunction with smaller moderators in the PGNAA setup.     

一维贫铀/聚乙烯交替系统中D-T中子诱发的~(232)Th(n,γ)反应率的测定与分析

开展了钍样品装置内钍核参数的积分中子学基础研究.参考混合堆概念设计搭建了内部放置了钍样品的一维贫铀/聚乙烯交替系统装置,采用加速器D-T中子源模拟聚变堆芯,利用前期开发的离线伽马测量方法测定了不同位置、不同中子谱情况下的232Th(n,γ)反应率,不确定度约为5%.结果显示,聚乙烯对14.1 MeV中子的慢化作用可有效提升钍俘获率,且贫铀对钍俘获率也有显著提升作用.实验结果与主流核数据库计算结果的对比显示,ENDF/B-VI.6和JENDL-3.3数据库的计算值比实验值平均约大6%,而较新的ENDF/B-VII.0数据库的计算值比实验值平均约大4%.因此,相比于之前数据库的钍核数据,ENDF/B-VII.0的计算值与实验结果匹配得较好,可作为相关概念设计的推荐核数据库.     

Designing of the 14 MeV neutron moderator for BNCT

In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), the ratio of the fast neutron flux to the neutron flux in the tumor (RFNT) must be less than 3%. If a D-T neutron generator is used in BNCT, the 14 MeV neutron moderator must be optimized to reduce the RFNT. Based on the neutron moderation theory and the simulation results, tungsten, lead and diamond were used to moderate the 14 MeV neutrons. Satisfying RFNT of less than 3%, the maximum neutron flux in the tumor was achieved with a three-layer moderator comprised of a 3 cm thick tungsten layer, a 14 cm thick lead layer and a 21 cm thick diamond layer.     

Sample to moderator volume ratio effects in neutron yield from a PGNAA setup

Performance of a prompt gamma ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) setup depends upon thermal neutron yield at the PGNAA sample location. For a moderator, which encloses a sample, thermal neutron intensity depends upon the effective moderator volume excluding the void volume due to sample volume. A rectangular moderator assembly has been designed for the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) PGNAA setup. The thermal and fast neutron yield has been measured inside the sample cavity as a function of its front moderator thickness using alpha particle tracks density and recoil proton track density inside the CR-39 nuclear track detectors (NTDs). The thermal/fast neutron yield ratio, obtained from the alpha particle tracks density to proton tracks density ratio in the NTDs, shows an inverse correlation with sample to moderator volume ratio. Comparison of the present results with the previously published results of smaller moderators of the KFUPM PGNAA setup confirms the observation.     

D-T中子与平板型聚乙烯材料作用的次级中子角度谱实验研究

基于反冲质子法建立了一种测量D-T中子与平板型宏观样品作用的次级中子角度谱的实验方法.为保证探测器的能量线性并在较低的中子有效测量下阈(0.5 MeV)情况下获得好的中子-伽马射线甄别性能,采用高、低能段分别测量的方法.采用事件记录法,同时记录了次级中子和伴随伽马射线的脉冲形状甄别和脉冲幅度二维信息,利用基于ROOT数据分析平台编写的离线数据分析程序,完成了伴随伽马射线的挑选和扣除,以及高、低两能段反冲质子谱的拼接,并成功的将神经网络技术应用于中子能谱的解谱,获得了D-T中子与9和18 cm厚平板型聚乙烯材料作用的0.5-15 MeV的次级中子角度谱实验结果.实验模型的MC模拟由MCNP5完成,数据库采用ENDF-VI,实验结果和MC计算结果在实验不确定度范围内一致. 关键词： D-T中子 积分中子学 反冲质子法 次级中子能谱     

(α, n)反应中子产额与能谱计算方法

发展了（α,n）反应中子产额与能谱蒙特卡罗直接模拟方法,该方法采用通用的连续碰撞方法与SRIM程序计算的阻止本领模拟α粒子慢化过程,采用基于JENDL/AN-2005加工后ACE格式数据库计算（α,n）反应中子产额与能谱。基于NPTS程序研制了（α,n）反应模拟功能,轻核（α,n）反应产额与实验结果符合较好,B、F、O靶出射中子能谱与实验结果符合较好,而C、Al、Si与实验结果有一定差异。     

The pilot experimental study of 14 MeV fast neutron digital radiography

14 MeV Fast neutrons has good penetrability and the 14 MeV fast neutron radiography can meet the need of Non-Destructive Test of the structure and lacuna of heavy-massive sample, whose shell is made of heavy metal and in which there are some hydrogen materials, and the study of fast neutron digital radiography just begins in China. By the use of a D-T accelerator, a digital imaging system made up of a fast neutron scintillation screen made of ZnS(Ag) and polypropylene, lens and a scientific grade CCD, the experimental study of fast neutron radiography has been done between 4.3×10¹⁰−6.8×10¹⁰ n/s of neutron yield. Some 14 MeV fast neutron digital radiographs have been gotten. According to experimental radiographs and their data, the performance of the fast neutron scintillation screen and the basic characters of 14 MeV fast neutron radiography are analyzed, and it is helpful for the further research. Supported by the Science and Technology Fund of China Academy of Engineering Physics (Grant No. 251)