A prototype experiment for cooperative monitoring of nuclear reactors with cubic meter scale antineutrino detectors

A. Bernstein; M. Allen; N. Bowden; J. Brennan; D. J. Carr; J. Estrada; C. Hagmann; J. C. Lund; N. W. Madden; C. D. Winant

doi:10.1117/12.624965

14 September 2005 A prototype experiment for cooperative monitoring of nuclear reactors with cubic meter scale antineutrino detectors

A. Bernstein, M. Allen, N. Bowden, J. Brennan, D. J. Carr, J. Estrada, C. Hagmann, J. C. Lund, N. W. Madden, C. D. Winant

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5923, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications VII; 592301 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.624965
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Our Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Sandia National Laboratories collaboration has deployed a cubic-meter-scale antineutrino detector to demonstrate non-intrusive and automatic monitoring of the power levels and plutonium content of a nuclear reactor. Reactor monitoring of this kind is required for all non-nuclear weapons states under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), and is implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since the antineutrino count rate and energy spectrum depend on the relative yields of fissioning isotopes in the reactor core, changes in isotopic composition can be observed without ever directly accessing the core. Data from a cubic meter scale antineutrino detector, coupled with the well-understood principles that govern the core's evolution in time, can be used to determine whether the reactor is being operated in an illegitimate way. Our group has deployed a detector at the San Onofre reactor site in California to demonstrate this concept. This paper describes the concept and shows preliminary results from 8 months of operation.

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A. Bernstein, M. Allen, N. Bowden, J. Brennan, D. J. Carr, J. Estrada, C. Hagmann, J. C. Lund, N. W. Madden, and C. D. Winant "A prototype experiment for cooperative monitoring of nuclear reactors with cubic meter scale antineutrino detectors", Proc. SPIE 5923, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications VII, 592301 (14 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.624965

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