Analysis of Muon Induced Neutrons in Detecting High Z Nuclear Materials
Abstract
Simulations of muon interactions with high Z material using two different muon energies, 100 MeV and 1 GeV, were performed on five different materials of various atomic numbers yielding average neutron production rates that range from 2.3 plus or minus 0.01 in enriched uranium to negligible amounts in aluminum when exposed to the 100 MeV energy muons. As the muon energy was increased to 1 GeV, neutron yields shrank to negligible levels. Little difference was found in neutron yield produced in non-fissile material. Experimental data was collected by exposing a 15 cm thick block of iron, and 5 and 15 cm thick blocks of lead to the natural atmospheric muon flux. The incident muon energy distribution was found to have a mode of 180 MeV and a mean of 520 MeV. Probability distributions were constructed for the neutron yields of each incident muon and no difference was found in the various distributions. The average muon induced neutron yield was also calculated and found to be 3.4 plus or minus 0.1 for a 15 cm thick block of iron, 2.8 plus or minus 0.1 for a 5 cm thick block of lead, and 2.2 plus or minus 0.1 for a 15 cm thick block of lead.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA619023
Entities
People
- Logan J. Brandt
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology