PNNL/Euratom glass fiber optic, spent fuel neutron profile measurement system

The glass fiber optic spent fuel neutron profile measurement system is designed to measure the neutron profile of a Castor with high reproducibility and to distinguish spent fuel Castor contents from vitrified waste Castor contents. The basic principle of the detector is that the glass fibers detect thermal neutrons. The glass is loaded with lithium enriched in Li-6, which has a high thermal neutron cross-section. A neutron is captured by the Li-6 and a He-4 and H-3 are created. Because the glass also contains Cerium in a 3{sup +} ionization state, the excitation caused by the movement of the He-4 and H-3 results in the emission of light from the cerium atoms. This light then travels to the ends of the fiber where it is detected by photon sensitive devices (e.g., photo-multiplier tubes)