Copper activation deuterium-tritium neutron yield measurements at the National Ignition Facility

G W Cooper; C L Ruiz; R J Leeper; G A Chandler; K D Hahn; A J Nelson; J A Torres; R M Smelser; B R McWatters; D L Bleuel; C B Yeamans; K M Knittel; D T Casey; J A Frenje; M Gatu Johnson; R D Petrasso; J D Styron

doi:10.1063/1.4746999

Copper activation deuterium-tritium neutron yield measurements at the National Ignition Facility

Rev Sci Instrum. 2012 Oct;83(10):10D918. doi: 10.1063/1.4746999.

Authors

G W Cooper¹, C L Ruiz, R J Leeper, G A Chandler, K D Hahn, A J Nelson, J A Torres, R M Smelser, B R McWatters, D L Bleuel, C B Yeamans, K M Knittel, D T Casey, J A Frenje, M Gatu Johnson, R D Petrasso, J D Styron

Affiliation

¹ Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131, USA. gcoope@sandia.gov

PMID: 23126920
DOI: 10.1063/1.4746999

Abstract

A DT neutron yield diagnostic based on the reactions, (63)Cu(n,2n)(62)Cu(β(+)) and (65)Cu(n,2n)( 64) Cu(β(+)), has been fielded at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The induced copper activity is measured using a NaI γ-γ coincidence system. Uncertainties in the 14-MeV DT yield measurements are on the order of 7% to 8%. In addition to measuring yield, the ratio of activities induced in two, well-separated copper samples are used to measure the relative anisotropy of the fuel ρR to uncertainties as low as 5%.