![Sample our Built Environment journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5926/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Built-Environment.jpg"})
Abstract
Neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) was used to measure the isotopic content of fresh and spent nuclear reactor fuel samples. Using the National Bureau of Standards 100-MeV electron Linac as a pulsed neutron source, neutron transmission spectra were measured for two samples of fresh reactor fuel and two samples of spent fuel. The transmission spectra were fit using the well-known and unique neutron cross sections for each isotope of interest. For the fresh fuel samples, the 235U and 238U contents were determined and compared to the results of a destructive analysis. Excellent agreement was obtained. For the spent fuel samples, the abundances of 11 actinides and 5 fission products were obtained. NRTA was shown to be a method for nondestructive analysis with high isotopic discrimination and high accuracy.