Isotopic Measurements of SNM using a Portable Neutron Resonance Transmission System for Arms Control

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Zalavadia, Mital A., Klein, Ethan A., Moore, Michael E., Kulisek, Jonathan A., Naqvi, Farheen, Warren, Glen A., Danagoulian, Areg
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Zalavadia, Mital A.
Klein, Ethan A.
Moore, Michael E.
Kulisek, Jonathan A.
Naqvi, Farheen
Warren, Glen A.
Danagoulian, Areg
author_facet Zalavadia, Mital A.
Klein, Ethan A.
Moore, Michael E.
Kulisek, Jonathan A.
Naqvi, Farheen
Warren, Glen A.
Danagoulian, Areg
contents Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) was explored as an arms control verification approach to support potential future nuclear weapon limiting treaties. A compact and portable neutron Time of Flight (ToF) system was developed to enable proof-of-concept NRTA measurements of special nuclear material (SNM). Using a short 2-meter flight path, the NRT system is sensitive to cross-section resonances of isotopes such as 235U, 238U, 239Pu and 240Pu between 1-100 eV incident neutron energies due to their physical nuclear structure. The detected neutron ToF spectrum exhibits transmission dips at resonance energies that are characteristic of SNM isotopic composition in the inspected item. The proof-of-concept measurements of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), Depleted Uranium (DU), and Reactor Grade Plutonium (RGPu) confirmed the characteristic resonance features within two hours of data collection time. Analysis via the REFIT resonance fitting tool accurately predicted the 235U enrichment and Pu isotopic composition within 5% and 6% of the known values, respectively.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_08912
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Isotopic Measurements of SNM using a Portable Neutron Resonance Transmission System for Arms Control
Zalavadia, Mital A.
Klein, Ethan A.
Moore, Michael E.
Kulisek, Jonathan A.
Naqvi, Farheen
Warren, Glen A.
Danagoulian, Areg
Instrumentation and Detectors
Nuclear Experiment
Physics and Society
Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) was explored as an arms control verification approach to support potential future nuclear weapon limiting treaties. A compact and portable neutron Time of Flight (ToF) system was developed to enable proof-of-concept NRTA measurements of special nuclear material (SNM). Using a short 2-meter flight path, the NRT system is sensitive to cross-section resonances of isotopes such as 235U, 238U, 239Pu and 240Pu between 1-100 eV incident neutron energies due to their physical nuclear structure. The detected neutron ToF spectrum exhibits transmission dips at resonance energies that are characteristic of SNM isotopic composition in the inspected item. The proof-of-concept measurements of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), Depleted Uranium (DU), and Reactor Grade Plutonium (RGPu) confirmed the characteristic resonance features within two hours of data collection time. Analysis via the REFIT resonance fitting tool accurately predicted the 235U enrichment and Pu isotopic composition within 5% and 6% of the known values, respectively.
title Isotopic Measurements of SNM using a Portable Neutron Resonance Transmission System for Arms Control
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
Nuclear Experiment
Physics and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08912