Hybrid fast-thermal neutron beam and trace fissile versus fissionable isotopic characterization via CTMFD-based fission/alpha spectroscopy

This paper presents a novel, rapid technique using a single centrifugally tensioned metastable fluid detector (CTMFD) to accurately (± 4%) characterize a 2-MW research reactor’s thermal column neutron beam for fast/thermal energy neutron composition; and, also to monitor within ± 10% accuracy for the presence of trace (mBq/mL) amounts of fissile materials in a fissile/fissionable uranium isotopic mixture via hybrid neutron fission-cum-alpha spectroscopy.