MCNP-PoliMi Simulation of Neutron Radiography Measurements for Mass Determination for a Trough of UO3

Abstract

The Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS) has proven shown itself capable of accurately determining the mass of fissile material inside of a container using active interrogation with a deuterium-tritium neutron generator. This paper investigated the possibility that the NMIS could be used to determine the mass of UO3 powder located in stainless-steel trough-shaped containers at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The MCNP-PoliMi computer code was used to model several imaging measurements by the NMIS and estimate how accurately the mass of the UO3 powder could be determined.